The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1891-03-19
The story of the Malta.

]. Petro Baptisto, have washed my
b inds in human blood three times.
When | am dead, the truth can be told
to the world, for tnen | will be out of
reach Of the dreaded Malta
When a boy, l left the sunshine Of
Italy soek he gold that had heard
sad oi,. vas as thick in the new world
as the pebbles upon the shores Of the
sea. ! ran away from home and en-
barked in vessel bound for New Or
sans. arrived there penniless, bat Sc
cured the position Of off i)e boy in the
counting-rooms OF Alphouso R.yero, a
rich Italian merchant.
became a favorite with my employ
er, aud in two years was his private sec .
retary.
was tall, strong, aud possessed all
the cunning that came through my
parents blood. Rivero noted these
points, and one night | was asked to be-
come member of the Malta.
/ 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 | at last consented.
On the night of September IA, 1853,
was blndfolded and taken six or seven
miles from the city. At the end of the
journey found myself in large barn
on the banks Of the Mississippi river.
By dim light l saw about one hun
dred figures, in black gowns, with black
cowls over their faces, moving about
the room.
A deep, low voice inquired:
us he ready for the sacriticeF
eHe is,n 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 ant
said:
"Art thou ready to renounce thy
family, thy kindred, all mankind, thy
self, all thy earthly interests and thy Goo
upon the altar of thy country3
| nodded my head.
"Then repeat after me: l swear upol
the forfeit of my life to obey the com
mands of the Maia aud to renounc
every tie in earth and in heaven to tn
fulflment of my new obligations.
solemnly swear never to divulge tn
secrets of the Mafil, and to speedily pu
TO death any other member that does
And take this solemn obligation know
ing that if | violate the oath my owl
life will pay the penalty"
AS the last word fell from my lips
red hot iron IN the shape of heart wit
a dagger through it was pressed agains
ha fr,l 4
the Malta was burned in my flesh.
was then instructed that the obJee
of the society was to protect the intel
ests Of Italians everywhere throughou
the world, and all persons who were Il
the way" were to be removed b
being put to death.
Months passed by, and the fact that
had become member of the Malta Wa
almost forgotten, when l received
card upon which was picture OF
heart aud dagger, and beneath th
were the words: "Oome to the Algier
ferry crossing at 1880 to night
| was on time at the appointed pla
and was met by member of the orde
who whispered to me the real place
meotina at the home Of one of t.
IN large garret, and in the the oar al
the meeting was held, each person poaa na
ing been admitted by the pass"or
"ltaly" ,. had arrive
the syT stlness Sas was was broken by nG TGle, he,
Iecogniz. ID as my empioye'
factors. - be said
my friends and brothers, others called h,
q low voice, "you have oeea sr;evance. a
at my request. have a Se;nI,v S Tn
Twill tell it to you qui0 70 rob
cursed Americans are try.us veasons
of my daughter, and ! Ina, have has ss" aires
believe that one OF tneI har from I
formulated plans to steai n''