Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-07-10
A BANDIT IN TONQUIN.
A ADespeserado who Has Terrorlzed q
surrounding Country.

A ADespeserado who Has Terrorized the
surrounding Country.
Lun-Ky is a desperate who leads bandit
horde in the mountain Businesses near Dong
trien, in Tonquin. He is hardly more than
twenty years of age, is of q commanding
stature and singular ferocity, and has opera
ted SO actively during the last two years as
to have become an object of terror through
out that part of the country. 1t is believed,
says Colonel Field in letter to the Chicago
News, that unrequited love impelled the
youth to adopt this lawless life, for two
years ago he was q reputable lad, sppren
ticed to saddler, and assiduous on his at
tentions to the daughter of one of the local
magistrates. This girl. however, suddenly
welded with an old and rich neighbor, and
IN few days Lun.Ky disappeared from
Dons.trien, snd presently blazsd into nortor-
iety as the boldest bandit chief In Tonquin.
youth to acquire so great possessions as to
occasion his old and tickle inamorata severe
heart-burnings. At all events, the riches
which Lun-Ky has amassed in two years are
said to exceed the bounds of crednlity
Somewhat of dandy in his tastes, he wears
gorgeous silks and feathers, and covers his
bosom with Q network of gold; his weapons
are Of the finest quality, and include in their
category iewelled soimetars. ebony stock
carbines and ivory-hilted ponjards. Two
months ago the brother Rogue and n. Costa,
three Frenchmen temporarily residing In
Tonquin, were captured by Lun-Ky's band.
| At the same time companion, one Sing vi,
| q native tradesman, fell into the hands of
the brigands. AS soon as II. Briffaud, the
French consul at Dong-trien, heard of this
outrage, he applied himself industriously TO
securing the release of the captives, but the
brigands, with whom intercourse was finally
| opened mp, demanded an exorbitant ransom,
nor would they accede to any compromise.
One day, therefore, the consul, accompanied
by the village priest and attended by an
escort of French marines, repaired to the
mountains, bearing the required ransom.
Having reached q lonely spot supposed to
have been about five miles from the bandit
camp, this little company was halted before
| bamboo post upon which was hung an in
scription saying that the troops must not 60
further without parley. About this time
Lun-Ky himself appeared In the distance, and
| announced that the consul and the priest
should proceed together, leaving the marines
behind. It was another Hobson's choice
So the troops remained, and the consul and
the priest went forward with the beasts
bearing the ransom. Reaching the assigned
place, perhaps two miles distant, the ransom
was carefully inspected and counted. It CON
sisted of 100 pieces of silk, 10 watches ani
s50, 900 in coin. Lun-Ky objected to tn,
silk, because II was not, as he complained, O
the best quality. But the consul, speaking
through the priest as interpreter, repraente.
that the silk was the very best that could b.
obtained In Tonquin, and finally the chief
tain was persuaded. Then the captives wer
delivered up, the bandits to the number O
400 kneeling all the while In circle, wit
, leveled rifles, ready to ERE at the FIRST signal
As soon a. the consul, the priest and the re
leased men disappeared down the hillside
the bandits struck camp and made of wit
: proper haste.
The native brakeman, Sing. Vi, Was take