Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1911-06-01
A YANKEES
PLUCK
BY RYLAND BELL
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

II that class Of Italians who perpe-
trate Black Hand crimes in America
use the same methods in Italy to ex-
tort money we don't know II. Indeed,
we hear very little of crime. and what
we do hear is Of the bandit, who open
ly robs and holds captives for ransom,
The Black Hand methods are more
easily used in America. where brigand-
age would not pay but where under
our trial methods it is very difficult to
convict Black Hand criminals.
Some years ago Edward White, a
young American gentleman, intending
TO 20 II a carriage from Naples to
SorrenFt, was warned against gang
Of bandits who had shown themselves
ON that route. Instead Of needing the
warning he told his banker that If lie
should send him an order for ransom
TO scrutinize the message for hidden
instructions aud especially to heat the
paper on which 1t was written. There
are plenty Of lemons in Italy, and
message written in lemon juice is not
visible till heated when ii comes out
a dark brown
True enough. White was taken in by
the bandits and carried MP into the
highlands overlooking the bay Of VA
pies. Several days after his capture
his banker one morning found on his
desk letter from the captive ordering
him tn send 10000 francs to certain
point, the location being carefully de-
scrlbed IN the letter The banker heat
ed the paper. ana II message appeared
Of an entirely different purport It dl-
rectcd th"t fcrca Of soldiers 30 to
certain spot on t'3e coast on ccrtHia
date and with telescope look mp into
the :nountainS 81 n point between
the rocks o uncuiar shape thn hl,l'ts
were cnca mpcl. Tho troops. kuoG-ln-
exactly whnsn their enemies were
could advance At night and surround
them.
The bunker distilled to propose the
plan to he government officials fear
Ing that If It failed White would BE-
murdered. Nevertheless he Oboyed the
order Thr troops werc sent h- water
10 point OF place called Castle
amore, They were Kept concealed he
low and a police officer in plain
clothes. armed with telescope. went
ashore. This prccaution was taken
that any confedcratcs the bandits
might have in that vicinity should not
be able TO notify them of the pres
ence of tile troops.
The police officer choosing spot
where he would not he observed
brought his glass to bear on the noun
tains and located the position Of the
bandit camp. Being familiar with the
locaity-he WIS chosen for the work
on this account--hc knew very well
the roads by which the soldiers might
surround the camp. Returning TO the
boat, he informed the captain of his
observations, drew a rough map of the
roads running near the point Of attack
and agreed to personally conduct one
part of the force up steep path that
would lead directly TO the small pla-
tcau on which the bandits were wait
Ing. All was arranged, SO far rs pos
sibe, that there should be no warning.
rs soon as Il was quite dark the
boat changed position to point on the
bay that was comparatively free from
houses. and the troops were discm-
barkcd They ascended the hills by
two different routes, one party to at
tack In front. the other in the rear
No one passed them from below and
whomSoevcr they met they forced to
20 with them that 10 one might carry
information Of their approach.
Meanwhile the bandits, oblivious to
the fact that their captive had given
such Information as might lead to their
ruin ana having seen aud read his let
ter ordering his banker 10 send the
ransom, treated him kindly. They
even permitted him TO walk about on
the ledge ON which the camp rested.
though a man stood ready To shoot him
AT any unusual motion He looked for
the troops below but seeing nothing
Of them, was not aware of their ar
rival But he saw the boat that con-
tainel ,h2m anl ii occurred to him
chat this would be better way to
send them than the one he had indi-
Gated He gauged the time ef their
arrived II hey came at all. for that
night
Toward midnight the bandits. except
the guard slept White managed. IN.
detected TO steal knife from the belt
Of enc Of his enemies who slept
soundly. and cournaled II under his
body About - o'clock i'm the morning
,herc was shot on the edge Of the
plateau, which was not more than ten
yards from the sleeping outlaws. Ev
cry one OF them jumped at once 20 his
feet White lay perfectly still The
first shot was followed 10y another and
another Then there was shot from
he rear The captain Of the baud,
thinEn= that they must have been
outwitted bv their captive, rushed
upon him % run him through White
who WIS en athlete ana quick as ight
ming ~proug 70 his feet und. turning
the bandits sword aside with his
knife. buried the knife ia his side
BY this time there was ~ ling Of
soldiers and bandits tho h1u Sits Vgiu-