New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-12
CoNsTANTINoPLE TOPICS.
JUS BANDITS - CHOLERA - THE
LADIES.

of pcutiug and driving asd camplng-out may find
an attractive idea in tie method adopted by one Of
uur citizens This gentleman, an Italian of ola
and wealthy family resident In Constantinople, is
the hero of the hour by Of his discovery oil
excitement of new kind in passing week In the
woods A couple of weeks ago he went out to a
station on the Nicomedia Railway, sixteen.miles
from Constantiuopls. to buy piece Of land. He
took O stroll across field few hundred yards from
the railway. in company with villager. The
walk revealed to the italian, Mr.. Corp, several
things The first observation Was that half dozen
men were lounging about among the bushes Inc
next point noticed that these men had guns; and
the third and most disagressbe point was that they
wero waiting for him and insisted on bis taking
walk with them In fact. they politely put firmly
assured Mr.. Corpi that they had good place to
camp ont not very far of, and that his company
was quite necessary to their happiness. Whatever
rfr Corpis unwlipgness to join In the festivities
Of the camp they overcsme 1t By iudicious use OF
che revolv or, and departed taking him with them.
After marching for SONS distance they released the
vfIlnper in order that no might send word to the
family in ConstAntrnople that Mr. Corpi had bsen
tsken away by q party of wellarmed Greeks. Fur
fhsr information could be had by applying to the
sa.d Greeks.
The party then moved on, their camp seeming 60
grow further and further away as they went. They
tried TO reassure their guest by telling him that 1t
vas most comfortable and cooling place, although
. little further away than he had been led to ex
pect After o rapid and fatiguing march of some
twelve hours they cxme to halt. Tncy were on .
hilltop overlooking the magnificent expanse of the
Black Sea- Oaks and chestnuts afforded grstefui
ehade A spring Of delicious water furnished
rivulet through the neighboring raSine. The spot
was Just such one rs the summer tourist would
select for his camp In the Wild wood. The whole
party was ravenously hungry but it seems thar the
matter of provisions bad been overlooked So the
cid gentleman who seemed tn DO the mastsr-spirit
of the froc came to Mr. Corp and made few re-
marks which strongly resembled the hospitabe
statement of the Turkish householder OF proverb-
isl fame who said to his visitor: should like TO
offer you egg If you will accept It, can borrow
b frying-pau and some salt bat the trouble rs to
find the eggp The leader Of the camping party
said to Mr.. Corpi that he would like to give him q
picnic COLLATION. right there, but that he was Obliged
70 ask the loan OF q few pounds to buy food with.
This little matter was easily arranged, and the
Greek entered tho sum Of five pounds IN his diary
o. received from Mr.. Ccrpi on account.
:. From this momeny everything went merrily
enough The Greeks gathered leaves and made
luxurious couch for their guest told stories SANK
songs and made themselves generally agreeable.
The provisions came, in the form of roast lamb and
pilaf with bread and wine; and everybody enjoyed
the affair hugely, unless we except Mr.. Corpi.
After di0uer the elderly gentleman who presided
connded to Mr.. Corp the little circumstance which
Isn't excitement TO tho whole affair, and which
made this special excursion one 20 attract summer
tourists in the direstion of Constantinopie This
circumstance was that The picnic could not be
broken up until Mr.. Corpi had paid down the sum
Of $3.50 900 in gold Much as is panied him, the
Greek to al1de to such thing, he added that uii-
less the money was forthcoming within few days
hs would be compelled TO shoot Mr.. CorIi.
Then began most curious spectacle Mr.. Corpi
undertook dccry his worth. He first rated him.
self at about IL 500. AnoSher great feast was held
over this phase of the question without reaching an
agreement During eight days the hsegling over
TIE price continued. Every day brought some new
proposal and between proposals evervb body ate and
drank and smoked and tola long yarns Of wild ad-
ventures. The captive made himself quite at
homo. The brigands declared that he would do for
\ robber chief ana offered him the position as
ueans of acquiring the wealth which they thought
he must need since he rated his personal valuation
ct 10 small sum.
Meantime the news had como to Constantinoplo
OF Mr.. Corpi's capture by brigands. The Govern
ment instantly sent Largo torcc 70 surround the
village whsre the capture was effected. The troops
arrested the villager who had been released by tho
robbers as well % other villagers who testi-
fed to having seon the captare from distance.
Next they established themselves on the spot where
Che capture took place and enjoyed smoke theIe.
Finally they searched carefully all the bitches and
Indigenous about the Reld. and photographed to
Coustantinpple that tho country was being dill
rsutly searched and that the robbers could not
escape. Upon this, matters took the course usual
In such cases The family of Mr.. Corpi, who at first
had demanded of the Government the instant ar
xest of the robbers now with tie ars besougnt the
authorities to recall the troops In order to save the
life of the captive by direct treaty with the rob
bers The troops we're called Oh. and the family an
nounced in all the villages that they were ready 10
receive proposals.. Soon note arrived from MI.
Corpi saying that be bad finally accepted vaiua-
tion of $500, and that he would DO shot IL tie
money was not at u specified point within forty
eight hours.
This news was carefully concealed from the au-
thorities and the family sent out the money at
once In charge Of three trusty Croats. The Croats
met the delegate of tho robbers at the specified
po,ur Two OF them were required to remain there,
waile tina third Entrusted himself and the money to
tho honor Of tie robbsr guide. After an hours
climb among tho mountains the Croat arrived at
the place where Mr.. Corpi was calmly smoking
cigarette with the chief OF the band. Then there
was an interchange OF CONGRATULATIONS between she
robbers and their guest and Mr. Corpi voluntee rcd
to count the money for them in order to divide II
according to the code Of the band. First OF all the
chief aauded his prisoner the five pounds borro we'd
ta purchase food during the week. Next he pre-
scntsd the Croat who brought the money $50 as
token Of high regard for himself and his two CON-
panivns The remainder was parcelled out IN equal
shares among the band after reserviDg 10 per cent
rs special allowance to tho captain. This labor
performed, the robbers allowed their guest to de-
part, with elusive expressions Of regard and the
hope that they might meet again. So eudod Mr.
corpI's sumner trip with its unriyalled opportu-