Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-10-19
CHASED BY BRlCANDS.
Tire Experience Of Rev. Arthur
Smith and Father O'Hearn.
JoURNEY1NG IN THE HOLY LAND

Had Narrow Escape From Cap
ture and Possible Death-A Similar
Case to That Of Miss Stone.
Almost within the grasp Of a band
Of Turkish brigands!
Such was the experience of the Rev.
Arthur J. Smith, pastor of the Howard
Avenue NJ. Z. church of New Haven.
Alone with him in the loneliest part
Of Turkey was Rev. Father David
O'Hearn Of Milwaukee, pastor of St.
Johns cathedral Of that city.
Now safe again on American soil,
Rev. Mr.. Smith, as he reads of the fate
Of Miss Ellen Stone, the American mis-
sionary, is sensible Of the dangers lie
escaped. Speaking Of the adventure
while ascending Mount Pargos, he said:
I'm the city Of Smyrna we selected
our guide from among horde Of the
rabble who accosted us. Leave your
gold and valuables here was his first
warning. Father O'Hearn needed the
proposal. What do we care for rob-
bers? said L, as the guard began to re-
late the tales of band Of brigands
who inhabit the mountain. So on we
trudged up the path filed with cacti
and dry underbrush. The sun beat
down with broiling intensity. We
rested under the occasional fig tree, and
at length found ourselves at the sum-
NIT Here again the guide entreated
us to 60 no farther.
thinking he wished to earn his
money easily and having no idea that
there was danger, we kept on over the
sun baked path. Suddenly we reached
the natural amphitheater where the
martyr Polycarp gave up his life after
fourscOre years of Christian living. In
the center was the tomb. dark and
dlngy hole in spot so desolate that it
seemed inhabitants could never have
set foot there.
x declared my intention of going in
to the tomb. AS l did so in the dis
lance l saw running toward us three
fierce looking objects whose presence
seemed to fit the fantastic nature Of
the place. The guide began to quake
with fear and begged us to retreat.
We refused, and without more ado
jumped into the tomb and began my
exploration. The EXPLANATIONS Of my
companion aroused me from my pom
dering on the strange place. Reaching
the light again, saw running toward
us the fiercest looking object have
ever beheld. Truly he was typical
brigand. Bare legged and bare armed,
wearing a SLOUGH headgear and -four
ishing sword. with pistol and dagger
In his belt, he looked for all the world
like the very Satan himself.
"Leaping from the hole I prepared
to meet the fellow. Rev. Father
O'Hearn drew his knife. Smith, Pm
going to fight he exclaimed. I'm
with you,' said I. AS the fellow ap-
preached our stand to meet him some
what unnerved him, and, stopping
within few feet Of us, he brandished
his sword and assumed threatening
attitude, but came no farther Soon,
however, there came painting up be-
side him two beings almost his coun-
terpart both In general makeup and
fierce demeanor. l looked about for
stone Mo-. a means of defense could
l find. Then l wished had left my
valuables IL the city. for | saw that
three armed men to two was more
than we had bargained for. The
thought of possible death there over
the yawniag tomb made my blood al
most run cold. But my courage did
not go. and. thinking discretion the bet
ter part of valor, suggested to Father
O'Hearn that we had best run for it
il we valued our lives. Our guide was
humping it over the mountain half
mile away. We could expect no help
from him. SO, turning. we each began
the most exciting race l believe have
ever experienced or ever expect to-
Father O'Hearn is an athlete. and
myself have been one. Our experience
stood us in good stead. Over the
rough stony paths we fed. The blood
thirsty brigands were almost at our
heels. We could hear the swishing Of
their swords, and their threats. uttered
in the fierce Turkish dialect, sounded
almost certain death in our ears.
"For miles, it seemed, the pace con-
tinued. We kept just distance ahead
Of them. A false step would have
meant almost certain death or perhaps
capture and torture. The hot sun re-
doubled our task, and the perspiration
was running in cold streams down my
body. But never once thought of CIV
ing up the flight We kept safe way
ahead Of the robbers, and when the
welcome sight Of the city met our VI
sion it was the greatest relief that I
ever felt. A few more rods. and we
came in sight of soldiers encamped un-
der the mountain. Straight toward
them we ran and never stopped until
in their midst we turned and saw our
pursuers had abandoned the chase and
were returning whence they came to
their wild home in the hills.
Our guide. thoroughly frightened,
had aroused the city with his tale OF