The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-02
PAID RANsoMs WITH SONG.
Tales of singers who Fell i'm With
Bandits.

Bandits.
From the New York Press.
It is probable that Miss Stone and
her companions in captivity VIII not
be able to sing their way to freedom,
for the Turkish or Bulgarian bandits
who have them in charge evidently
want money too badly to be lured away
from their purpose by gentle harmony.
Yet there have been cases where the
captives of bandits have procured
their release by a song. Charles Santley
was once travelling i'll Mexico with
some friends when he and his compan-
ions were seized by some half-breed
bandits and taken to the mountains,
where they were told they would be
liberated only upon the payment of
large ransom. After supper the singer,
possibly to keep up his spirits, broke out
into song. The bandits heard and were
charmed. The leader demanded that he
sing some more. Santley saw his
chance, and agreed to sing as long as
he could, provided the liberty of him
self and his friends was the reward.
The brigand leader consented, and for
hours the mountain wastes echoed to
the songs of the accomplished vocalist.
Then, true to their word, the brigands
allowed Santley and those with him to
depart unframed.
The late Joseph Mas had a some
what similar experience. Some years
back he was travelling in the West
which was the wild West then-and
was captured by Indians, along with
one of his friends. When the Indian
camp was reached the captives were
at their wits ends to think of some
way of propitiating their captors. The
friend suggested song, and, taking the
hint. Mas broke forth into an operatic
selection which so delighted his cap
tors that they loosened his bonds and
demanded that he continue to sing.
When he got weary they revived his
tagging zeal by pricks with the points
Of their knives, and so kept him sing
ing all night long. Finally, as IL grew
near dawn. the Indians one by one
dropped asleep and Mas and his COM
panion made their escape.
Marios wonderful voice once saved
him in a like manner. He was travel
ing with some companions in Spain,
when he fell into the hands of band
of marauding brigands, who demanded
money. Mario answered them in i'm
promptu song, which so delighted
them that according to the singers
story, they elected him captain of their
band. In the course of the following
day Mario managed to make his es-
cape with his friends.
On another occasion Mario was ar
rested in Madrid, as he was returning
from the theater, on the charge of be-
ing a political conspirator. The great
singer was indignant and, telling who
he was. demanded that his friends be
communicated with. The captain Of po-
lice before whom the singer had been
brought, replied that If the prisoner
were indeed the great Mario he had
sure way of proving 1t. Thereupon Ma
rio burst into song, and five minutes
later was bowed out of the police sta
ton with profuse apologies for his ar
rest.
A good story is told of Lablache. the
celebrated bass singer. One day as he
was strollng leisurely through a
French fair. a cry was raised sudden
ly that a bear had escaped from the
menagerie. The crowd fed in every
direction-all save the singer. whose
massive proportions precluded the idea
OF rapid movement. He alone stood un-
moved, awaiting the onslaught Of the
ferocious beast. which, sure enough.
soon came rapidly toward him When
within a few feet OF the singer the bear
halted and gathered itself together as
~ for "A final rush. Then the mighty
Lablache stepping forward, sent forth
from the lowest depths Of his immense
chest such "A roar that the affrighted
beast turned and fed.