The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1880-06-17

away dIu VIC Uuucta suldSIl0U up every
thing. My Albanians, who occupy a
house across the farm-yard, about 100
yards off, also opened fire, but the bri-
gands were all under cover. Getting
through the granard door, they collect
ed some planks and straw, and setting
fire to the heap, the house was soon full
of smoke and untenable, and | had to
give up. On my surrender, they took
two of my saddle horses from the sta
BILE. was mounted on one, and Niko,
the chief Of the band, on the other.
The workmen were called to look after
the fire, and [ was told to send word
that if any troops were sent in pursuit
should be murdered. was then
marched off toward Mount Olympus.
On the third day 1 was dictated letter
demanding 10000 liras ransom, besides
gold watches, etc.. This letter was not
delivered to Consul General Blunt until
some ten days afterward, and then ac-
companied by one from Niko, demand
ing $4,000 liras (about f13,5OO). He
also demanded the release of some
friends and relatives in prison
in Turkey and Greece, and for some
of his family to be sent to Greece. I
knew that while negotiations were pend
ing Consul-General Blunt would prevent
troops being sent in pursuit, but the
brigands were always suspicious. Once
they got an idea that other brigands had
been put on to capture Niko, with q
view to exchanging him for me, and
they were rather mad. They told me
that had such an attempt been made,
and had Niko lost his life they would
have made me a jacket Ia franca-i. e.
removed the skin of the body-and then
roasted me la broche.
II very well knew that such a scheme
would only have been resorted to as 4
last resource, and assured them they
were mistaken. However on the oo-
casion, I was dictated another letter de-
manding $4,000 liras, gold watches and
chains, gold rings, amber beads, Martini
rifles and cartridges, field glass and
fifteen trumpets. If all these were not
sent in, in five days my ears would be
sent in, in eight days my nose, and in
ten my head.
"After weary time in the cave, for it
was bitterly cold, and in the daytime
they rarely Lit fire unless the weather
was foggy or snow was falling, I was told
that all had been arranged. Taken out,
blindfolded, mounted on q mule, and
sometimes riding, sometimes picking
my own way, | was brought down to the
vicinity Of Caterina.
"On the day of my release the scouts
reported early that the tru1npets had
sounded in Cateria for the troops to fall
in, shortly afterward that they had
marched out, and after time they APP
preached, accompanied by Consul Gen
eral Blunt, and were halted. NJ Bizzo,
the dragoman of the consulate, who had
personally carried out the negotiations
between Mr.. Blnnt and Niko, accom-
panied by some of his own men, (he
has two large farms near CAterina, y
Turkish officer, and Hussein Agha, the
cavass of the consulate, brought up the
ransom. We being seated around in
in the forest, the bags of mon
ey were laid out, and three Of
the band inspected each coin to see
that there were 10 marks which might
give clue to their whereabouts after
ward. One bag was counted and the
others weighed against it. They had
withdrawn their demands for the other
things mentioned in their letter, except
the watches and Martini and revolv-
er. A Martini rifle offered them was
accepted. but the revolver was not good,
and they preferred waiting for new
one. Satisfied with the ransom, they
shaved me and gave me cup Of water
according to their customs, returned
five iras they had borrowed from me
in the cave, as also revolver they had
taken from me- It is unusual to re-
lease captive before nightfall, but it
was successfully arranged by Mr.. Bizzo,
and was set at liberty. When taken,
had some thirty odd liras in my pock-
ct; of this sum they borrowed five for
their expenses, but did not touch the
rest.
ssThe band is under the leadeship of
Niko, assisted by his brother Basil, and
his brother-in-law, Kalesh. Another
brother, Georgia, is chief of another
band, numbering only eight. A third
brother is in prison in Greece. OF
Niko's band, six are deserters from the
Greek army. These, with Niko and
his relatives, are armed with the 'Gras,
or Greek service rifle, which they pre-
fer to all others. The remainder of the
band are armed with the Martini and
'Milonar,' OF old Greek service weapon.
One of the deserters had served at the
time of the Marathon murders, and
was well up in the events Of that time.
One had been monk at Mount AthOs.
All made the sign of the cross before
and after eating. All had taken part
in the last raid in Thessaly fear |
shall never know who were their insti-
gators and accomplices, but [ cannot
believe that the attack originated with
the brigands. What q difference be-
tween the ragged rufiians who formed
the brigand bands when. / first came to
this country-five or ten men, armed
with old flint guns which would not 60
off at all in wet weather, and were q
nearly equal source of danger to the
shooter and the 'shootee' in fine and
now bands Of so to 150, armed with
the bestof modern weapons, going about
requisitioning towns and villages and
carrying people off to ransom.
Bob Ingersoll walks up to a large an-
cient structure, shakes his fist, pulls of
his coat and goes to work 70 tear i
down. "yNhat are you doing, BObf'
asks looker-on. Going to tear the
old thing down, says Bob; .dont like
the looks of it, AyNell, says the look
er-on, suppose now, instead Of trying
! to tear that sold thing down, you 10 to
work and put up another 70 beat It; and