The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1880-05-14
prived Of their doors. and some hanging


women by whom he was standing,
seemed agitated and whispered some
words to his mother, to which she
nodded her head several times.
called together my men, and we
proceeded to the shadows to a huge
overhanging piece of rock, which gave
shelter from the sun. Here we arranged
to take our noon-day refreshment and
siesta, under its welcome shade, which
was very pleasant after march under
June sun in Italy; for it was high
noon, and not a cloud broke the deep
clear blue Of the sky.
My mind dwelt on the strange circum-
stance at the farmhouse, and not easily
explained conduct of the inmates.
While in the midst of my meditations,
my ears caught the sound of footsteps,
and, turning the corner of the deep
mountain-path, two carbineerS came in
sight. and told one of them my sur
prise at the conduct of the woman at
the farm. to which he replied:
"SignorI Ufficiale, can easily ex-
plain the conduct ofthose poor people;n
and, seating himself on the grass, he
gave the following explanation:
When the brigands make requisi-
tion on farmhouse, their conduct diff
fers from their unusual treatment of
travellers or strangers. The first thing
is to make an onslaught on the animals.
They next enter the house; and no one
thinks of refusing them, because in
these mountain districts the houses are
SO distant that help from without is
never thought of. Often there are only
the mistress of the house and the females
at home, the men being out at their
labor.
The first thing demanded is jewelry,
for the Italian peasant woman, when
she has any money, Immediately goes to
a jeweler to convert it into earrings,
bracelets, necklace and q huge gold
cross pendent from the same. These are
of the very finest gold.
I have seen a large boned, brown
peasant woman, on festal holiday,
dressed in rough homespun dress, with
earrings reaching nearly to her shoul-
ders; a neck upon which was a huge
goitre, encircled with a necklace Of
chased gold beads, so large and SO costly
that it might have graced the neck of
some princess, and who might well envy
her the possession of the same.
Resistance would only lead to vio-
lence; SO the poor woman parts with
her fortune. Not drawer or corner is
left unsearched; and, with their hands
and pockets full of their. ill-gotten
wealth, the brigands prepare to act tae
last scene of this miserable drama.
When the cupidity OF the brigand is
satisfied, and he has got all there is to
have he takes hold of the master of the
house or farm, and, leading him out
into the open air, tells him to take leave
of his family and to confess himself, for
he is about to die!
But whyP" says the agonized and
krobbed man; I have let you take all. I"
R,st the words are wind snass8 ssaIft,szz
sfe mas taken an agonizingt leave Of his
weeping wife and family, he is blind
| folded, and his hands tied behind his
back.
Now the click of gun or other fire.
arm is heard, and the two who are to
be the executioners are brought into
position. The wife is there-the chill
dren have fed in terror; but the poor
wife holds out her one hand to the hus-
band, while with the other she covers
her poor face to shut out the fearful
sight. And now all seems about to
finish. when the capo walks up to the
kneeling man, and, taking the bandage
from his eyes, he says:
If you will take the oath which /
shall dictate, will give you your life,
for the sake of your wife and chill
dren."
The kneeling man raises his eyes to
the clear sky above him, which he had
thought to have looked upon for the
last time, and, putting his hands to-
| gether-which had been unbound-he
prepares to say the oath which is die
tated to him. He is laid under numer-
Gus pains and penalties. And now his
wife and children are clinging to him
with all the lively and emotional
affection of the Italian. The fear of a
terrible death has passed away, and his
\ sturdy arms take in one fatherly en-
brace all his dear ones.
Such was the explanation which
heard from the carbineers. I under
stood at once the fiat denial of any
knowledge of the brigands. The people
dared not tell; because, if they did, be-
| fore twenty-four hours, not only the
| father, but the whole family would
be ruthlessly butchered. This has
really happened more than once or
| twice.
Thanking the men for their civility,
and seeing that by this time the sun was
on the decline, I gave the word and we
were again on our way.
/ We examined diligently every turn
| and fissure that we saw on our path, but
were surprised to see no trace of bri-
gands, when suddenly, on turning round
| q projecting ridge of rock, we came upon
a stirring scene.
Imagine, if you can, a sort of room cut
| in the rock, but with MANY a graceful
Towering vine hanging over and be-
tween the erevices of the rocks, whence
pearly drops of water trickled like silver
| to the mossy ground. Here, tightly
bound, and possibly meant for some
torturing death, were five men, three OF
whom were English and two Germans.
The brigands-more than twelve in
number-were for the most part kneel.
ing on the ground, occupied in search
ing the knapsacks and the persons oi
the victims, as also a good sized travel
| ing bag, from which one ofthe brigands
/ had distracted fine white embroidered
shirt, and was proceeding to array him
self in it. This was the chief. cannot
| describe the alarm, the exclamations oil
surprise, which broke from the brigands,
and may say the groans of relief which
came from the captives.
A sharp encounter took place. Three
of the brigands fell wounded. but not
mortally, also some of my men; but
1 had the pleasure of sending, under a
strong escort, aided by the cavabSnserS,
nine of the gang to Ancona, there to re
ceiye the reward of their crimes; for
this capture brought forward many per-
sons to certify to dark deeds done by
these ferocious freebooters.
Some time after this, when we were
stationed at Ascoli, q report of fresh
atrocities had lately made us increase
our diligence, when we heard that a
certain country house was to be at
!. tackled the following night; the house
! to be plundered and burned, the men
| killed and the women carried off by the
brigands.
On our silent way toward the place
we met miserable, Unlocking man,
| whom would rather not have met on
| the lonely hillside. noticed that the