Morning journal and courier., 1893-11-28
SicIIian RandIIH.

lcEOHl tn6 o. james fdZSlIG-
One reason why the authorities never
seem able to extirpste brigandsge to Sicily
is that the lower classes In the country dis
tricts always go about armed, and, being
of an excitable and quarrelsome nature,
any little difference of opinion in the vine
yard or the tavern is apt to end in stabbing
or shooting. From this reason the manu-
fscture of brigsnds Is continually carried
on and in the following manner: Luigi
qusrrels with Giscomo, stsbs him fatally
and flies to the mountains; he probably
seeks a more or less inaccessible spot, where
he knows the hero of a similar unfortunate
quarrel in q neighboring village has for
come months evsded the authorities. Thus
the nucleus of a little community is formed
which in time spreads to alarming proper
tions.
Instead of sending from the large towns
sufficient force of gendarmerie or sol.
dfers to capture the isolated criminals, the
government waits until some brigsnd band
has risen to perfectly unbesrsble pitch of
isolence, and then sends a regiment or two
to surround and capture them. The last
ylbs VI al khDk kOOh plhCo
about Blk years ago and the present activ-
ity of the italian government comedies
with the usual periodic al ubersnce of the
scourge. On the last occasion 1t required
200 soldiers and fifty gendsrmss to capture
five or six noted brigands In their strong
hold. One evening the home of the ma
rauders, which was deserted house on q
lone hillside, was completely surrounded
but at first matters looked very Ill for the
besiegers. The brigsnds began picking off
the troops one by one out of the windows,
and, the place being thorough we'll forti-
| fed there was no means of crushing" Ii at
| a moments notice. 1t was the bravery of
| q single officer that FINALLY settled the
matter. He burst open window on the
| ground floor aud entered single handed q
| room where he met face to face the brig
| and chief. Having. with the utmost cool
ness explained to the latter that the shoot
ing of few poor innocent soldiers would
| only delay the inevitable and inoress the
risk of severe sentence, he begged him to
| oapulste at once. The brigsnd with equal
| common sense, said he would do so II be
received promise from the officer on be.
half of the italian government that his life
should be spared. The pledge was given
and afterwards ratified by the court that
| tried the miscresnt; and, in spits of long
catalogue of murders and atrocities thai
were brought home to him, the distin
guished criminal was sentenced to only &
few years. penal servitude. Such was the
story told me by the then British consul
general In Palermo.
Shortly after this had an almost per
sonel experience of the "ready road to brig
andsge." 1 was going to stay in a remot,
part of Sicily more than thirty miles from
| q railroad station; a carriage had been SEN
to meet myself and another travelling com
panion, and, with a suitable escort, armed
| with loaded rifles and with our own pistol
laying on the seat of the carriage beside Us
we felt abundant personal security. Abou
half way we had to stop at "a isolated Lit
tie roadside inn to change horses by arrange
ment but when We arrived there we wer,
quietly told that we had better remain II
the carriage because the host had tha
morning been murdered and the Pr lc
were occupying the house. And what o
the murderer" We inquired. "Oh, Excel
lency, he has gone to become a brigand,
was the reply. With this very matter o
fact explanation we were obliged to be con
tent, and having changed horses proceeded
securely on our journey.