Washington sentinel., 1899-03-04
'.' ~ SENTINEL
Barbara DaneliA, the Russian
Bandit.
Buffalo Express.

\
Tobber is woman, too, by name
Barbara Danelia. She dresses like
a man. and her manners are those
OF the drawing room. For centuT-
les the guild Of highwaymen has
hourished in the Caucasus, despite
the spasmodic efforts oil the Cos.
sacks and Circassians to inaugu-
rate a reign Of peace in that wild
district. Until the coming OF Bar
bara Danelia the bandits cared for
nothing but to secure their plum
der in the easiest manner possible.
If a victim resisted and it was
thought the easiest way to bring
him to terms was to cut of his
head-zipp! the deed was done.
1t was effective, but it was not ar
tistic. Nor did the bandits Of the
old days scruple to rob the poor
as we'll as the rich. There was no
chivalry in their make up until
Barbara came among them. But
now the poor are allowed to 60 in
peace, and sometimes their condi
ton is bettered by meeting the fair
highwaywoman.
Barbara is now about thirtY-ive
years old. Ten years ago she dis
appeared from her home in the vii
lage Of Bandza, in the government
OF Kutais. Just why she left
the surroundings which she had
previously graced so charmingly
is mo- known. Tine secret is
securely locked up in her heart.
Amy rate, for ten wears she has been
the leader ol a band of the most
polite. gentle, ana successful ban.
dts who ever turned the Cars
highway into a no-thoroughiare.
She has r.volutionized highway
robbery. Itis no longer necessary
20 use violence. Blood is very
Sc dom shed, and never unneces
sarily.
In her present role she has been
recognized as the Barbara Danelia
who ran away from her home in
Bandza. She is Georgian, and
her beauty, therefore, is assured
beyond the peradventure OF a
doubt. Among her own people
she is popular, for she seldom
levies upon them, out rather dis
psnses charity among the poorer
ones. She has been identified, but
never before law court, for she is
still very much at large, and snaps
her fingers at COssacKs, govern
ments, and police with the same
conf dence in her own good luck
which has accompanied her ever
since she took to the mountains.
NOT that the course OF her strange
love for adventure has always run
smooth. Barbara has had downs
as well as ups in her curious career.
-Four or FIVE times, for instance, the
lady was surprised or betrayed
and arrested But her luck never
lett her. Once her prison door
IT was a manor house-was opened
at night, if not by an angel Of the
Lord, at least by a friend OF the
lady, whereupon she rose up and
walked away before her accusers
could bring her 10 trial. Another
time her jailer set her free and
went with her to the mountains,
where he is now one OF the most
fearless daredevils of her band.
The third time that Barbara found
herself in durance vile nothing
happened to help her, and she was
duly semitic trial. Her jailer would
probably have fallen IN love with
her had he known that his sympa-
thetIc prisoner belonged to the
female sex. But as Barbara has
Invariably worn the picturesque
costume OF a male Georgian since
she took to the hills, the jailer en-
tertalned an angel unawares, and
conscientiously looked after her.
The trial, therefore, duly came on,
and, owing to some curious conflict
evidence, Barbara got off, where
upon she returned to her lawless
subjects and her exciting mode Of
life.
In her male attire she would
never be taken for a woman we're
it not for her delicate features, her
silvery voice and her small hands
and feet, always neatly gloVed and
booted. She sits her horse as
though born to the saddle. She is
a dead shot and can hit the edge Of
a Russian coin no larger than a
ten cent piece with a rifle bullet at
a distance which would not be be
lieved did | state it. The number
OF strong, able-bodied men whom
Barbara has held up single handed
in true road agent style is legion.
Sometimes she likes to operate
alone, and she always goes heavily
armed. Fancy, il you should be
travelling along the roads OF the
wild district OF Kutais, clothed in
the costume Of the country, being
politely halted in some out Of the
way spotby party scarcely larger
than your own. Imagine the
leader, riding a little apart from
the others, doffing his hat with an
air of cOurtlY grace, and in a few
polite words, s,pronouuced in a most
insinuating voice. explaining to
his regret Circumstance beyond
his control render 1t nece sslry t1at
he should deprive you Of your
money, horse, and valuables, but
that ne will do so with as little dis
comfort to yourself as possible.
You and your companions might
instinctively reach for your weap-
ons, but It would be no good. In
twlnkling every one ofyou would
be covered F" EIhere there