The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-19
THE S%ENIWEEKLY MESSENGER: TUESDAY. APRIL Is, 1888

q was dOOFc- Inc 4ISuAGndul III
command wrung his hands In anguish
and swore in choice musical Italian.
My break had been so sudden that
every man was taken completely by
surprise. They had had plenty of
time TO shoot me down IL they had had
the presence of mind. Running to the
side OF b precipice they looked over
the wall. They must have seen me
lying there unconscious. for they i'm
mediately began firing down upon me.
They may have done so on a venture,
however. | was brought back to my
senses by the reports of their rifles
from above, and the bullets f~lattening
themselves on the bare rock unplea-
sanity lear my head. Dizzy~and sick.
and shaken, | managed to gather my
self together and crawl out Of danger,
and gradually made my way down the
mountain to the little town which nest
led at its base. Running along the
main street of the town, / ran directly
into the arms OF a detail of Zouaves.
REFUGE AMONG THE GARIBAL-
DAMS.
They were as much surprised as /,
but l had the advantage of being on
the alert. With me it was almost a
matter of life and death. Doubling
quickly my tracks and expecting every
moment to be hit by some of the bull
lets which were flying around my head,
/ ran like a frightened deer. Through
alleys, down dark streets, and across
lots | sped and managed to elude my
pursuers. In the mean time the entire
town was in an uproar. Every one
had the alarm and all the gates were
guarded. Selecting a good point, l
managed to get over the wall and head
ed down the white Italian road toward
the coast. 1 should have said at the
beginning that all this took place dur
ing the early hours of the morning.
1t was 4 a. m, when | was aroused and
told to dress. By the time | had left
the town a few miles on the road the
sun was high in the heavens and was
congratulating myself on my three es-
capes, when | was suddenly startled
by the sharp command: Haiti, Who
goSe there?'
"tFriend.' | answered in my best
Italian, recognizing that | had run into
a Gabribaldian camp. CHANGING at my
papal uniform, the outpost was by no
means treasured. In the mean time l
had raised my hands above my head.
Bringing his rifle to his shoulder, he
was pressing the trigger unpleasantly
hard.
raising my hands even higher in
the air, / sang out to him: Lower
your rifle man. Can't o. see my
hands are up?' Still covering me with
his rifle, he ordered me to advance
within a few PAGES of him and called
out Justify for the corporal of the
guard. That officer came on the run,
and seeing my rig called for the SER
geant of the guard. He no sooner
caught a glimpse of my dress than he
called for the officer of the guard. To
make a long story short, | was soon
surrounded my a mob of Garibaldians
of all ranks and sizes. When l told
them that | was an Americana, a de-
serter from the 'Papilo Guards, and
wanted to get to the coast they treated
me with the greatest kindness. Broth
ers could not have been kinder. [
shall remember these honest red-cOat-
ed men with deepest gratitude as long
as l live. They entertained me for a
week, and when l decided to go to
Naples they made it possible for me
to do SO with safety.
"As | was travelling under English
passports / went direct to the English
Consul and told him who l was.
CHANGING with unmingled surprised at
my red fez, baggy trousers, and leg
gings of the Papal Zouaves, he said to
me:
"'Do you realize for a moment, man,
the risk you run? Don't 0 know
hat Naples is in the hands of the
Garibaldi and that you might nave a
knife run in your back at any mo-
ment?'
q told him that the Garibaldi were
the very best friends | had; the only
friends, in fact, and that the money
had in my pocket was given me by
them. I remained in Naples several
days, and the entire time | was there
I was Swallowed by two detectives.
They never lost sight Of me-"
That must have been cheerful. Who
did they representa-"
Il don't know and as a matter Of
fact do not care. Coming face to