Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-09
BRIGAxDAGE IN SICILY.
ExpOsito at HOme--G Guarding the
Roads About the Church OF
the SieiIian VesPers.

when they take a captive into the
mountains, and they desire a cores
ponding gain. Tourists they dom
know anything about; their ransom
might not be worth the trouble, and
there is always the bugbear Of the
indignant foreign government and a
possible hornets nest stirred up about
their ears. So they confine their at.
tention to residents. By far the ma.
ljority Of their victims have been
wealthy Italians. We hear of En-
glishmen's troubles alone, because
others are not of international interest.
If a resident is rich and takes regular
routes through the country to knowU
points, let him beware; the brigands
will find out those methodical habits
and make use of them; there will be
another ambuscade.
We wanted to see opposite, but it
was an herculean task to get within
the temple of that divinity. Fcrtu.
nately one Of our party knew an infu-
entail Count. He had known him in
earlier days, in the United States,
when the Count was a poor exile for
politics sake. Exiles are proverbially
grateful for past kindness, and the re-
stored noble no sooner learned our
wish than he desired US to let him be
our escort. How many grand officials
the poor gentleman attacked on our
behalf | would not like to say. There
was the Project and Governor of
Civil Affairs, and the Military Gov
ernor, and a Council, and, if | am
right, half a score of others. For, in
the South of Europe, there is more
than one "Circumlocution Office"
However, one day the last magnate
had consented, aud we were on our
way to the prison. As we drove along
the Via Macqueda the Count,directed
attention to the gay crowds on the
wayside.
"0ut Of every FIVE of those you see"
he observed, Il suppose one is at
heart a sympathizer with such as
Esposito, Why, the latter would
never have escaped if it had not been
for the average Sicilian street crowd"
Doubtless; and these narrow alleys
that lead off to the right and lett Of
this main street, did they not aid him
greatly in deiying pursuit."
Very much so; they are perfect
%labyrinths. 1t was this way: They
were taking him from the prison to
the courtroom. His guard was rather
careless. | suppose, and he slipped
away. He lodged up one Of those
alleys, the guard pressed in after, pre-
tending, of course, to be very earnest
in securing him. There was such a
jam that the gendarmes couldn't fol-
low, and the next | knew of the gem
tleman vas that he had turned up in
America"
"a search for his hiding place in
your populous wards must have been
desperate"
Eyes; he had many a friend with
whom he could lie quiet until the
storm blew over; then he made of"
such a disappointment to the law
yersl So much lively work lost to
them"
Not at all" the Count said, laugh
ingly; we have trials over here when
there are no criminals to try. The
Exposito proceedings went on at court
just the same as before, as if he were
there. 1t didn't make the slightest
difference. They found him guilty"
Our carriage drew up before a mas.
sive building Of octagonal shape, sur
rounded by lofty white walls. while
not far off were the barracks. Sol
diers we're drilling on the parade
ground. They marched in a quick.
breathless way; it was almost a half
run. The method is thought to make
them more capable Of enduring long
marches.
The interior of the prison differed
little from those in our own country.
A guide showed us along bare CORR.
doris. Now and then he pointed out
the whitewashed cell Of some more
celebrated culprit. Presently the
keeper Of this menagerie stopped be.
fore a cage and stirred up the animal
that lay therein.
"Espositol awakel' 1t was a frowsy.
dark bearded man that arose. We
stared. Nothing romantic, nothing
theatrical about the unclean person
age.
How do you like America, Signor
Esposito?"
All carissimal me-a ave lebertee
there.a," and the rascal winked; We
supposed SO
Our curiosity was gratifed, and We
left the place. The fresh air of the
suburbs was very grateful after the
close jail atmosphere. Orange grove:
bordered the road on either side, aud
the rich green boughs of lemon tree:
hung over. the walls that guarded
them. A shower had just fallen. and
the air was. sweetly scented. We were
approaching the old ruins Of a famou,
church, the church where the massa
ere Of the Sicilian Vespers began. II
1882, in place of all those orange gar.
dens. there was an open esplanade
On Easter Tuesday it was covered with
people. Some were going to church
Others were making merry on tn,
green. The massacre had long beer
Matching, but its immediate GU broaI
was an accident. French soldiers nov
appeared upon the esplanade. and on,
OF them insulted a young bride. TheI
the long pent up fury broke forth
The fight was savage, and the well
armed French slaughtered the island
| ers, But when it was all over Their,
was one Frenchman left a~livein Sicily
no more.
} The shady avenue of our drive wa
! the Via Del Vespri." II was no
straight. 1t bent and twisted an,
e turned, generally in the direction q
! zigzag lightning. At each angle Their
- uyoc a oonN,., - O. l.