Year: 1878




Signor Egidio sarconi, deputy Vice Chan
oellor in the, Ministry of Grace and Justice,
set out from Rome about the middle Of Aug
ust last to enjoy his months holiday at Cor
leto PerticOra, hamlet in the Basilicata, and
about half days journey south of Potenzn,
the chief town Of the province. His family
had preceded him thither, and in his eager
ness to join it with the least delay possible
he stayed no longer in Potenza than to hire
a vehicle, acceptingin fact the first one that
offered itself


On he went anticipating the joyous reccp-
tionin store for him, and high legal function
AIRY as he was-thinking nothing of the law
and as little of its breakers when suddenly,
some six miles from Potenza, he was arous-
ed from his reverio by two gruT voices bid
ding the driver rul up. Presently two sin
lister faces appeared at the window; two
rifles were leveled at him and he was told
to alight Immediately. Unarmed himself,
with no assistance near him for miles around,
and the driver most likely an accomplice of
his assailants, there was nothing for it but
to comply.


Forthwith the Brigands bound him hand
and foot, carried him up the hill that ascend
ed from the roadside, and on reaching a
dense forest of beech trees deposited him on
the ground. They relieved him of all his
valuables, including some one-hundred lire
he had about him, and then they told him
that unless five thousand scudi were paid
for his ransom he would be put to death.
Vainly did he plead poverty and protest
that his family did not possess that sum.
His captors were ineXorable, and with many
brutal treat forced him to write to his rel
atives for the sum required. By this time
it was nightfall, and with his hands and feet
bound so tightly that the cords cut his flesh,
he had to stretch himself full length on the
bare, damp earth, while the brigands slept
beside him.


On the same spot, and very nearly in the
same position, he spent the whole night and
part of the next day with scarce morsel of
food or drop to drink, till he received orders
TO march. His feet were just so far left free
as TO enable him to walk with difficulty over
the bcichtsan hollows oftheir devious path;
and when his swollen and aching limbs
forced from him an involuntary cry Of pain
his captor5 would push him before them
with the muzzles of their rifles, and keep
him in perpetual fear of being shot by acci-
dent. Four days and four nights of this
bodily and mental torture did he undergo
till on the fifth day chance ofescapc provi-
dentially appeared. The Brigands who al
ways kept him tightly bound, had descend
ed to the plain that morning, and returned
with O little food-bread and cheese, with
some water. Having eaten their fill and
given signor sarconi what remained, they
all three lay down to siesta under
the shadow of some plum tees.


1t was sunset before they arose and resum-
ed their march, signor sarconis legs being
left little freer to enable him to climb the
hill over which their journey lay. They
had not gone far when he, being always
little ahead of his captors, got a glimpse

through the trees of five carabncers who
were patrolling the neighborhood. The mo-
ment he saw the uniform and the red stripe
of their trowsors he darted Off towards them,
though they were a. full rifle shot away.
BY this time the brigands had also seen the
carabineers, and without further head for
their captive, they took to their heels in tho
opposite direction. sigtor sareoni was at
once unbound and conveyed under an escort
Of two carabineers to his ovoroyed family at
Corleto Perticaro, while the other three
made chase to the fugitives. These gentle
men, however, are still at large, and their
victim in spite of all the conjugal and fill
ial care lavishodon him, has not yet recov-
cred from the privatons and actual wounds
inflicted on him during his five days cap
tivity.-Londoa Daiiy Nc,.s's Rome CyIreg-
PgHdcHca,