The Opelousas courier., 1899-05-13
~ TvRwFN
a Darins Case % Smyrna and AnosAAS,
Near Conasa ttne

4 Dasins Case % Smyrna and AnosAAs
Near Cens:anttasple.
4 daring case Of briganaaga recent
~ occurred at Smyrna. Ia which The
victim vas the son OF Mr, Whittau. one
OF the richest and leading British mefs
chants Of that town, says tao Londan
Standard. Young Mr., Whittali nas
driving with THEE ladies from Smyrna
70 Rurnabat, one Of the suburbs. when
the carriage was stopped by siz men,
four 81 whom seemed to be ~Bulgarians
OR Greeks from Bulgaria, end two ma
tive ATraoEs. Leaving the ladies to
:epcrt the occurrence, the brigagAs
Carried sf their victim in evening
dress, sandi1g word by his .onpan-
ions that they demanded 21,5o0. Mr..
Whittall, Immediately on receiving the
Jaws. started il pursuit, taking WITH
him tae sim required ii gold, being in
sreatt a-fety 81 sccouat Of the in
Gle: lency Of htha weather and the
/ caEty clothing IN which his soI vas
I clad. His fears were the more tust;-
fed, as e Is nSH very long since an
other Of his Sons gas similarly abduct-
ed, and, | bo-Neye, ultimately a!ed from
the effects OF the exposure. After
three days hard travelling the br!gaads
Tere found and tae ransoue paid. the
men escorttng the two Whittalls en-
part cf their homeward journey, and
finally parting 9th them with many
kisses and protevatto1s of gratitude.
Mr.. Whittall is now applying 20 the
British embassy to know IL the British
or Turkish government will refund
him the money paid. 1t Is not long
since another case occurred close to
Constantinople, at a small town nanea
kourf YalOva, where there is q ami
tary establishment kept by d Mue.
bronco, midwife to tie palace. One
afternoon she vas olt driving with
two Of her guests, an old lady aud Ter
young daughter, when they vere
seized. The %ccachuan foolish!y re-
marked: BE careful; she is the mid
wis fer the suit1n's haTem." Seeing
at once that they had q rich prize, the
band, numbering twelve or thirteen.
took Nine. Bronco and tho young lady,
and told her mother that they wanted
10000, They also treasured the old
lady, saying that ste need have no
fears for her daughter. An exceedingly
pretty girl, who should be returned
safe and we'll. The none was quick |
~ paid, and tie ladies', who had really
been very we'll treated, were released. |
the captain Of the band making each
OF them a present Of G1G0 on parting. |
The government then commenced q
ruthless search after the men, sccur-
ing the whole countryside with zap
tiehs, who were CHARTERED on all the
villages. SO that the villagers them
selves Joined heartily in the chase In
order to get rid OF these unwelcome
guests. Finally nine Of the band were
caught ard either killed or put away.
Being mostly Greeks, they hid prtnci-
paly with Greek shepherds far and
high up in the nountains near Ismidt.
and scarcely a single shepherd escaped
being put to the question. I recently
had occasion to meet one Of the prin-
cipal witnesses, who had been the
leader in the hunt, and who had been
present st all the ORGANIZATIONS" Of
the prisoners. Six thousand pounds
vas found buried near the village OF
Denizly. the place being revealed IN
torture. The last two men were
at Ovadjik, a ~neighboring viii
where I heard the story told.
The captain and TWO Of his companions
are still at large and have probably
left the country.