The morning call., 1892-12-29
MODERN. BRIGANDS.
Not SO Courteous as Those of Old
but Fully as Daring.
Naples Letter to London Daily News.

Naples Letter to London. Daily News, ~.
Consul Stigand, in his report just iSsped;
treats pretty fully the subject of: SlciIig;j
brgandage. He says: "The marauders Of
the present day may not be, according 10.
current ideas. sc gentlemanly in deportmehi
Or so dexteTous as in the days of the famous
Slcilian bandits who i0urishedsixteen yf arr:
ago, but their modes Of operation. are pre-.
ciSely the same. -: -. ;:
at is true. l beleye."' adds the Consir4.
''that foreigners travelling. in. Sicily who.
keep to the ordinary tracks and wei i: know
routes have little to fear, but THAT is chirff5
because their movements and the worth IS
their capture cannot be calculated on with
such precision a in the caseof native, and
because the robbers are clever enough, TO-.
know that the sequestrati0n of a foreigner
would be more dangerous to them than that
Of native. Nevertheless. If they thought
the capture OF rich foreigner was :wortN
their while they would no doubt attempi Il: !:
l only know that have neyer~myself beer:
in the mountainous districts of the MadonjG:
without giving notice TO the: .anthoritie>
who have always, with great. coGTtes5:
Insisted on sending four guards. generals:
mounted ones, ('militi a .cavaFlb) TO: pro-:
tect ME, and given orders that they wef,.
never TO let me out of their sighh and;
my protectors kept guard over me day and
night. These 'miliu cavalo' have. be-
Heve, In consequence OF the late increase of
outrage, been dissolved, AMI their placesup
piled by carabinesrs; they were suspected
of not being eager in the pursuit 81 the.
'malandrini.' 1t seems almost Incredible
that within four or five hours from Palermo
there should be magnificent mountains, liz
part splendidly wooded with magnificent OAKS:
and beeches, with spacious plains and
picturesque valleys among them, where
summer resorts, so much needed herein the
fierce heat of summer, might be established,
and yet these districts are quite uninhabit-a
able for want of public security The great
propretors in these districts are afraid .
to live on their estates except sur.
rounded by troops or 'campleri, s:pr private
mounted guards. The people whg haye:n0
connection with brigands or*1Dr{gandage
live in such state of terror of the, aia1:
rauders that they will give mo news 6f
their movements or whsreabouts.: aud there
are large mass of De 9ple Called ':,nanu ten
golP who support the .hrigands by proyld-.
ing them with food and neceSSaJies; at: an ;:
enormous price. and so virtually: share IN :.
the brigandage." - ::
But the chief obstacle to- putting d0wn'
brigandage consists iu the: difficult and !,
mountainous charaeter-of tbs eeuhtry.: Sau !:
Maurs, the headquarters of ttfa brgnndS, .
is town on top Of. the meuntain, 5000 feet ::
and in sight of Geraei Sieulo, another town :.
of about the same height, and of:PolLi na; ;aise'
on the summit of another noniitalns The
roads among these nj Mountains eeiEneetin Tie
towns are mere mule-paths S.: and inule-::
paths traverse the mountains all: along ile:
deep valleys and ravines The: monn-<'
tains abound: in caves. known: DnlY t6.:
the brigands aud shepherds of she: nf0nlr-
tains, and as the armed force sefEt In pursuit.:
OF the brigands are chiafy young men from:
Continental Italy. fgnorant Of taie 'cosnt trS::
and unable to speak the languaga, theif
search; after the brigands lin .theiE' hiding:
places by unknown paths lisa Hopeless .one,;
and If they do surprise the briga1lds At AMY:
time, as they sometimes: do alta M eal !, Tire:
brigands are off. ait once AN, Fe the: roe IN:
and woods. and treat their pSfsuefs With:
seorn and defiance: :generallY seIffiag 6efiufll
them few shots from time To: .lEnIe; AID
their first shot is a signar:for tffs' earbiaierj
orders not to FIRE until they have betn Jflea'
upon" =