Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-03-08

Michael Pezza of Itrl IN rerrs dl Savorc
is well known TO the world under his nick.
name of Fra DiavOlo. Brother Devil, and
his early exploits have been the theme of
many q romance and of one of the most
popular of modern operas. How ne gam
ed nolorieiy as a bandit; how, IN 1893,
when Napoleon established the partheno-
pean Republic in Naples, he supported
the exiled Bourbons; and how he entered
the city in company with Cardinal Ruffo.
is recorded in every history OF that time.
But OF his career little has been known,
save the fact that he perished in 1906
The circumstances connected with this
event have recently been brought to lIght,
and are briefly as follows:
During the siege OF Gaeta the English
and Sicilians despatched numerous ennis
saries TO raise revolt in the Neapolltan
provinces. Amongs. those who were in
trusted with these mutinous commands
was Fra DlavOlo, now a colonel, who had
followed the Bourbon Court to Sicily
With other leaders of '99 he set sail from
Palermo for Calabria under the escort of q
British ship, June 29, 1906. Landing at
Amantea he committed some dApredations,
took few prisoners. and on hearing that
Gaeta had surrendered to the French he
stopped for time at Capri. Having re-
turned at the beginning of August, to the
Gulf Of Policastro, and having been beaten
in several encounters he determined to
re-embark. So, with pine companions,
he secretly stole away from the remainder
Of the band and fastened towards The
sea. But at Tore Annunziata he was
| unable 10 procure q boat. A man was
therefore sent to Naples with money to
get one and bring 1t to Pos,tano. After
waiting three days, as neither the man nor
craft appeared, fearing that they should
be discovered, Fra Diavolo and his fol
lowers went over the mountain towards
Eboli. Having passed Salerno they went
down INTO the PLAIN and were resting in a
valley at Monteccrvino, when they were
discovered by a bog, VINO gazed with ad-
miration at then arms. Falling IN WI |
some sportsmen little later. he told them
that he had seen some men with better |
weapons than theirs The sportsmen |
imagined that they might be deserters,
and went to attack them, but they soon
found out their mistake, and were driven |
off after short encounter, in which Fra |
Diavola was slightly injured in the breast. |
The brigands then took refuge in tie |
mountains of EbolI, but unluckily one Of !
them named AdeliZzi was recognized by |
goat herders in the employ of a family |
nearly related to some gentleman whose |
brother had been a victim of AdeliZzi's. !
That night, tie 2Sth of October, at dusk, |
these gentlemen, their relatives and others, |
came to the cabin where the brigands were |
hiding. Adelizzi was captured and cruely |
put 10 death, and Fra Disvolo, who had
not been recognized, was conducted by a
Jew and a man named Gaetane to hut |
near the Snow G1rges on Mount SAINT
'Erams.
The next day the country patrol arrested
suspicious stranger, who promised TO
disclose to them treasure If they would
spare his life. Hs then led him up among
the hills, where two banners, given to Fra
Disvolo when he set out from Sicily, by
the king were hidden. At once the police
we're on the alert, having heard that the
famous brigand was in the neIghborhood.
Meanwhile Gaetano and the jew cared
for Fra Diavolo, bringing him food and
medicine for his wound. He, In return,
promised them great riches and military
honors if they succeeded in effecting his
escape to Sicily. But Gaetano, who for
certain misdeeds was outlawed by the
government, thought he might purchase
police. Accordingly on October 81 he
came to the hut with this intention. There
he found the Jew had already arrived, had
cut of Fra Diavolo's moustache, and had
taken other precautions to prevent his >
reorganization. Gaetano took the Jew
aside and disclosed his purpose; the latter >
refused to consent to the betrayal. and :
when their discussion brought them to :
blows, Fra Diavolo, suspectipg something,
escaped. Gaetano set out In pursuit, and
called out the people to assist HIM, but
was unable to find the refugee.
Fra Dlavolo, IN his disguise, seemed a
poor vagrant beggar, and followed during
that night the road to Salerno. Having !
changed his direction, and on the lst of f,
November he set out for Naples. On the
way he met a peasant woman who was
golrg to Baronlssi, and, believing that he
would not be discovered, he struck up an
acquaintance with her. But when they ,
had reached this town and were near the
drug shop of a certain young Mateo b. ,
rome, the latter began to chaf the woman
on her new found companion She re-
piled that she had fallen in with HIM on
the way but that she did not know HIM.
The druggist replied, jokingly: Then
he must be Fra Disvo.o." To this the
man said: Il am Fra Mslora." Fra
DIavoio or Fra Malora, halt!' answered
BaTonne, who was an under officer in the
provincial guard, and who now took the
stranger into his shop. The curious
citizens quickly assembled. Baronne,
ANXIOUS to claim the 2, 900 ducats reward
efered for the capture OF the brigand chief,
collected q guard aud led him p.isoner to
Salerno. Fra D.svolo still denied his in
IDENTIFY; but Major Genoino, who had
just received the two banners and report
of Gaetano, found the wound on the
prisoners breast and was no longer In
doubt. Word was sent to Naples and the
Elboli OF the arrest, and on the 9Th Fra
Dlavolo was taken to the capital Two
days later he was hurriedly tried by an
especial tribunal and sentenced TO be
hanged. On Monday, November IL, 1906,
he met his doom in the market place, short
ly after dinner, dying impenitent. HIS
body was left on the gallows twenty-four
hours, and then buried in the Church of |
the lucuraDles.