Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-22

nistic races, those of Saracen descent
and those of Greek extraction, the two
occupying opposite ends of the island.
This alone is enough to af
ford ground for factional strife.
But aside from that is the traditional
institution of the Malta, which bids de-
f1ance to government and bands the
people together in defiance of the law
and its officers
The Sicilian Malta, Mr.. Crawford was
careful to point out, is not at all that
which is known by that name in Amer
lea. The New Orleans Malta is more
akin to the peculiar society that -four
ishes in Naples which exists primarily
for booty, plunder and money. 1t has
we'll defined organization and rec
ognized head. The Sicilian Malta has
no organization. no head, does not seek
money or wealth, but blood and re-
venge. 1t is a sort of hereditary Free
Masonry. 1t is the Malta which be-
friends and supports the bandits.
Mr. Crawford insisted that there are
no brigands in Sicily. Bandits there
are, but they are not brigands. Brig
ands he defined as highway robbers.
They live by plunder. Bandits are sim
ply men who are under the ban Of the
law. Their profession is not robbery.
They seldom molest a man on the high
way unless he be a gensdarme or a
wealthy Sicilian for whose ransom they
believe they can demand and receive a
large sum of money. They are well
born and originally were persons Of
wealth. This must perforce be so, be-
cause nobody but the rich can own fire.
arms in Sicily. The Winchester rifle
IS their favorite weapon, and they get
the best of rifles and pistols and amrnu-
milton: They are quick to quarrel and
as quick to shoot. The traditional from
tlersrnan and habitue of the mining
camps ca, was no reader with his gun.
The result is frequent shootings.
The murderer takes to the woods
where his relatives keep him supplied
with all that he needs. There he Joins
and Is joined by other bandits in similar
predicainent, on whose heads a price
has generally been set. If they can hold
wealthy citizen for ransom, the pro-
ceeds take one or more of them to South
America, to grow up with the country
and perchance become a president orI
dictator. Steamship companies have a
special tariff for the passage Of bandits
and a special agent who looks after this
profitable branch Of the business.
Mr.. Crawford told several exciting an
ecdotes to show that the scenes describ-
ed in his book are not overdrawn. He
cited events of very recent happening
ana appertaInlng TO men now living. lie
showed In two or three instances how
he had varied the facts Of an actual adj
venture so as to fit the exigencies of his
novel One instance is the death of the
bandit chief. who in fact is now liv-
ing He told how the. chiefs nine men
were actually drugged with wine by
their Quondam friend, and shot while
they were in the stupor. The man who
did this is now living, but with gov
ernment guard in his house, day and
night, and never daring to go out up
on the street without being surrounded
by gendarmes "Carleone," the old
estate from which the novel takes its
name is actually owned by an English
family, having been a gift Of the gov
ernment to Nelson for rendering inn
portant service to the state. Mr.. Craw-
ford actually lived there for a time with
the young English proprietor. who had
hoped to redeem 1t and make II paying