Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-07-26
A BANDIT OF roNau1N.
Youthful Lun-Ky and the Vast Store of
Gold He Has Stolen.
CORRESPONDENCE of the Chicago News

Correspondence of the Chicago News
Iun-ky is desperate who leads ban
dit horde in the mountain Businesses near
Dong-trien, in Tonquin. He is 20 years of
age, is of commanding stature and singular
ferocity, and has operated so actively dur
ing the last two years as to have become an
object of terror throughout that part of the
country. Unrequired love impelIed the
youth to adopt this lawless life. Two years
ago he was reputable lad, apprenticed to
saddler, and assidious to his attentions
to the daughter of one of the local magis-
trates. This girl, however, suddenly we'd
ded an old and rich neighbor, and Lun-Ky
disappeared from Dong trien and blazed
into notoriety as the boldest bandit chief
in Tonquin. 1t is the ambition of the
misguided youth to acquire so great pos
session as to occasion his old and tickle in
amorata severe heartburnings.
The riches which Lun-Ky has amassed
in two years exceed the bounds of credu-
ilty. Somewhat of dandy in his tastes.
he wears gorgeous silks and feathers and
covers his bosom with a network of gold
his weapons are of the finest quality, and
include in their category jeweled seine
tiers, ebony stock carbines and ivory-hilted
poniards. Two months ago the brothers
Rogue and II. Costa, three Frenchmen
temporarily residing in Tonquin, were cap
tured by Lun-Ky's band As soon as Nj.
Brifaud, the French Consul at Dong-trien.
heard of this outrage he applied himself
industriously to securing the release of the
captlves, but the brigands, with whom in
tercourse was finally opened, 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, bear
ing the required ransom. Having reached
lonely spot, supposed to have been about
five miles from the bandit camp,
this little company was halted before a
bamboo post upon which was hung an in
scription saying that the troops must not
go further without parley.
About this time Lun-Ky himself ap-
peared in the distance and announced that
the Consul and the priest should proceed
| together, leaving the marines behind 1t
was another Hobson's choice So the
troops remained, and the Consul and the
INpriest went forward with the beasts bearing
the ransom. Reaching the assigned place,
two miles distant, the ransom was care
fully inspected and counted. 1t consisted
of 100 pieces of silk, twelve watches and
$50, 900 in coin. Lun-Ky objected to the
silk because it was not, as he complained,
| of the best quality. But the Consul, speak
ing through the priest as Interpreter, rep
| resented that the silk was the very best
that could be obtained in Tonquin, and
finally the chieftain was persuaded. Then
the captives were delivered up, the bandits
to the number of 400 kneeling all the
while in circle, with leveled rifles, ready
to fire at the first signal AS soon as the
| Consul, the priest and the released men
| disappeared down the hillside the bandits
struck camp and made off with proper
haste.
The ransomed men say that Lun- XIV is
reverenced by his fellow bandits as an in.
spired being, and that his authority as
chieftain is absolute. Lun-Ky has kindly
given it out that as soon as the number Of
his followers has reached 700 he will
swoop down upon his native village, cap.
ture his old sweetheart and strangle hei
venerable husband, first. however, cutting
Oft the latter's ears and nose, this being q
particularly humiliating offense in China
This announcement has occasioned dis
tinct feeling of uneasiness in certain quar-.
| ters