Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-04-14
IDAHO W ORLD.
IA, 1891
HISTORY OF THE ssAFIA.


80 Af'Ff''' 'NN lN'''N'
Prof. Giard BarricellI, in speaking
10 a Republic reporter yesterday IN
regard to the letter. of the Italian
Consul, p. Corte, which was addressed
to the Italian papers in New York
and other cities of the country on
March 6 relating to the New Orleans
massacre, said:
AS for the Malta, now that society
is not what 1t once was; it has de-
generated from its noble origin, so
that at present it is no different from
Molly Maguires, Ku-Klux, White
Caps, or Bald Knobbers, which are
all united for self alone. ] will tell
you the origin Of the word Malta aud
then l hope the press will stop using
the word and call the society by its
proper name, outlaws. The word
Malta is made up of an acrostic, each
letter of which is the initial of sem
tence which was first used at the time
of the Sicilian Vespers, at the re-
volt of the Palermo, in the year of
1882. These words are 'Morte ALA
Francis Italia Amelia, the translation
is Death to the French or Death to
France Italy DESIRES 1t was the war
cry of the Sicilians during the revolt
of Palmero. This revolt and cry arose
in this way: 1t was at festival on
Easter Tuesday that multitude of
the inhabitants of Palmero and the
neigbborhood had thronged to a
church about half mile out Of town,
dedicated to the Holy Ghost. The
religious services were over and the
merrlment begun; the tables were
spread and amusements of all sorts,
dancing and games, We're going on
under the trees. Everything was go
ing gally on when the harmony was
suddenly interrupted and the joyous
ness chilled by the appearance of a
Dol of French soldiery under the
pretext of keeping the peace.
The French mingled Familiarity with
the people and paid court, not in the
most respectful manner, to the women.
The young men made sullen remon-
strances and told them to go their
way. The Frenchmen began to draw
together, saying, These rebellious
Patterns must have arms or they would
not venture on such insolence.' They
then began to search some of them for
arms. The two parties were already
glazing at each other angrily when
the daughter of Mastrangelo, a maid
en- of exquisite beauty approached the
church with her bridegroom. A
Frenchman named Dronet, either in
wantoness or insult, came up to her
and under the pretence of searching
for arms, put his hand in her bosom.
The girl tainted In her bridegroom
arms, and in his agony he uttered the
fatal cry, Death to the French' A
youth rushed forward and stabbed
Dronet to the heart with his sword,
and was himself struck down. The
cry ran through the crowd and spread
to the city. Mastrangelo took the
lead, and every house was stormed
every corner searched. The dress,
the speech and the manners of the
French denounced them. Two thou
sand of them were slain and piled in
a great pit, and neither age, sex or
infancy was spared by the insurgents.
When trenchman was seen the one
who saw him would shout Malta.
Instead of using the long sentence,
'Morte ALA Francia italia Amelia.
which was too long, they would SIM
ply shout one word 'Mafa,' which is
composed OF the initial letter of each
word in the sentence, and those who
heard the cry would turn on the
Frenchman. When person was sus-
pected of being Frenchman the
Sicillans had queer test by which
they used to decide the matter. A
Frenchman cannot pronounce proper