Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-04-23
Held For Ransom
rcopyrishA 1901. BY c. B. Lewis.l

few miles from the quiz OF NoTihtns
the party of us who had been travelling
together for several weeks broke up.
That is, Major LOTUS, an Englishman
and an officer on leave of absence, de-
eided to remain there with friends for
q few weeks, while the rest Of US went
ON to Marathon and Athens. The
major had very pronounced ideas re-
gardlng brigandage. The subject had
often been under discussion with our
party, as we were all foreigners and
fair game. and the major had sworn by
the beard of his father that II ever
captured by brigands he would let
them cut him up plecemeal before be
would pay a cent of ransom or permit
any of bis friends to. He was a fairly
wealthy man, but he objected to pay
ment on principle. He was so deter
mined and outspoken in this matter
that believe II finally led to his cap
ture. One day. a week after our depar-
ture. he went out from Kastri on horse
back attended by q servant, and the
servant returned alone and In a great
funk to say that his master had been
attacked, overpowered and carried OF
toward the mountain.
Ii was the first case Of brigandage
around Kastri for ten years. and au-
thoritles were so slow TO act that the
fellows got clear away with their cap
tive. The major had told his friends
how he felt on the subject OF ransom
and that IL he were ever captured to
refuse to pay a shilling, but as soon as
they heard of his being taken they
made preparations TO meet any moder-
ate demand on the part of the brig
ands. What followed the capture was
told afterward by one Of the band who
left II and was pardoned by the gov
eminent. There were Eve In the gang
when the attack was made. The major
shot one dead In his tracks and badly
wounded a second before he was over
come. They tied him to the back Of
donkey and made no stop until they
reached mountain retreat. Within
half an hour of his being freed from the
donkey he had done for another of the
band by pushing him over cliff. This
left but two men OF the five, but next
day they were Joined by four others.
They may have thlrsted for the majors
life, but brigands hold to the one OBJ
ject of ransom as long as possible. The
major was ordered to write letter to
his friends In kastrI and inform them
that his ransom had been fixed at what
would be 900 In American money.
He dehantly refused to do so. More
than that. be told the leader to his face
that not one penny should be paid by
anybody. no matter what the results
might be. To discipline" him they
sliced or the lobe of his right ear and
sent 1t down to Kastri with a note OF
their own composing The missive had
hardly gone when the major got his
hands free and killed one of the brig
ands outright by hurting a rock against
his head. They had had him only forty
hours. and yet In that time he had kill
ed three of the band and laid up
fourth. The amount OF ransom was
raised to $4,000 and the captive was
treated like some savage animal. He
constantly reviled and dared and defed
them. and when they shifted their
quarters from day TO day they had to
carry him Ike log.
The people at KastrI could only raise
about 5000 in the time given. and so
II was extended five days. but the
whole of the majors left ear was sent
in as warning that they must hustle
around. They got 5000 together be-
fore the time elapsed. but the brigands
refused this and sent In the majors
foreinger and a further extension of
two days. The money could not be
raised. Ii was well known that the
captive was against ransom. but his
friends knew that he would not escape
with his life IL the money was not paid.
When the last day of grace expired.
the major was Informed that be must
die. He laughed In their faces. Mu-
tilated as he was, he would not have
taken his liberty as gift. 1t is seldom
that the brigands of Greece have ever
accepted smaller sum for the ransom
of a captive than the one first set. and
they have never been known to turn
captive loose. no matter how hard
pressed. II the ransom cannot be raised.
the captive must die TO strengthen their
position In succeeding case. In this
instance they were probably secretly
glad that the ransom could not be rails
ed. Ii was an hour after sunrise when
the major was Informed. aud so far
from begging for his life he jeered at
them. Bound hand ard foot. he was
placed in II sitting position with his
back to rock and two men stood be-
fore him with guns. He was supposed
to be securely bound. but he had work
ed at the ropes until he could cast them
off. He did so all Of sudden, and.
sprlnging up, he wrested the gun from
the hands of one and then turned and
Drained the other. There were four
others yet to deal with. however. and