The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-17
The nLAOK HAND.
A Band OF Tcrrorists Ia southcrn spain
The Day of Reckoning.

SeFllIe Got. EnllAutIpnM tfehS.
Sad, dry, desolate, wind swept, bare, al.
most treeless, cold in Winter and fiercely
hot in Summer-such Is tho plateau OIL
Central Spain. Melancholy, ill.cultivated
pastures, with immense flocks OF sheep,
guarded by shepherds clad in sheep. skin
cloaks, are the most frequent pictures Of
the Castilian plains. Crossing the Sierra
Morena, you come to another plateau, the
Maucha, celebrated because it was the
home OF the noble knight Don Quixote
and Of his faithful follower, Sancho
Panza. The Mancha is more fertile
oranges, lemons, olives, the grape, fields OF
wheat and maize meet you on every side.
When you come to the Granddaughter you
feel that. you have indeed reached the
sunny South. Palm trees raise their
proud crowns, Moorish towns and Moor.
ISL types predominant. But the glory oil
the Moorish dominion has fallen into ruins
their learning, their science to-day Is ignor.
ance and treachery. Still further south
rises the lofty wall Of the Sierra Nevada,
covered with eternal snow, and the coast
line beyond these mountains is African ia
aspect and climate.
In these Southern provinces conspiracy
has been slowly and silently growing, and
what was first but small band has sud-
denly assumed colossal proportions. The
originators, ten in number, assumed the
name OF the "Biack Hand" their deeds
were 10 be done swiftly and at night
These original ten members were men Of
culture, whose pleadings in favor Of Their
oppressed brethren the law ignored; then
they decided to try self.help, in order to
relieve their homes from a tyranical yoke
They chose, each OF them, ten resolute
men, who were to be known as mem
bers OF the band OILY among themselves,
but to remain unknown to the rest; these
received their orders directly from their
immediate chief; they were unacquainted
with the names Of all the other conspira
tors. Thus, should traitor be among
them, he could never betray more than
ten who formed his division. The numer.
ical law is known to all, and each in his
turn is free to constitute himself the leader
OF ten new adherents. To-day no one
knows how many thousand are actually
members OF the "Black Hand" but thai
there are tens OF thousands there Is nc
doubt.
The power has escaped from the hands
OF the primary leaders; their object has
been lost sight OF. Instead Of justice be
ing dealt to the oppressed and punishment
to the wicked, the tendency oil the bant
has grown to be communicate and social,
istic. Private revenge is frequently in
dulged in, aud. although number o
wrongs have been righted, many evil deed
have also been committed, and the "Black
Hand" established reign Of terror ovel
the community. Houses have been plund
cred, mail coaches robbed, thousands o.
head OF cattle stolen, and all who hav,
dared to oppose them in their operations
have forfeited their lives for their daring.
But the members OF this murderous banc
are soon to have dealt out to them the jus
tice which they failed to give others. Ont
by one the police have succeeded In cap
turing them, until there are now fully ont
thousand behind prison bars. The incar
ceration OF these bandits has done NOR,
than anything else to show the actua
strength OF the band, and the vast number
OF sympathizers it had enlisted in the case
Every day there are fresh arrivals Of food
clothing and letters for the prisoners, ant
the prisoners are surrounded by mobs o
their friends. No one is allowed insid,
the walls though, and tho men are not per
mitted TO have any communication witt
the outside world. 1.-THE Black Hand" ha
branched of far into the North, and In IL
Southwark course it has reachedthe shore
OF the Mediterranean Sea; 1t will probabl!
be impossible ever to trace 1t fully.
1t is expected that the authorities viii
commence proceedings against the mel
within the next two weeks. Premie
Sagasta has been the leading spiritin th,
prosecution, and it is, perhaps, due NOR
TO him than any one else, that such larg,
number Of the bands have been captured
Each OF the 100 or more prisoners has beer
indicted separately, for one, two, three ant
sometimes more crimes, and their senten
ces will vary with the enormity Of til,
ofanse. There is no doubt but what the,
will be convicted, for they don't hesitate i
acknowledge their career and occupation
or, rather, want OF occupation.