The Progress., 1893-04-22
LATTEE-DAY FRA DIAVOLO.
For Nearly Half Century Antonio
BeIIacascia Terrorized Corscia.

Bellacascia Terrorized Corscia.
A very curious chapter in COrSical
history has been closed by the sur
render of the notorious Corscian ban
dit. Bellacascia, who has been lou
in the BUSH for fort"-tour years
ana has baffied all the ELECTS Of the
Fehdarmerie 10 capture him. He wa:
born at BOcagnano, "a small village
in the center of Corsica. his father
being shepherd. and in 1913 he killed
the assistant mayor of the village in
a quarrel and took to the bush His
presence was betrayed to the gen
darmerie soon afterward. but Bella
cascia, having got wind of this. lay
in wait for his betrayer and killed
him.
He was then joined in the bush by
his brother Jacques. who had been
preparing for the priesthood. and the
two brothers led very wild eX-
istence in the mountains of Corsica.
killing several gendarmes who AT
tempted to capture them. They do
not appear. however. to have lost the
esteem of their cOmpatriOts, for NJ.
Emanuel Arene. one of the deputies of
Corsica in the French chamber, re-
lates how, about fifteen wears ago. he
and the late Edmund About were re-
ceived by the two brothers at break
fast, and how they were introduced
- the different relatives of the brig
ands. all mayors of their respective
communities. VI. Arcne. relates. too,
how the late Baron Haussmann was
breakfasting with them on another
occasion when the gendarmes ap-
peared in the distance. and the two
brothers made off, leaving the guest
to explain his presence there as best
he could.
There was some talk of granting
the two brothers an amnesty when
VI. Carnot paid his visit to Corsica
two years ago, and the daughter OF
the younger brother was presented
to him. Nothing was done. however.
and the two brothers might have re-
mained at liberty for the rest of their
lives. But Antoine, the elder of the
two, has at last been persuaded by
his friends to give himself up to the
authorities, and his mode Of doing 50
was not less dramatic than the whole
of his life has been. Another of
his brothers. who was for several
wears himself an officer in the gem
darmerie. induced him To take the
step, and the two met at day break
in the forest of Vizzavona. which is
about half way between Ajacco and
Bastia. Then they went to a place
where Captain Ordioni, commanding
the gendarmerie of the district, was
waiting for them, and Antoine Bel
lacascia laid down his arms in token
of submission. They went by train,
on the line newly opened, to Bastia
and Antoine Bellacascia was delighted
at this mode of locomotion, which
was quite new to him.
Upon reaching Bastia. where he
was TO be tried at the next assize. he
went to the principal hotel. writing
his name and profession in the Wis
itOrS' book as Antoine Bonelli. COM
monty called Bellacascia; profession.
bandit; born at Bocagnano; residence
He is not under the least
restraint or even surveillance, as
Ordioni. who is responsible
for his appearance at the assize,
knows that when Bellacascia gives
his word he never goes back on it. B."
Antoine Bellacascia has several times
been sentenced to death in consum-
aciam, but as all the murders for
which he was condemned took place
more than thirty years ago they are
covered by prescription. And the
only offense for which he can be tried
is an attack he is accused of having
made on a gendarme in 1880. The
is that he will be ac-
quilted, and that he will spend the
rest of his days unmolested among
his friends.