Mohave County miner., 1889-09-28
a BLooprHIRsTY Lor.
How Bloody Band OF Robbers
Killed and Robbed Their Vic.

L nhhea anu HoDOeu In0R VIcs
| Tins.
Comparatively few persons who
speak lightly OF ''Thugs"- "--supposing
the term TO be synonymous with
trough, tough or "foot~pad"--are
acquainted with the true signifcation
OF the word. or who know that at one
time the mere mention OF IL caused a
panic among the law-abiding citizens
OF India, who were fully cognizant Of
the horrible atrocities committed by
these conseienceless murderers.
IL will not be amiss therefore to give
brief history OF these robbers, who.
up to 1887. oyerran every district Of
India, committing tho most detestable
crimes chronicled In modern history.
They were known yaIiously as
Thugs" or '.Phansigars,n but the lat
ter appellation seems the moro appro-
pirate. as it fully expresses the pecul-
lar manner In which they carried out
their atroclous schemes
"Phansigarn takes its origin from
the instrument with which the mem
bers OF these outlawcd bands accom-
plished their double crime of murder
aud robbery. II signifies "a strang-
ier," from the word phansi. moose.
which was suddenly thrown over tho
mead OF each victim, and then by a
lextrous twist drawn about his neck.
resulting in almost immediate strangu-
alton. As a matter Of course the
moose. prevented the slightest outcry.
The Phansigars, says l.. T. Peaie In
.he Detroit Free Press, belonged to no
particular caste, being recruited from
the Hindoos. Mohammedans, pariahs,
Or outcasts, and even the Brahmins.
They travelled in bands varying from
Twelve 20 sixty. or even 800 In number.
and invariably carried on their bloody
work ut distance from any thiekly
settled community.
Each company had chief, or juna,
iar, 10 whom was yielded the most i'm
plicit obedience, and who directed all
their movements. Like the modern
leaders OF strikes. however. the chief
seldom placed himself in any actual
dagger. Usually he acted as 81 spy up
on the movements OF the intended VIC
Tins, and then from safe vantage
ground planned their destruction. with
out actively participating In the result
ant murder.
When In active service each band
was generally separated into parties
consisting OF eight or ten members,
who. In turn divided into twos and
threes. closely following each other, in
order TO render immediate assistance.
Generally speaking their raode Of
perpetra,ing tho murder was as fol-
lows: When the victim was lsilIed in.
to perfect obscurity by the means
already described, one OF the parties
quickly passed moose. formed Of a
twisted handkerchief or strip OF thin
muslin. over his head, and drawing IL
deftly about his neck instantly tight
ened H. This being done, an accom-
plice struck the struggling within on
the Joint OF his knees behind which
caused him TO fall forward, thus aseel-
Grating this process OF str,.bgula-
tion.
After collecting their pluader q
division was made, the best of all be-
ing offered to Kali; then n doubts
share was allotted 10 the chief. Having
provided for these two most important
characters. the remainder was par
celed among them in certain proper
tions, thus: To the person who cast
the moose and strangled the victim aud
the one who mutilated the body
share and half was awarded, aud to
all the members who were present, bu.
not actively engaged, share each.
The absent members we're rewarded
with hall a share.
Returning homo with the proceeds
they would spend their time in reveiry
and debauchery until the ill-gotten
money was exhausted. when each band
would again take 10 ths road in search
OF fresh victims.
By intermarriage the bond OF union
between the members was more Deep
ly cemented The wives were fully
aware OF the nature OF the ayocation OF
their husbands, and. although they
never assisted them. enjoyed the pro-
ceeds without expressing the slightest
repugnance for the manner in which
he,