San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-08-09
GREEK BRIGANDS.
WERE GENTLEMEN OF THE OLD
SCHOOL.
When They Were Rid of the Guard They
Built Huts For the Ladies and Treat
ed Them Very Cautiously.

By special wire to the Sunday Light.
London, Aug. S.-A Constantinople,
telegram says:-As already announced
by telegraph, the two ladies captured
q brigands near Ismidt were released
after thirteen and a half days cap
tivity in the mountains. They were
both well treated by the brigands, al
though for the first few days they
received nothing but dry biscuits. 1t
was only when their whereabouts was
ascertained that provisions We're sent
up to them by their friends at Koori
Baths. From statements made by
the brigands it appears that they were
on the lookout for another party, con-
sisting of Armenians and the wife of
an Armenian banker, who, however, at
the last moment postponed their de-
parture from Constantinople. This
shows the brigands were kept inform
ed of the movements of important
people. The capture was effected be-
tween Yalova and Koori, the robbers
suddenly appearing and firing a volley
on the horses of the carriage con-
tanning the ladies. Two mounted
gendarmes accompanying the party
Immediately bolted. The ladies were
thereupon marched in the direction of
the mountains until they reached a
small village, where horses were OBJ
tanned for two of the ladies, the third
being released and sent back to Koori
with the conditions of the release of
her friends. The brigands demanded
a ransom of f25, 1000, to be deposited at
a certain spot at given time. The
journey was continued into the heart
Of the mountains, where the party en-
7camped. The band numbered fifteen,
all well armed, some with Martins
others with repeating rifles, and each
having knife and yataghan. The men
who at first were very rough towards
prisoners, now changed their attitude
to one of gentlemanly and gallant con-
duct. A small hut was erected from
the branches of trees and ferns and
leaves were collected to serve as beds
for the ladies, whose covering were
the heavy coats of the brigands. Cop
iOus showers fell at intervals, and de-
spite all precautions the ladies were
drenched to the skin. Two of the old
est bandits were posted outside the
hut to mount guard and wait upon
the capitives, while the rest of the
band withdrew to a respectful dis
lance. The leading brigands were
Greeks from Yanina, including the
chief, who wrote and spoke Greek
fiuently, and appeared well educated.
The men were all well and uniformly
dressed, and the chief possessed an
excellent field glass, which enabled
him to catch the movements of his in,
tended prey, as well as of the troops
who once were so active as to serious,
ly endanger the lives of the captives
Not only were the troops hurried to
the scene of abduction, but the au-
thOrities armed the peasants and sent
them in pursuit. The brigands, how
ever, withdrew further into the noun
tains. One cause of the delay in the
release of the prisoners was the non
arrival of the ransom, which, thanks
to the energetic and courageous inter
vention of the Dragoman of the
French embassy, was reduced from %
to 10000 pounds. One of the bri-
gands was subsequently captured in
shepherds hut, where he had fallen
asleep after carouse. He surrend-
cred without a struggle. A sum of
ESQ was found on him. The rest of
the band are being actively pursued,
but owing to the difficult nature of the
country it is doubtful whether they
will be secured.