New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-20
AMONG THE BRIGANDS.
A FRENCHMAN,S EXPERIENCE AMONG MOST
COURTEOUS OUTLAWS.

ConstantinCple, sept Full particulars have now
been made known Of the release Of NJ. dc Raymond VINO
was captured by brigands at OmOurdla on the lo OF
! August The two drapomanS OF the french CohsulaIe
! who with guard of twelve gcndarmes, accompanied
NJ Rufica upon his mission to convey the ransom to
te bandit chief had been waiting for some days at the
| farm, when, on Friday last abort midday, strange
peasant appeared proved to be an emssary OF the
brgands. With a good deal of mystery he produced
letter remarkng have been enjOined by those who
| hold NJ de Raymond captive to brinG you this, under
the pain OF DEATH and charged, in the event OF yonr
desiring to de Raymond, to act your guide
TO the spot where he is confined lon may bring thrcc
men with You"
Having delivered this message the man disappeared
NJ Ghibert the Chancellor OF the French Consulate
then opened the mysterious missye and found that it
contained a communication in pure Greek corresponding
with the peasants verbal announcement At the foot
of the note which in the handwriting OF Thomas,
the brigand chief, there postscript written by Nj
de RAYMOND TO the effect that he quite well. NJ
Ghilbert told the TO wait for him, mounted his
horse and galloped as fast as the animal conld carry
him to Rodosto in order to seek the advice OF the French
Consul That officer urged him not to lose single
moment in availng himself OF the PEASANTS guidance
10 send the TO the rObber chief. NJ Iacchela
another dragoman of the Consulate who is possessed of
great physical strength, and his servant. sturdy
peasant were selected to carry out this critical mission,
both OF them being familiar with the country.
1t was evening before VI. Gbilbert, accompanied by
these agents. got back to the farm Shortly before 10
O'Clock at night they set out foot upon their eXpedi
tion The journey lay through desolate mountain
Businesses and deep ravines, amid which, when they
had been five six hours on the march. the party
hailed for rest and refreshment After nearly four
teen hours hard walking they arrived at the outskirts
of a forest. II noon the saturday. The
guide who throughout the journey had kept from two
TO three hundred PAGES in front Of VI. Tacchea and his
servant here stopped until they came up lie re-
| tboip in ito
| chiefs and to continue to follow him. They com
Piled with these directions, and the party then entered
the forest. They had not proceeded far when they
suddenly found thcmselve, confronted by tire,
brgands, armed to the teeth, who appeared TO spring
out Of the earth Covering the travellers with their
rifles, they demanded whether they had brought With
! them NJ. de RaymOnd's ransom. Receiving reply in
| the Affirmative the bandits declared they ready
to escort the passengers TO the headquarters of the
| gang The journey was continued about two hours
longer, and then a halt called in an extremely
| remote and picturesque retreat. few minutes later
the brigand chief Thomas, attended by five of his
gang and accompanied by Vi. de Raymond, appeared
NJ. Tacchela and his servant then each produced MS
quota Of the ransom. former stated that he was
dragoman OF the French Consulate at ROdosto and
that in addition 10 the $1,000 which he had brought as
" dc RaymOnds ransom, he had With him sum Of
G100, intended to the expenses OF the journey
back to ROdosO. lie oppressed hope that tie
money would not be taken from him. To this the
chief replied in the most afable manner, "Why, OF
course not You shall keep everything you have upon
you. No one shall modest you. We have no night
, 10 anything but the ransom we have cXacted Here
is NJ. de Raymond, whom deliver up TO you safe and
sound. You may depart in all security, for yOn have
my assurance that no harm shall betall you"
Thereupon Thomas took sheet Of noepaper ana
began TO write out In the most busnesslike manner
formal declaration that having received the ransom set
upon the head Of NJ dc Raymond. that gentleman was
now free and that for the future he would be at lib
ery TO traverse those regions In perfect security ana
would never again be moested or interfered with by
any member OF the band. The robbcr chief In
sisted upon kissing NJ. de Raymond, and begged
him not harbOr resentment for the trouble ana IN
convenience which he had been put. Inc brgand
who had struck NJ. de Raymond over the head on the
occasion Of his capture also approached ana bcsOugt
his forgiveness that injury, which, he declared he
had only inflicted under the stress OF circumstances
The party had not been moro than couple OF houIs
on the march back when they fell IN Win patrol OF
gendarInes, who insisted upon searching them ana De
handed 10 see their papers II In vain thut NJ.
Tacchella endeavoed TO explain who he was and wat
As the gendarmes wOnld not listen 10 reason NJ de
Raymond protested yehemeny that the sub-lieuton
ant I'm command of the patrol ordered him 70 be bound
gO3d deal OF needless Ill treatment marched
Milo on the way thither, however, NJ Tacchela's
servant succeeded IN convincing ire subleutenant that
his maste accOun:O himself perfectly true, and
NJ dc Raymond thereupOn unbound. ON arriving
at the headquarters OF The police, the party met with
much more hospitable reception, and were enabled 10
continue their return journey without further let or
hirdranccs