New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-05
THE CAMORRA TODAY.
DON VINCENZO. CHIEF OF THE NEAPOLI-
TAN ORGANIZATIONS FEARED
BY ALL WELI.-DDERS.

Maple correspondence Of The Pail Mall Gazette
Imagine a we'll setup. spare little man OF per
haps five feet seven or eight and forty SIX years
old Give him abundant crop Of iron gray
curls clustering thickly round a cear-cut hand
some face. from which pair Of large. steel-biue
eyes cold yet hot you feel. without the posi-
b;lity Of d kindly twinkle Of mirth in them look
out quick intelligence at YOU from thclI drep
setting beneath the dark. hushy hr"ws. fhdoW
further this parsonage Of your Imagination with
a strong. square. shaver and rather bluiSh Jaw.
Observe the heavy and carefully trained mus
tache 4 shade darker in tint than the halr. con-
cealing the lines of the mouth. firm though you
divine them to be. and you have the portrait
as near | can give II you. OF Don ' lh''HH'
r. the potent chief Of the Neapolitan Cainorra,
dreaded by all well-doers. as. one sunny morn
ing Of last January. clad IN trousers OF hea'
black and white check. a fancy waistcoat a COL
ored shirt a light brown canvas coat brown
boots and yachting cap. that gentleman. WIN
an amiable smile and great bonhome. presented
himself in response to my invitation 10 Di'dh-
fast at my rooms in one Of the many villas that
rise beside almost out Of. the sapphire waters
of the Bay Of Naples. felt. Of course, that he
doing me great honor ana 'oiu m'ii ~
He received the declaration with acquiesceht
benignity. and a friend OF my own mahihs
third we proceeded at once 10 breakfast
| had made Don VincenZo's acquaintance nor
obvious reasons disguise his namel a Few days
before through the intermediary OF NeapoH-
tan acquaintance. to whom had expressed my
CURIOSITY to learn from the inside something
about the Camorra With this excellent person
an ayvocato, in behalf " one ana an
other OF its "Children. the officials OF
that bella societa rifurmata-Or society or
fhe humble Of humty-dell umirta. as il Is
sometimes called by the initiate-had been ire
ouently in professional relations ana ne AT once
most courtcously offered TO bring about a meet
ing for me with no less an authority thdh ION
VIncenzo himself 1t duly came off the next day
in a small cafe near the Piazza del Municipio'
and once convinced that my interest IN the or
ganizaiiOn he directed VAS merely that 81 a Tor
eien observer totally unconnected win the PUP
blica SicureZZa, as an accomplished man OF the
world he quite understood that ii should be So
and kindly placed himself very much at my ser
vice declaring that he took under his pro-
lection for the period Of my visit. ana begging
me if | should have occasion to complain OF the
Dersonal conduct Of any NeapOlltan DICK
pocket for nstance--to let him know, ana what
ever the difficulty was il should be at once ar
sort TO his good offices IN this kind. that his
words were not empty became convinced that
game afternoon when he took me Tor a dflVc In a
carroZzela through certain Of the less frequented
quarters Of Naples up POrta Capuana way.
was amused to note in him a tOuch OF secret
eratincat on too at the wonder-I took pains
TO conceal it--with which ! observed the honor
paid TO his progress For II really was that
sort Of royal public progress he made with me.
And as looked at the quiet man by my side
and tried TO get at his sensation he passed
there acknowledging with simple, unaffected
manner and yet with a distinct graduation Of
cOrdaty. the respectful salutes Of hundreds
among the passers-by, | felt that he. too, in his
way. must know something Of that sense Of
power which is said to be the peculiar joy Of
kings and potentates.
Through the most crowded streets drove
a& the full speed of-for Naples a remarkably