The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-03-14
A YANKEES
PLUCK
By RYLAND BELL
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911

We w hedi ~ VI tIc bdliuil, VINO open
" robs and holds captigas 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, Il |
young American gentleman, Intending
TO so in carriage from Naples to
Sorrento, was warned against gang
Of bandits who had shown themselves
on that route. Instead of needing the
warning he told his banker that If he
should send him an order for ransom
to scrutiniZe the message for hidden
instructions and especially to heat the
paper on which 1t was written. There
are plenty Of lemons in Italy, and d
message written in lemon Juice is not
visible till heated, when it comes out
dark brown.
True enough, White was taken in by
the bandits and carried up into thu
highlands overlooking the bay Of Ma
pies. Several days after his capture
his banker one morning found on his
desk letter from the captive ordering
him to send $4,000 francs to certain
point, the location being carefully de-
scribed in the letter. The banker heat
ed the paper, and message appeared
Of an entirely different purport. 1t di-
rected that force of soldiers go to a
certain spot on the coast on a certain
date and with telescope look up into
the mountains. At point between
the rocks of peculiar shape the bandits
were encamped. The troops, knowing
exactly where their enemies were
could advance at night and surround
them.
The banker disliked to propose the
plan to the government officials, fear
Ing that If it failed White would be
murdered. Nevertheless he obeyed the
order. The troops were sent by water
to a point off place called Castle
amore They were kept concealed be-
low, and police officer in plain
clothes, armed with telescope, went
ashore. This precaution was taken
that any confederates the bandits
might have in that vicinity should not
be able to notify them Of the pres
ence of the troops.
The police officer, choosing spot
where he would not be observed,
brought his glass to bear on the noun
tains and located the position Of the
bandit camp. Being familiar with the
locality-he was chosen for the work
on this arcount-he 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 q rough map of the
roads running near the point of attacy
and agreed to personally conduct on
part of the force up steep path that
would lead directly to the small Ola
teau on which thu bandits were war
Ing. All was arranged. so far as pos
sible, that there should be no warning.
AS soon as 1t was quite dark the
boat changed position to point on the
bay that was comparatively free FROM
barked They assembled the hills BIZ
two different routes, one party to a.
tack in front the other in the rear
No one passed them from below, AMI
whomsoever they met they forced t.
go with them that no one might carrr
information of their approach.
Meanwhile the bandits, oblivious t,
the fact that their captive had giyea
such information as might lead to their
ruin and having seen and read his let
ter ordering his banker to send the
ransom, treated him kindly. They
even permitted him to walk about on
the ledge on which the camp rested,
though 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
tanned them, and 1t occurred to him
that this would be better way to
send them than the one he had int1i-
Gated. He gagged the time of their
arrived, If they came at all, for that
night.
Toward midnight the bandits, except
the guard, slept. White managed, un-
detected, to steal knife from the belt
of one Of his enemies, who slept
soundly, and concealed II under his
body. About O'clock In the morning
there 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 to his
feet. White lay perfectly still. The
first shot was followed by another and
another. Then there was a shot from
the rear. The captain Of the band,
thinking that they must have been
outwitted by their captive, rushed
upon him to run him through. White,
who was an athlete and quick as light
ming, sprang to his feet and, turning
the bandits sword aside with his
knife, buried the knife In his side.
BY this time there was mingling Of
soldiers and bandits, the bandits vain
Iy trying to escape. Those who sue
ceeded in doing so were shot down by
those In the rear who had been wait
ing for the attack In front Eight
bandits were killed and ten were cap.
tured.
For this bit of pluck White received