El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-18
CARLINI'S PASS.


epoae<o. within the States OF the Church
md situated at the foot OF the Apennines-
Among the inha bitants Of Assist was n
easthser named Andrea Carlini. who was
fAs~a to have accumulated much prop
9fy- Early in the summer. after the
..oantais torrents had subsidized, he had
secession TO go to Noccra. The distance
- the mountain route was not great.
but the way was beset by dangers. and
rAe good wife Marie begged that her hus-
hsa1 would take the longer and safer
roufe by way OF the southern valley
No. no. he said. THAT would cost
zse q four days journcy.
But" urged Marie. think of the ter
ribze death track the wild mountain
you will not 60 over the mountain. An
sreaT
-You are overanxious. Marie" And he
feok his way over the mountain despite
fhr entrenties of his wife
Andrea set forth with six mules laden
uifb clothing. and. without harm, he
ersss~d the Apennines. reaching the city
% Nocera long before night. where he
A,posed OF his entire stock at excellent
prkres Resides the stuffs he had pur-
eha<ed. he bad over 900 crowns In gold.
vAirb he carefully secured in a stout
le4fh~r bag beneath his vest
Ose thing Andrea particularly noticed
vA5s trading. and that was the persist
aza presence OF two monks They seemed
- lang upon his steps and were near at
1sDi when he received money. At first
- wondered what this meant. but ere
ing he was brought to the quieting as
ssr.nce that they only sought to beg.
A.drea felt grateful for the success Of
Ii nission. and he was thankful thus TO
a. haf he nEa ar1v ennght
n 1.e- so he opened his vest and drew
1kaE the leather belt piece of gold
1E1b 8 crowns. which he gave to the
UuDD6cants. who in return muttered
he.-dirfion and then went their way.
A early as possible on the second day
fAr ejothier started on his return home.
A~1szg TO cross the mountain before
krhif.n Only one difficult passage re-
massez1. and this was only difficult on
.cesazf Of the wild tcrrors Of the place
And this passage was known the
Dessb Track Not over n month pre-
sssrs TO Andrea's passage 4 party OF IL
1s<chants. on their way from Nocera to
Ftr1Eis. had fallen from this pass. The
be.f<S had been found In the vale. shock
inE5y manzled-
Andres had lad one of his mules over
the shelf and was on his way after the
srbe- when two men. habited in black
tricks and hose, with black masks
Ar.ua over their faces. sprang upon him
frsrs behind a projecting mass Of rock
..a feIIed him to the earth. The blow
r.ndered him nearly powerless. hut IL
I'D not deprive him Of his senses
OF with his money belt said one.
Ne. no." responded the other: lets
up 81 open where IL Is Give me your
t.ife-
The elothier knew those voices. The
ds<-zised robbers were the self same
serznins monks who had hung upon his
seeps mt Noceral
he careful and not cut the heshr'
commanded a third speaker. who at that
msrsent came upon the scene with n
6ezrn companions
Andrea Carlini heard il aIl-hc heard
fir voice Of the Count Marco Pisani. and
10 Raw the counts face-but he made no
EEa He felt his money belt ripped open
Ks6 felt The weight Of gold taken from
kf,n- and then he heard the order given
<zr throwing him over the precipicel
This caused him to start and struggle
hss ere ne could offer efectuai resistance
IN WAS lifted from the rocky shelf and
krr5sd over into the deep chasm. A
Ikary cry OF horror burst from his lips
NAes he found himself suspended in mid
xfr. with the roaring. Kissing torrent
tnshsng over its awful bed of Jagged
rsrk1 far below him: but in little while
h discovered that his body was held by
. strong support. and he took courage
an1 hope and set about investigating.
HIS stout money belt had been not only
eEe.fly Ioosened by the abstraction OF the
,e.A1. but ir had been pulled out by the
1rAS>Ts into a sort OF loop upon the left
side. and this loop had caught upon the
azmp Of q stout limb or shrub. which
ka3 probably been broken off by the fall
ing Of some other victim.
Al length he struggled. and. by follow
fag abe shrubbery that found root in the
.r-nding assures. he finally reached the
lrse1 rnck at the end OF the pass
Asdrrs'S mules wrre gone and his rich
M,rchan6ise had been taken with them,
anS he had also been robbed of his gold.
20 bc Thanked God for his life. and the
fhsaEht of once more seeing his dear wife
Hye him rrore joy than could have come
fr.B recovered gold. He reached his
hszDe ID safety. where the joy OF Marie
yss rauai TO his own upon beholding him
sLre and we'll
The clottier made known the facts of |
his discovery to the authorities, taking |
1re fhst n knowledge thereof was spread |
AMONG the people 4 strong body OF so;- |
flseTs went to the castle and arrested the !
wicked count and his associates and lodg- |
I'd them in prison They were tried. con-
xfc1ral and executed.
Andrea Carlini not only regained the |
money and the merchandise of which he |
hss been robbed. but he received the |
and blessings OF n grateful |
proFsle. The mountain passage so long |
known ~ the Death Track ceased to be |
. .rtse of terror to travellers, and n new |
ssD> was bestowed upon it-a name |
xihach II bears to this day-"Carlini's
l.