New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-28
TROUBLING THE PORTE.
CAPTAIN ATIIANASTUS'S BOLD STROKE
TIE OUTBREAK AT BET1ILEHEM

/
| Although Greece be fallen from her once pfoud
estate. il is evident that rare spirit OF romance
and Of humor withal. still fingers in the Grecian
mind This has just been manifested in way
OF peculiar interest to the travelling pnDhc anu
of embarrassing interest to the Turkish OoVern-
ment The chief features of Captain Athanasiiis 8
| recent exploit are already known TO the word.
Tie details of II are worthy Of the pen OF some
modern Xenophon. In all the history OF br1g-
andage there is no picturesque chapter.
Americans, who have now and then heard OF
trains being held up" on far Western railroads,
may not think 1t extraordinary. But In Europe
railroad train Is regarded as peramDuiating
fortress and sanctuary In one. Years ago III
Spain. when five miles an hour was the maximum
speed of expresses trains were now and then
robbed. But that train should be stopped on
the great international line between Vienna and
Constantinope and its passengers robbed and held
for ransom is startling indeed AS the victims
were Of various nations the poor Porte sees end
less complications ahead, in the nature OF de-
mands for redress and there are Turkish states
men who see in this catastrophe sure proof OF
Allahs dispeasure with the Giaour Invention,
and who seriously advise that, to prevent other
such occurrences, the entire railroad he demol-
ished.
II was on Sunday evening, May 81, that the
outlaw descendants Of leondas and Pericles
achieved the job with which all Europe rings.
There was considerable party of them, armed
with the best modern rifles and swords They
did not seek unfrequented spot for their WORK.
but marched, just before sunset TO the capinS oc-
cnped by number of railroad guards and watcn-
men. These men were GVcrpowcrcd quickly ana
fettered. Then Captain Athanasius the leader
ordered couple of rails to be taken up, 50 as
4l,c4 nnflN IN
along. A Waterman protested. To wreck the
train would probably ca~se much loss OF lie
Why not Just signal it to stop? In the interest
of humanity he would himself gladly do so.
Athanasius was affected by this appeal, and at first
decided 10 grant it. But then he feared that TO
signal the train to stop there would arouse snsp-
con. and so he WOud find the passengers on the
alert to repel him Finally the matter was put
to vote among the brgands, with the result OF
compromise The train TO be signalled TO
run slowly, and then was TO be wrecked by re-
moving the rails; but ii would be wrecked so
gently that no one would be hurt. This pro-
gramme was carried out with entire success. The
train was elfectually dtched, but no one was hunt
except one guard, who had his hand sprained and
bruised.
While number of his men stood guard over
the passengers, Athanasius and several others
went through them In the most approved FASH
ion Acibiades himself could not have been
more courteous The victims were assured in the
most polite terms that II was not intended to In
lure them, but the Turkish Government True,
the brgands would take their money and Jewels,
but the Turkish Government would be obliged to
make good the loss The passengers were UNI
fortunate in placing themselves under the pro-
lection Of the Porte and in thus exposing them
selves to be made the instruments Of Grecan
vengeance upon an ancient foe. All of which
Captain Athanasus eoqucntly regretted; but at
the same time" Your purse, sir, II you please
Moreover, he showed n generous Discrimination
The third-class passengers were spared, all be-
longing to the poorest classes. The brigands
kept the gold watches Those in silver and nickel
were returned to their owners. German pas
senger, in giving up his purse, implored the cap
tain TO leave him some money, ms he was poor
1t contained 80 napOeOns and a 5-franc piece.
The captain took the 3 francs and returned the
30 napolcons. Another German, in handing over
lis watch and chain, asked to he allowed TO keep
a locket. Athanasius opened il, and seeing
little girls portrait In it, he observed Ii IS, per-
haps, a souvenir of his daughter, and, cntung
the chain in two with his sword he gave back
the end to which the locket was attached AS
he went from one compartment to the other the
obliged the best dressed among the men TO get
down. lie treasured the ladies by telling them
lie was not accustomed to modest the fair sex, |
merely requesting them t. produce their vauables.
lie was however, deaf 10 the enreatles of those
ladies who legged him not to take their husbands
into captivity for ransom. My dear ladies'" he
said your tears affect me deeply; but they are
III vain. Go shed them at the feet Of your sove-
reigns, and thus prevail upon them 90 ransom !
your husbands speedily"
Having plundcred the train, Athanasus and
his comrades marched away, taking their captives |
with them. On reaching their mountain camp
they held a council and decided TO demand a |
ransom Of $40, 900 for the prisoners So they |
made the latter write and sign paper In the |
German language, addressed TO the German Am |
bassador here, setting forth their plight and asll |
ing him to send the money. One Of the prisoners |
was then sent on hither with the letter, with the
gentle admonition that if, instead Of bringing back
the money, he brought back soldiers to attempt |
a rescue, all the Others would promptly be put 10 |
death. This messenger also bore a letter from |
Captain Athanasius to the Government, in which |
that adventurous HELENE slid, with charming |
frankness: II was who, some time ago, captured |
Mchmed EiTendi, for which | was condemned to |
three months imprisonment, but | contrivcd to
csc'pc' ii tNci "ih caught dSdlu shdl get |
away by the same means. | was always" he
continued an honest man, and shall remain an
honest nan. But If YOU endeavOr to rescue the
captives without ransom l will slaughter them
with my own henGs like cattle, and, should my
companions be captured. | shall find the courage
to shoot myself. 1t is who write this"
The captiyes did not fare sumptuously, but they
were not wfully maltreatcd Most Of the night
was spent i'm getting to u safe place among tho
At daybnak breakfast of brad,
Eggs and wine was served TO them and they were
allowed 10 rest for time In the afternoon
they were on the march again. Then an Incl
lent occurred which was, Athanasius admitted,
very unpleasant, but equally unavoidable." Sew
,rnl soldiers We're seen not far away, and until
they had gone about their business it was neces-
,ary to keep the captives in concealment The
lnly IL do this % nallc thcm Ill lsnccI |