The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1891-03-25
A STORY OF THE MAFIA,
THE TERRIBLE REVENGE OF ITALIAN OUTLAWS.
BY GORDON NOEL HURrEI..

The Italians life was burning out with
the scorching heat of the yellow death.
OAths and imprecatious came from
the parching lips rs he struggled 10 free
himself from the cords that had been
bound about him to keep him upon the
cot.
u won't die by G." ne shrieked
franticallv until he was exhausted.
Rising in the bed as far a. the cords
would allow. he asked hoarsely:
"You swear that will die2'
The physician nodded his head
Then the papers in the chest
quick"
A small hair trunk in a corner of the
room was opened and roll of manu-
script taken out and placed IN the dying
Italians hand.
Take it." he gasped, "take it-the
the-the-I choke water, quick
Mafia--the Malta"
And he was dead.
1t was in the fall Of 1878 that ] wit
messed the Italian sailors death. Though
to help take care of the yellow. fever pa
tients in Mobile. l learned that the
Italian had been taken i'll on the very
day he arrived from New Orleans. In
fact he had been brought straight from
the vessel to the pest-hou
The dead Italians manuscript was
placed in my care, and as it was written
i'll the Italian language l laid it away
among my private papers. There it re-
mained until q few days ago, when
the trial of Hennessey's murderers in
New Orleans brought its existence to my
memory, aud l found the old papers,
and had the writing upon the manu-
script translated by u gentleman i'll At
lanta.
The terrible vengeance upon the men,
bers of the Malta in New Orleans makes
the publication OF the Italians story of
more than ordinary interest, for it is one
of the most terrible that has possibly
ever been published.
The Story of the Mafa.
l, Petro Baptisto, have washed my
hands in human blood three times.
When | am dead, the truth can be told
to the world, for then l will be out of
reach of the dreaded Malta.
When boy, l left the sunshine of
Italy to seek the gold that had heard
SAID often was as thick in the new world
as the pebbles upon the shores of the
sea. ran away from home and en-
barked in a vessel bound for New Or
, leans. l arrived there penniless, but Sc
cured the position~~off office boy in the
counting rooms of Alphonso k!Iyerol
| rich Italian merchant.
l became favorite with my employ
er, and in two years was his private Sec
| retary.
was tall, strong, and possessed all
hot
| parents blood. Rvero noted these
points, and one night was asked to be-
come a member of the Malta.
l refused at first. But the wrongs
done my people were SO deftly painted,
| and the appeals from the man who had
done so much for me were SO strong
| that l at last consented.
On the night of September IA, 1858. /
| was blindfolded and taken six or seven
miles from the city. At the end of the
| Journey / found myself in a large barn
on the banks of the Mississippi river.
By dim light saw about one hun
| dred figures, in black gowns, with black
cowls over their faces, moving about
| the room.
A deep, low voice inquired:
''Is be ready for the sacrifice?'
ole is," came from another voice in
| the rear of the room.
Then bind him TO the stake"
was seized and tied to post. My
| shirt was unbuttoned and my breast
| laid bare.
One of the figures approached me and
| said:
cart thou ready to renounce thy
| family, thy kindred, all mankind, thy
self, all thy earthly interests and thy God
upon the altar of thy country2"
nodded my head.
| "Then repeat after me: swear upon
the forfeit Of my life to obey the com
| every tie in earth and in heaven to the
fulfillment of my new obligations.
| solemnly swear never to divulge the
secrets Of the Malta, and to speedily put
| to death any other member that does
| And take this solemn obligation know
| ing that if violate the oath my own
life will pay the penalty"
As the last word fell from my lips a
red hot iron In the shape Of a heart with
a dagger through it was pressed against
my breast until the dreadful insignia o1
the Malta was burned in my flesh.
Twas then instructed that the object
of the society was to protect the inter,
ests of Italians everywhere throughout
the world, and all persons who were sin
the way" were to be removed by
being put to death.
Months passed by, and the fact that
had become q member of the Malta was
almost forgotten, when | received q
card upon which was a picture of a
heart aud dagger, and beneath thi:
were the words: "Come to the Algier'.
ferry crossing at 1880 to night"
l was on time at the appointed plac;
and was met by member Of the order
who whispered to me the real place o
meeting, at the home of one of th'
officers.
In large garret, and in the dark
the meeting was held, each person bav
ing been admitted by the password
"Italy."
When the hour of twelve had arrived
the stiffness wa4abroken by q voice
recognized rs my employers and bene
factors. -
"My friends and brothers," he said i,
low voice, ''you have been called her
at my request. I have a grievance. AM
| will tell it to you quickly Thre
cursed Americ sus are trying to rob ID
of my daughter, aud l have reasous T.
believe that one of them has alread
Iofh 4iased plans 10 steai nef irou he
crrse him. | have their homes and ad
Il essss Tiey are Noel Andre, clerk a
the custom house; Walter 8. Blakeley
with the New Orleans Shipping associa
tion; and Isadore B. Murrell, lawyer
Nearly all of my wealth comes to m
through my daughter, and it is he
money the dogs are after. fear no
Anito loves one of them. She is mem
ber of the Matte herself, as you know
but have kept her away tonight. Thi