Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-01-05
Gales aI10 Sketfbfs.
sRIGASDAsg N MACEDONIA.
(Conr,nuco from Yesterday

SAStShAS"ss
blade of the animal just devoured and ex-
anime the marks on the first portion of it.
Should there be small hole, it represents
the grave Of the prisoner. and signifies
that the ransom will not be paid: if there
appear small lines running in the direc-
ton of the leg bone. it denotes that every
thing will go satisfactorily and the money
be paid: but, should the lines run at right
angles. then pursuit and perhaps capture
will be the result OF their enterprise.
This. among many others. is one OF the
superstitions in which the brigands put
most impl- Gil faith, and by wi iei they pro-
fess to be able To discover any news in re-
gard to their success or failure about which
they have any doubt.
The afternoon passes much the same as
the morning, each taking his turn at pre-
pairing food. keeping guard over the cap
tive, and any other little duties that may
be required, the remainder sleeping and
smoking cigarettes alternately until din
n.r-time comes round. After their even
ing meal, all sit round the fire, some play
ing cards but the majority seem to find
most pleasure in reeouniing to their captive
the most atrocious and brutal deeds of
which they have been guilty-the greater
the barbarity the more welcome the OPP
portunity Of Dragging about it. Before
repeating one or two OF their confessions.
must not omit to say that. although cards
are allowed. no gambling, not even OF the
mildest description. is permitted. II may
also appear strange that these rufiiaDs
took the most vivid interest in hearing all
about the telephone, photograph. and
other new inventions. A late captive in
formed me that. by giving lectures on diff
fereDt subjects nearly every night for six
weeks, he had quite educated his hosts,
and considered the Turkish School Board"
ought to give him some compensation.
n. BIT has not done so as yet.
On Sundays, prayers are repeated and
psalms chanted during the forenoon. the
routine after the midday meal being to
hang up several sheepskins and practice
cutting them in two with their yataghans.
This is done. as they calmly acknowledge,
to keep their hands in, as, should it be-
come necessary to behead the prisoner,
| the man to whose lot it falls TO deliver the
blow is looked down upon if he does not
perform his duty neatly, j, G.. sever the
head from the body with one cut.
The system Of espionage employed is
for miles round is known almost as soon
as it takes place. and the state of the
negotiations being carried on for the
captive's release is Immediately and
almost daily communicated to the chief.
Should any news be sent by the officials,
the usual plan is to send word To the town
from which he is coming to say by what
road he is to go; then, suddenly. at some
h.-..
behind wall or some other hiding-place.
receives his information. and returns. the
place of rendezvous being generally four
or five hours ride from The camp, So that
no clew should be given as to their where
abouts. 1t is a law among the bands that
no member shall accept present from
captive and it is also the custom. on the
release o. a prisoner. I, r the ch ef to make
him present of fifty pounds or so. At
the same time, should he have watch or
any other article for which the robbers
have desire. it is bought and paid for,
the last ceremony being the taking off of
the rope which has bound the prisoners
arms ever since his capture, which once
more proclaims him free man.
| To show now little regard is shown to
the Turkish authorities. ! may here men,
ton that. during my last fortnight. at Sa-
lonica. "A well-known merchant showed
me a letter he had Inst received. the con-
tents of which were to the effect that, I'M
less one thousand pounds were sent at
once to n place about three hours journey
distant, all his property. consisting of two
| houses and Il lot of timber. would be i'm
mediatcly burned. This interesting but
disagreeable communication was not
signed by hand, but had large seal at the
bottom. like an official document on which
was printed in Greek Captain Kakuni. ~
| need hardly say that troops were dis
patched in place of money, but. alas
with the usual result On another occa-
sion. and within four or five DAYS of the
aforementioned event, | went to the
| Turkish theatre to see an American COM
pany perform comedy. and passed very
pleasant evening in the box belonging to
| the commander in-chief of the Turkish
forces On meeting him the following day
he inquired if knew who was mt the the
atre with US the previous evening | re-
piled in the negative; whereupon he pro-
duced small note. in which was ex-
pressed the writer's appreciation of the
performance. and congratulating his En-
cellency on the state of his health: but
Judge of my surprise when saw the sig
nature Captain Nike" the chief of the
band of brigands who last year captured
Colonel Synge! OF course by that time he
was probably miles away; but it appears
he had donned European costume Tor the
occasion. and quite made An impression
with his gloves and small silver-mounted
cane. only know OF one decisive step
having been taken to suppress brigandage
and that took place week after Mr.. Suter.
Salyk Pasha in command of the troops at Sa-
lanica. heard there was a band of brigands
in the nighborhood, and Immediately took
steps to discover their whereabouts. which
he succeeded in doing. Troops were at
once dispatched to surround the band. and
an engagement took place so near the
town that the shots could be distinctly
heard. The soldiers having previously
received orders that they might loot any
man they killed gave greater impetus
to the whole proceeding; and before dark
out of a band Of thirty brigands. twenty
three heads were brought in to the Pasha.
aud the remaining seven taken prisoners.
Une sergeant shot FIVE himself, and took
two hundred pounds from one man. but
he was unfortunately wounded in the at
FRAY. However. on his arrival at the mil
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