The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-04

gARRANTos FERRoNTos IN COSTUME OF
GREEK SOLDIER.
dents, including myself, became involved
In communications with Macedonians.
We were discovered and charged with on
spiracy. Wewere tried and expelled from
the college, and at once reduced to the reg
ular army as ordinary euzons, or soldiers.
We were separated and scattered through
different corps. Invent to the Fourth in
fantry and in 8 year was promoted to the
subcaptaincy.
Here began some of the strange adven-
lures which have come to me without
seeking. The nephew of the commander
of the corps held equal rank with myself.
We quarreled, and a duel followed. I
wounded him, for even then l was not a
baby with the sword. Duels were against
army rules, and then, too, I had wounded
the nephew of the commander, Petropou-
laki. / was sentenced to six months in
the Medrese prison in Athens. With the
aid of friends, however, l escaped.
81 could not join the army under anoth-
or name, for I would be known owing to
my height and appearance, which were
well known. / Joined the then famous
band of the brigand Papakyritsopoulos.
We were seven in number. and I served
my novitiate terrorizing Lamia. I only
staid four months with the ban During
that time We had n notable adventure
that was profitable. The daughter of a
deputy wa captured, and her ransom
amounted to 900, 600 francs.
"Shortly after that 1 joined Efthemeos
Gakis' band on the Turkish border. /
had never wanted to prey upon my own
people, but the Turks were enemies of my
country, and I determined to avenge some
of my c0untrymen's s~ufferings. This
band contained 10 members. Just over
the Turkish border at Servits, near Flo
rina, was a hey whose wealth was said to
be vast. We plotted to invade the house,
which our informant said was guarded
only by three A1banians. Lots were cast
as to who should effect an entrance and
admit the others by opening the door.
first after the silence of the dogs, which is
q science with brigands. All bands carry
bones for the dogs as carefully as they
carry q gun. There is a proverb about the
life Of a brigand being as much in the
bone bags as in his gun.
SIN Turkey the chimneys of the houses
are made very big. 1t was easy work get
ting down, but a slave girl discovered
me as I left the kitchen with a revolver in
one hand and a dagger in the other. She
screamed. Instantly an Albanian rushed
at me. He fell as I fired, and, with the
plan of the house in my mind, | found the
door and admitted the others of the band.
The other guards were soon subdued. One
girl was taken captive; another, who was
captured, was ransomed for FL, 900.
1.-THE chief of the band determined to
make the other captive his slave. Greek
brigands are very superstitious about wo-
men captives. Thereyi a proverb that no
band can succeed which has women with
it for evil purposes. With the higher class
q woman is as sacred as if in her own
home. She is simply held for ransom.
When the girl saw that her honor was in
danger, she appealed to me. I had OBJ
tained the friendship of my comrades, and
when | determined to save the girl they
upheld me. She was finally released and
her honor saved
ttAbout two years after the affair at
FIorina it fe1i to my lot to go into Salon
lea. We needed some information which
our agents could not get for us. 1 was
arrested and taken in irons to the interior
Of Turkey ON acharge of being a suspected
reyolutionist. Twas tried by the governor
and expected to BIZ imprisoned for life ii
not put to death. On the next day / was
taken before the governor. He was ac-
companied by a lady, who, to my amaze
ment, I recognized as the girl whose honor
had saved. She had become the wife OF
the governor Of Iconium, where ancient
dungeons are still in use as prisons. l
was taken back to prison, but in flew
days the lady's brother-in-law took me
quietly from the prison and, supplying me
with clothes and money, sent me in safety
cut of the place.
During the next few years ! lived Win