Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-25
A REMARKABLE BANDIT
Passing of Noted CorsiCan at
Age of Eighty-One.
HIS THIRD TIME OF DYING
Lived for Forty-Four Years With His
Tribe in Brigandage.
HAD BEEN ALLOWED 8 WIVES
Sale of Works of the Old Masters Pro-
voked Government officials
The Hague Conference.


Special Cahlegram TO The Star
ROME, March 25.-Antonio Bellacocia,
remarkable bandit. who was the pride or
Corsica has just died at the age of eighty
one. in his bed, of influenza. This has been
his third time of dying Twice before he
revived, but now he is said to be really
and truly dead Some, on the other hand,
affect to believe that he died in reality
many years ago and that he was success
sively impersonated by various old Cor
sicans with an eye to business. Anyhow,
he was or is a delightful old bandit. and
Corsica could not have done without him.
Ancient history says he took to the bush
of the wild isle toward 1S4S after having
attempted to murder a mere public attor-
ney Two Years later he shot rival who
presumed to court one of his lady loves, and
in due course of time he brought down
two or three gendarmes with his fowling
piece. These were the mere dry bones of
his picturesque career. The real man was
revealed in his beautiful attitude.
For forty-four years he lived with his
tribe in the woods and hills above Bocag-
nano delightful life of brigandage Police
and troops were sent at intervals to cap
ture him. but they always failed strangely.
In the early days of his career he used
to shoot, and shoot straight too. at his
PulSutiS, Dul dileI al llillc SuCl exaggerated
realism was dropped by common consent
The gendarmes. of course continued to
pursue him once year, but made no I'M
fair attemps to corner him. On his part he
played the game also and never gave the
show away by wandering into a police
camp, when even COrscan Imagination
would have lost faith in him.
Bandit Valuable Asset.
fIa
on both sides. After all, the gendarmes were
fellow COrsicans and We're not going 10
damage the islands reputation. Bellacosia
was valuable asset Tourists some illus
trious, visited him in fear and trembling,
with guides who played upon their nerves
with horrid tales as they climbed to his
aerle. princess of SaXe-Meningen had an
audience with the king of the Corsican
brigands and presented him with a gold
watch. Baron Haussmann was another dis
tnguished visitor and gave him Sevres
porcelain vase. Nj. Emmanuel Arene dep
uty, introduced Edmond About, the novel
Isl, TO BellaScOSCia, who received him roy
ally and held a win d'honneur'' to pay re-
spect to the author of the "Roi DIES Mon
tagnes," bestowing on him a knife which
of course, was supposed to have pierced
several base traitors hearts. when you
use 1t on YOUR foes" said Bellacoscia to the |
thrilled About leave it not in the wound
for the handle bears my name"
Ordinary tourists in later years were re-
celved by Bellacoscia and his banditti, as
times We're growing hard. The chief him
self in black velvet and with long snowy
beard and hair would only bow gFavely and
look with his velvety black eyes but his
heutenants We're always ready with tale
of blood and vengeance. a silver coin was
the usual fee placed in the palm that held
the knife. \ more generous tip brought forth
story No. ., which usually a better
and gorier one. On leaving the visitor
nIsaS frf Al Wi 70 duct til,
was of course utterly needless. but which
looked Well