Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-12-04
MAN HUNT IN THE ALPS.
Brigand Captured at an Elevation Of
$3.50 Feet After Hot Battle.

| 6ri9aho Capturoo AZ an ELEVATION OF
$3.50 Feet After Hot Battle.
A brigand who has for year ter
rorized the region about Lake Mag
giore in the north of Italy, has just
been captured after hard hunt and
desperate fight. He Is Giuseppe
Crealini and he has been living in
hut which he built for himself at a
height Of $3.50 feet, near the summit
Of the Lepontine Alps.
From this vantage point he made
] frequent descents upon all the SUR
rounding valleys and always got away
safely with his plunder through his
knowledge Of the forests and rocky
Businesses of the mountainside. He
held the local authorities in absolute
contempt.
Often when they were toiling
through the wilds in the belief that
they were on his trail he would be
down In the lowlands making love to
some farmers daughter, thus gaining
access to her fathers house, sizing up
Its contents and forming his plans to
loot II.
At last the local police called for
governmental help and twelve men
were selected to make systematic
hunt for Crealini. Dressed as guides,
but armed with rifles and revolvers,
they started in pairs to beat the for
est.
They soon found traces Of the bri-
gand and one day actually caught
sight Of him, but by his superior agii-
ity he got some lead on them and
then by setting fire to the dry under
brush he managed to cover all traces
Of his flight An extensive stretch Of
woodland was burned over before the
fire could be checked.
New efforts were made and finally
parties Of soldiers were sent up the
mountain from all sides so as to hem
him in. As they approached within 500
feet Of his hut, he spied them and
opened fire.
The bullets went over their heads,
but as they drew nearer they saw
that his hut was pierced with loop
holes and gave every indication Of be-
ing prepared for siege. The SOL
diers found cover behind rocks and
began shooting In return. hoping that
lucky shot would hit their man.
It was late In the afternoon when
the siege began and the soldiers real
lied that II they remained until dark
they would have to stay all night, and
staying all night practically amounted
to freezing 10 death. Indeed. not be-
ing accustomed to the exposure, their
aim soon became unsteady as they
shivered in the keen mountain blasts.
They were at their wits ends when
suddenly. after a specially heavy vol
ley, the brigands fire ceased.
The soldiers suspected stratagem
and waited. AS nothing happened.
they plucked up courage for dash to
storm the house. They came on un-
hindered.
They smashed In the door and rush
ed-Aato the single room.- S'1ae afsss<k1&z
robber lay on the floor unconscious.
A bullet had struck him on the head
and knocked him insensible, but
glancing off the bone, had inflicted
nothing worse than a scalp wound.
When he came to, Crealinf found
himself tied hand and foot and alto
gether at the mercy Of his captors.
On searching the hut the storming
party found a considerable sum OF
money and great hoard Of valuables,
besides provisions; including delica-
cies sufficient for many weeks sub
sistence for the brigand. They also
found a great bundle Of love letters
written by some fifteen or twenty Of
the prettiest women and girls In the
surrounding valleys.
AS Crealini recovered consciousness,
his only remark was:
"well, gentlemen, think I've given
you good sport hunting over this
mountain, and wasn't that a pretty
fght?"
Crealini is tall, powerful man,
about forty. He is now in prison In
Milan awaiting trial.