Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-10
BESET By BRIGANDS.
& RUSSIANS EXPERIENCE WITH A
LAWLEss GANO.
An Unpleasant Case Of Niitsksu Identity
Wesrisd with Travel, Cold, sad
Fearful Of Death.
Boston Hernld.l

| Was occupied IN taking photographs
OF the beautiful scenery near the monas-
terry Of Rio, says NJ. Karastoiano6 to
London interviewer. with an assistant,
when about 4 O'Clock in the afternoon We
suddenly met with about fourteen armed
men. They pointed their guns at US,
snd two OF them called out to us not TO
move or we should be shot. These two
then came toward US, and we were bound
fast. Then we were led up to the rob
Der chief Ella, who said "You don't
want the Russians? You miserable
wretches. we will soon drive out your
love Of the Coburger He will get a
rope about his neck as soon as you.
The Chief gave me several blows with
the stock Of his gun and called me min
jsier-president in mockery. told BIN
lie was mistaken in my personality but
he would not be persuaded that nc had
not NJ. StambuloG II his hands, whom
somewhat resembled. We we're then led
through woods and over mountains,
sometimes through villages, till near
midnight, when orr strength was quite
exhausted. We stopped on the top Of
the hill which dominated the region. At
dawn Ella gave me pen, lnk, and paper,
and dictated letter 10 the Prince de-
handing 5000 ransom for his "minis-
ter-president. told Ella that the sum
was too large, but he assured me
that the Coburger was enormously
rich. and that 5000 was nothing
10 him. When | again demonstrated
and swore that ! was only n photogra-
rher he reduced the sum 10 E2,OO0.
There was no messenger ut hand, 90
| lila allowed me 10 send my assistant
away with the letter. No ansver reached
Us. and I owe it TO this circumstance,
and to the fact that other brigsnds ar
rived snd confirmed my identity, that !
was able to lay down my ministerial
portfolio in the hands Of the robbers,
and was for the future spared tho beat
ing at suppcr-time, which till tnen l lad
suffered. The three brigands who had
Joined IA must have been sent bY an
other band. for a day later three others
1 left our camp, taking report with them.
/ I believe that all the bands are
in communication. On the sixth Day
Of my captivity we crossed into turkish
dominions. Just before ! had had
little adventure. We were camping
among a grove Of bushes, when suddenly
the sentinel reported the approach OF
strong patrol. The sentiuels were At
/ once Withdrawn and We all gathered to-
/ gctber in the bushes. was put IN the
/ middle and two brigands stood over me
| with drawn daCgers. They threatened
10 stab me toe moment | should make
/ tho least noise. Naturally l renamed
( perfectly quiet. Soon after a strong pa
| troll rode past Us about thirty yards of
without an idea Of our presence. Anhour
after we started again. One OF the gen
dnrmes Of the patrol had been left he
hind. As he was going TO pass us he was
stoned. disarmed, and dragged With Us.
! Two DAYS later he took fancy to brl-
| gandago, and in the afternoon pro
nounced his oath as member Of the
/ band in tho presence Of Ella, after which
ceremony great feast took place.
During the night patrol had been sent
! bv the Chief to the Turkish frontier sta
ton Nehomia and had brought plenty Of
victuals. Ssrdines, sau6sges, Swiss
cheese, preserved fish, wine, and brandy
were plentifuly spread out on the grass
and every one ate and drank his fill.
During the night wo were terribly
cold but dared not light a fire, not
so much 10 avoid drawing the at
ten,ion OF Turkish gendarmeS bnt
because Of the bears and wolves which
! Fila said were in the noighborhood.
With the exception OF three Ar
pauts the band consisted wholly OF Bull
gariaus. They we're excellently armed.
Each had Bcrdan gun and about IOO
cartridges. All had watches, rings, and
lerpo antique coins, and in their vide
| breeches they had n real arsenal OF
/ knives and daggers. The brigands are
very pious. The fast of tho previous
week had been vigorously observed.
One OF tho brigands called Petko put on
at the beginning of the fast splendid
( gold-embroidered priests mantle, and
read prayers ont of book. All the
: robbers stood up and listened roverently.
/ They crossed themselves repeatedly,
and when Petko had replaced the
robe III its sack they still con
/ tinued pIous conversation. l
was curious as 70 where the
priests robe had come from, and asked
/ Lila. He told me that the year before
+ they had killed Greek Archimandrlte
/ and robbed the mantle from the sacrls-
trv of the church. The briCands almost
ALWAYS talked politics. The Gar Snd
/ sultal ore names that one hears constant
| " throughout the day. II is remarka-
/ bic how these pepple are acquainted with
everything that happens Every eve
ming patrols were sent into the villages
aud towns merely 20 gather the news.
At lsst, Just as day dawned, one such
| patrol came back to camp aud gave
| Ella secret message. That 1t was
a pleasing one / gathered from the
smile that appeared on the Chiefs face.
BIT to this day don't know what 1t Was
about. After break OF day the Chief
called his band together, put me IN the
centre. and SAID that as they must go on,
and had no time 10 lose. and as no ran
som had arrived, they must consult as 70
nv life or death. On this the three bri-
lands led me aside, and remained with
| me while the other eleven, with Ella az
their head formed a court-martlal. They
consulted for about ak hours. / often
trembled with apprehension. for heard
that one Of the most influential brigsnds
voted my death. At last Ella called ussnd
pronounced the verdict, which was that
nine against two voices decided that
sbould be liberated without ransom. The
reason wss then given. which was that
after the brigands had convinced thom-
solves that | was neither minister nor
an official. nor any other kind of blood.
sucker. but poor, decent man, they had
no reason to keep me any longer. Then
Fila said that if / lad suffered any III
Justice from the brigands should pardon
them. Then the bugands embraced
and kissed me one by one. and
begged for keepsakes. Fila had taken
possession of my gold watch rs soon as
was taken but he gave me back the
chain. with the bunch OF trinketS as
soon as / said 1t was SouveH'r Of ny
dead father. After destroying al the
plates they also returned my photo
qraphic apparatus. 1t was already eve
N.Naa