Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-06-29

however, during the whole journey,
which took about two hours, were very
respectful and attentive to their prison.
ers, frequently insisting on their sitting
down to rest, offering water, making
cigarettes for Mr.. Suter, and even going
back to find the doll which the child had
CHANGED to drop.
On reaching the top of the mountain
they found grassy platform of consider
able size surrounded by bushes and
trees. But the moon had now set, and
the scene was illuminated only by the
torches of the brigands. The servants
were then ordered to spread rugs on the
grass, and the prisoners were told to sit
down, while the brigands formed large
circle around them, some sitting and
some standing, while others seemed
posted all over the mountain, signalling
and whistling to each other. The bri-
gands seemed to be mostly young men,
having no covering on their heads but
their ample locks, wearing fustanellas, or
kits, singularly black, and armed with
swords and rifles. The three captains
(Aristioi, Ghiorghio Kaizaro and Nicola
Dondonka) wore also a quantity of silver
ornaments. They appeared to be all of
superior class, speaking not only Greek,
but Albanian, italian, and one of them
even English, and most of them were
probably foreign Greeks.
On being thus seated on the top of the
mountain, Mr.. Suter was closely ques-
toned as to his profession and means,
and whether he or his wife had parents
living, or relatives likely to pay ransom.
Mr.. Suter replied that he had neither
private means or relatives who could pay
any considerable sum.
Finally, after great deal of talk
among themselves, they said that Mr..
Suter must write to Mr.. Blunt, Consul
General at Salonica, informing him that
the ransom they required was fl5, 900,
and that this sum must be paid In fifteen
DAYS. On this Mr.. Suter exclaimed that
"they might as well kill him at once, as
there was not the least likelihood of his
being able to raise such a sum. "
"Then," they said, "you refuse to
write? In that case, not only you, but
your wife and child, will forfeit your
lives on the spot" Mr.. Suter then
begged to be allowed to consult with his
wife, and they came to the conclusion to
write as the brigands demanded. They
then asked if it would be for their advan-
tage that Mrs. Suter should go to Salon
lea or stay, and Mr.. and Mrs. Suter
replied that it would be better for her to
go to Salonica, as, in case of pursuit, she
could not keep up with them. They
then made Mrs. Suter promise solemnly
that, if allowed to descend the mountain,
she would at once start for Salonica, and
use every means to prevent the soldiers
coming in pursuit of them, and they
threatened that as soon as any soldier or
armed villager approached them Mr..
Suter would be Immediately killed. In
return, they swore the BEssA BEss that
Mr.. Suter would be safe in their hands
pending negotiations for payment of the
ransom, on the condition that they were
not pursued, and We're left free to COM
municate with the village
1t was now about 2 A. NJ, and after a
sad parting from her husband Mrs. Suter
was allowed to return with her child and
accompanied by tive of her servants, the
other two remaining with Mr. Suter.
Provided with torch, they with great
difficulty found their way down the steep
mountain side and arrived at home
about o'clock in the morning. Mrs.
Suter Immediately sent off a messenger
with the letters, and started herself two
hours afterward (6 O'Clock on Friday
morning. for Saloniea. This journey of
twenty hours she accomplished by the
afternoon of the next day Saturday
having ridden for seventeen hours and
driven there in the carriage sent for her
by Mr.. Blunt, the Consul General.