Wichita eagle., 1889-01-13
TYPICAL DIAVOLOS.
LUXURIOUS BRIGANOS WHO MAKE
EUROPE THEIR CAMPING GROUNDS.

EUROPE Helix C6MFtNG GhOONOo.
Picturesque Eocues of Eastern Eoumelia.
Luxurious Rascals Who Are Not Content
with Common Thinss-The Zeal Era
Diayulo"-Scribe's Delusive Creation.
Brigaudage-whichm may happily be said to
be all but defunct in Spain and the Italian
peninsula, which is only heard of now and
again in feebly spasmodic outbursts in Sicily,
which has lost much of its former virulence
in the kingdom of Hellenes proper, and
which, thanks to railways and the mainte-
nance Of something approaching stable
government, is fading even out Of Mexico
seems, by all accounts to be fourishing in
the fullest luxuriance n Eastern Roumelia-
The energy and impudence Of the gang OF
bandits who recently captured two Austrian
subjects, NM LANDER and Binder, at Bel
Iowa, and demanded no less sum than l 800
Turkish pounds for their ransom, are almost
of a nature to vie with the late N. Edmund
About's delightfully."- picturesque but slightly
imaginative narrative of the achievements
Of the Greek ''Klept" Hadji Stavros, king
of the Mountains"
1t cannot be denied that there is slight
touch of humor in the proceedings of these
rufianly outlaws, and that they have con-
trived to cast new light on the domestic
economy Of brigand life. There has been
hitherto tolerably general consensus
among travellers that the modern brigand
in Roumelia and on the Turko-Greek from
tier is, as a rule, a deplorable ragamuffin,
usually ne'er do well peasant or an inso-
lent horse couper, who is in league with the
dram shop keeper and sometimes with the
priest Of the village round about which he
prowls. His innermost garment is more fire.
quently goat skin than a shirt of textile
fabric; he rarely washes; his ideas touching
combs are indistinct and he never heard Of
tooth brush.
As for his diet, it is one in which salt fish
and sausages largely predominant over butch
er's meat, and rancid oil over both, and as
regards Stinlulants, he will drink as much as
he can get of the commonest red wine, the
most fiery corn brandy and the most malo-
dorous mastic or ''raki" OF course, he
smokes, but usually his tobacco has been the
vilest Russian 'mahorka" and his pipe q
rude chibouck Of cherry wood. The Bellova
brigands seem, however, to have souls far
above such primitive garb and such simple
viands as we have glanced at.
PERFECT STBARITES
The rogues are perfect sybarites, and, in
letter addressed to a rich merchant Of Tartar
Bazardjik, they demanded that there should
be forthwith sent to them six Martini rifles
of the pattern furnished to the Eastern Rou-
melian gendarmes, together with large
supply Of ball cartridge, thirty-hve pairs of
shoes, as many shirts, ornamented with the
finest Russian embroidery, thirty-five pairs
of stockings of the best quality, thirty-five
cakes of scented soap, an equal quantity of
ivory combs, three dozen less one of ivory
cigarette holders, a large quantity Of tobacco
and cigarettes and neatly assorted stock of
cognac, vermouth, bitters, cheese and other
creature comforts 1t is only to be wondered
at that these dandy brigands did not add
few dozen boxes of sardines, Paris kid gloves,
hand mirrors, birthday cards and TASKS Of
eau do Cologne to their list. Their altar of
roses they probably prepare for themselves,
the odoriferous manufacture being indigo
nous 80 the region they adorn with their pres
ence.
About the only tenable hypothesis that can
be formed to account for the elegant luxury
in which the Bulgarian brigands have taken
to living may be that they have been read
ing translation of the lbretto of Scribe's
Fra Diavolo," and that they have resolved
to Give up to it."
The real Era Diavolo," whose name was
Michele PezZa, was the most repulsive of
highway robbers. He had been a stocking
knitter in small way Of business in the
kingdom of Naples, and. going bankrupt,
took naturally to the road. He became the
scourge and terror of the two Calabrias, and
price was set on his head, but when in 1873
Cardinal Ruffo undertook to force the French
to evacuate the Neapolitan territory he par
doned Fra Diavolo," and even gave him a
commission as lieutenant colonel of yolun-
teerS.
EXECUTED AT LAST.
For eight years this inconceva5le black
guard waged guerrilla warfare on the Gallo
invaders, robbing and numbering his own
countrymen when there were no foreigrersto
fight, but in 1906 he was captured, shot and
gibbeted, the officer who ordered his execu-
ton being, oddly enough, a gallant French
general, the father of the great master of tho
romantic school in Frauce-Victor UuCo