The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-09-27
ONECEN'T

| with trees, ana yet II uld not nave q
4 hospitable look. AS we made closeE
| approach we could see a couple Of rude
huts and primitive jetty, but Mr.. Ta-
| lantl explained that his castle was hid.
den by the forest and that he was lands
| ing at that point to save us long
walk. 1t was as we were drifting In to-
make fast to the wharf that others In
our party became suspicious. The no.
bic Greek was neither crafty nor dlplO.
matte. He let the mask slip and betray
| him or at least aroused wonder and dis
trust, but the most suspicious Of US
were hardly prepared for the climax.
As soon rs the craft was made fast
the three eminent friends of Mr.. Ta-
lanti suddenly produced pistols and
knives and took their stations by the
gangway. The sailors divided into two
parties, and. handling their naked
knives in a menacing fashion. they
drove TIE people into line. When Pro-
fessor Hampstead had rubbed his eyes
scratched his head and got 1t into his
brain that something not down OIL the
programme was going OH, Talantt
mounted box and smilingly observed:
ladies and gentlemen, you are now
about to pass ashore to behold my Won
derful discoveries, but each one of you
is required TO leave behind you all
money and jewelry. will see that ev.
erythng is safely cared for
But what-what does it mean?"
asked the bcwildered professor as lie
looked around him.
"It's robbery" cried three or four
voices In chorus.
"Do not mar the harmony Of the oc-
cnsion with hard words continued the
chief villain. Il simply borrow your
purses and tewelry. The term robbery
does not sound well. As time flies let
us get to work. Antonio, you may be-
gin with the professor first
The men cried out in unger. but what
could they do? l do not think there
was firearm among them, while the
Greeks seemed overanxious to use their
knives. There were protestations and
threats of the law. but Talanti only
hi tlltlu anu tlO "oah W
go on. Each man In our crowd was reg
ularly held up--that is, his pockets
were thoroughly searched, and every.
thing of value was taken. The women
were requested to hand over. and each
one had her watch and rings in hand az
she moved up. In the course of half an
hour the last one was ashore, and then
Talanti took off his hat. made sweep
ing bow and sailed away with his plI
ratiral crew. He had no sooner gonG
than gang Of half dozen villatnpus
looking men came down from the huts.'
They told us they We're fishermen. but
their actions beled the statement.
Their first move was to demand cash.
and great was their Indignation and
disappointment at being told that Ta-
lanti's crowd had taken the last coin.
When sure of this. they left lis, and an
hour later two genuine fishermen camo
ashore In their boat. There were a dog
ell vessels within five or six miles Of us
and dollar would have been big pay
for them to sail out and notify tha
nearest craft Of our situation; but, real
izing our helplessness, they demanded
the sum Of 500 AS there was no mon
ey TO pay them. they were finally pre-
vailed upon to take an o U signed by
all the men Of the party.
1t was almost dark when battered
old schooner came sailing up to take
lis off, and the terms We're So apiece!
to lie paid in Athens. We spent .
dreary night on deck and landed in the
city Mt noon next day. Immediate no.
tice was given to the various consuls
and to the Greek government, but no
one had any faith that anything would
be accomplished. The government
made loud promises and seemed to be
making all possible efforts. but as q
matter of fact Mr.. Talanti was not
even pursued. lie never could have
nut up and carried through such a job
without y rrr,'r-- nf officials standing
IN with HIM. and each and every ona
Of them doubtless shared in the plum.
der when it was divided. 1t was said
that the money and jewelry amounted
TO about $4,000, and the only consola.
ton any Of the victims had was thA
privilege Of abusing a country where
81 a things could be carried out.