Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-21
THE BLACK HAND.
Society Had Its Origin in CaIabria At
ter Earthquake of 1894.

ffoi. NIncenzo la Marca explains in
letter addressed To the Giornale IL
Italia of Rome how the Black Hand.
originally an Italian institution now
hourishes in Calabria and Sicily, as
vas listed by great earthquake,
ana the unfortunate inhabitants
sought III emigration remedy against
the general restitution that followed.
Tie exodus toward America then
started, and Calabria was gradually
leporulated, agriculture and cattle
raising We're neglected, the cost OF
living became high. and idleness was
encouraged as the returned emigrants
refused 10 work but lived on the
money saved in America.
Old customs were abolished, the
character and temperament of the in
habitants We're changed. humility and
respect to authority were lost and the
criminal instincts and passions of the
people We're given full vent The re-
TUNED emigrants brought back with
them now ideas of democracy and
equality. they considered themselves
superior 20 their fellow -countrymen
and entirely independent because en-
riched il tho land OF plenty.
In lA05 the old criminal association,
know n as 'Eaniglia dele Nampe," OF
candy Of Flames Cor fire. which had
J cen transplanted to America, where
ii assumed the name OF Black Hand,
vas r. Vived in Calabria ana Sicily. AT
present according to Professor La
Mnrca, ii is thoroughly organized and
naturally It's members are in close
connection with their American COM
rades. The Family of Fire has its
CHIEF, whose power is absolute, and
each provinc" and district has special
SECTIONS az groups linked together
by The common bond of crime. The
members N the gang use special
language. which 1t understood only
by the initiated. All the members are
armed and must carry either mir
rorS" CraZors) or else the "tufa" IRE
Nolver). They must always be on the
lookout for monks" policemen and
must defend and protect each other
The chief OF every section or group
attends to the ordinary administra-
ton OF the gang; he collects the fees
paid by each member. cOnvolies secret
generally in the open air
and ut night, organizes the work and
pi esideS over the tribunal when an
execution is decreed.
The family OF Fire has numerous
members both in Calahria and In Sic
lily and its ranks are. increasing daily.
In fact, one of tbs, chief duties of each
member is To persuade his friends to
ioin the gang. and often when per-
suasi1n is useless threats and intimi-
dations are adopted. A special for
mua Is generally used to press new
recruits into the service. of the society.
a member of the gang goes up to
young man Of promise and asks him:
DO | speak with. a fool or with an
il-disposnd person?" Ii the young
man is willing to join the society, he
replies: You speak to man." The
men, Der of the society then says that
he, too. is a man of honor, meaning
that he occupies n high rank in the
gang, and he then adds that the So
ciety needs the young mans service
and requests him to pay Hover
that is, a contribution or fee. Nnen
this fee is paid the young man pc
comes q member and he is said TO
walk under the name of the old menu
Der who persuaded him to JON.
In case young man refuses TO JOIN
the society, after some time he IS told
TO leave the place or to pay a hne'
but he usually does both or else dis
appears mysteriously. The Family OF
Fire has a special code of honor.
which consists of many rules divided
under two headings-'Dirty Policy"
which relates to discipline and False
Policy" which deals with the work OF
the society The code also fixes the
procedure to be adopted in executions.
and these are grouped under the SIN
gle heading OF Convictions.
The members OF the society are d.
yided into different classes. They