The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-05-08
.PERILSO OF A CLERGYMAN
Copyright, 1908, BY Joseph b. Bowels.

moi Petaci. on the Via del Re in Naples,
my curiosity was greatly aroused by
newspaper reports of all sorts of dep
relations committed with singular bold
ness by banditti, sometimes in the very
environments of the city. 1t was on the
road from Nesuvius to Naples, however,
that the more serious attack occurred,
and visitors from other lands, especially
America, were the principal victims
1t took me but few days to decide to
drive over this road some night, but
knew | must select time when l could
60 without the knowledge of my host,
as | was certain he would not hear to
such an expedition Little did / know
the real dangers and hair raising expert
ences | was destined to suffer or should
not have undertaken the trip, eager as
was to CLEAN personal information of the
manner in which the bandits were work
ING.
All efforts to suppress the banditti
had proved futile, and, as l now remem-
Der, not single arrest had been made.
Antonio explained this to me one evening
by observing that no deed of violence had
been reported and no misadventurer had
been detained longer than thirty hours
From the accounts published / observed,
moreover, that the despoiled were all
foreigners, and l more than half sus-
pected that the officers of the law were
not seriously attempting to bring the
robbers to justice.
Some of the victims had given thrilling
accounts of their experiences. One young
man, who was sightseeing with his bride,
had been suddenly captured in the Grotta
di PiehrO della Pace. The young woman
was so greatly frightened that she was
on the verge of Mysteries, but 1t was soon
proved that this was needless, for she
was conducted back to Naples, dozen
miles. / should say, and left, with the
most profound apologies, at the gate not
far from NirgiPs tomb. A few hours
later her husband rushed breathlessly to
her side, safe enough, save Cor the loss
of his money and valuables.
The young bridegroom, in addition to
being filled with most heart-rending
fear for the safety of his bride, was sub
iected to rather harsh treatment. He was
bound, gagged, taken back a short dis
lance west of the north shore of Lake
Avernus and treated to fine exhibition
of poniards and firearms. All of his
money and valuables, including a very
fine watch, were taken, and he was left
helpless. 1t required two hours of strenu-
Gus effort for him to release himself, but
he was finally successful.
Another man was seized at, or near,
the Terre del Greco, lifted into carriage
and hurried to a cave somewhere in
Nesuvius. Unfortunately he tried to
make his escape and was Immediately
overpowered and beaten to insensibility.
naked, Invested of all his money and
valuables and wandering aimlessly along
the highway that leads from Resina to
Portici
In spite of these stories | was not
deferred from my purpose to see for
myself what these outlaws were about
| did not fear peril, and decided upon
time to penetrate into this world of
crime and mystery. By leaving my
money, watch and other valuables at
Naples | could secure myself against
loss. The escapade, l thought, need not
consume more than twenty-fo hours.
Accordingly, one morning secreted all
my effects, except about 25 scudi in my
room, informed the good Signora Petaci
that 1 was going on short trip across
the country, and would probably not re-
turn until the following day, and depart
ed. l first went around the bay of Pom
peii and registered at the Hotel Diomede,
signing my Italian name, Kiovanni Meri-
to Cocchiere, thus concealing in some
means my identity. Indeed, the pro-
prietor supposed that 1 was q Piedmon-
tese, beguiled by the name and my COM
pleXion. | then went out 10 take OBJ
seryations. | walked down to the waters
edge, back to the Statione di Termine,
across to the office of Messrs. Thomas
Cook & Sons, where l had glass of
tamarino, up into the somber streets of
old Pompeii, gave the inevitable tip OF
una botigila di vino to the government
turnkey, and, observing that it was now 2
O'Clock, returned to the Diomede and or
dered my lunch
All this time | had been planning my
invasion of bandittidom. My plan was
to make my way to Marsiglia and dis
miss my conveyance. There would hire
another for an indefinite number of hours
and drive up Vesuvius to the Statione di
Ferovia Funicolare, arriving there about
sunset or a little later. / would have
my coachman wait while / assembled to
the crater, then L would descend to the
station and invite him to dine with me,
all the time clutivating his good graces.
Then | would order him to drive me
across country to Naples, distance of
from fourteen to sixteen miles, accord
ing to the route chosen.