The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-26
From the London Express.

| From the London Express.
A story comes from the town of Tulcea
] that reads like some old Sandman romance.
I For many years d brigand named Lachin-
| ski was the terror of the district lying be-
| tween that town and Sulina. at the mouth
of the Danube. and the port of kustendjie
and the Black Sea.
His tale was a curious one. OF good fam
fly. he fell madly in love with a beautiful
Roumanian girl, the daughter of an officer.
| Refused by the girls relations. he attempted
| to abduct her, but was frustrated in the
attempt. and during the fight which ensued
he by mistake shot his sweetheart. He
then swOre to take a big revenge on his
fellow-creatures. and successfully the reld-
tons of the dead girl became his victims.
In vain police and military endeavored
to hunt him out and take him, living or
dead. In the Businesses of the woody hills
of the Dohrugea he hid himself. and there
defied his would-be captors for years.
He gradually became a sort of modern
Robin Hood, giving part of the proceeds of
his brigandage to the peasantry, and in this
way was always we'll informed Of the move
ments Of the armed parties engaged in the
search for him.
So feared did he become that single per-
sons began to be afraid to make the road
Journey between Sulina or Constanza and
IulCea, anu when carrying Vdluapies always
travelled armed and In parties. Neverthe-
less. Lachinski would often hold up big
parties s~ingle-handed, and his desperate
deeds would make an exciting book.
Armed to the teeth. he would suddenly
appear among the trees at the roadside. and
the slightest hesitation to his order to put
all arms in a heap In the road brought a
shower Of bullets from his two Winchester
carbines Unfortunately among the party.
The writer. when riding once from Lulina
to Tulcea, met a man and entered into con-
versation with him:
"You are English"
yes"
"Ahi that Is the land where one marries
for love only. II 1t not so: and where parents
do not interfere with the loves Of their
children?"
Eyes. that's So"
do you know why I askT'
mo"
Look and you will understand"
The man opened his coat. and In a cart
ridge belt were stuck four heavy revolvers.
besides a knife. II am Lachinski: had you
been q 'Boyar' fmeaning q Roumanian OF
the better class I should probably have
killed you'll On you English word Of honor
do not say to any one you saw me. Good
night"
He turned into q path among some maize
plots. Ten minutes later I met a party OF
mounted militia. Had I met any one?'
mo. not for an hour. Goodnight Good
night"
Later I received . postcard thanking me.
I believe the man was actually watching.
and within listening distance when the SOL
diery accosted mel
Now. Lachinski was Joined by two or
three such outcasts as himself. and to their
debit are put some thirty cases Of brigand-
age. generally coupled with murder Of the
victims.
In 1885 Laehinski was finally captured. A
Russian Of the name Of Rybaeof. living
| near Tulcea. who had often hidden the
bandit, tempted by tho large rewards Of
| fered for his capture. having persuaded the
| r6bber to hide in his cellar. informed .
| party Of cavalry.
On their arrival to demand his surrender,
| Lachinski barricaded himself in the cellar
| and withstood a days siege. killing and
woundins . number Of the cavalrymen, un-
| iii, in the afternoon, a chance shot broke
his thigh; even then. as he lay disabled, he