CAPTURED BY SPANISH BRIGANDS

Globe, Volume II, Issue 110, 7 October 1874, Page 3

CAPTURED BY SPANISH BRIGANDS

Mr Arthur Haselden, having been released from the Spanish brigands, has published the following narrative of his recent capture and deliverance for publication :—"For the last fourteen years my brothers have been working on their own account several mines in the Linares district and other parts of Spain. Three months ago they sent me to open out a new sett in the Sierra M or ena, twenty miles from Linares. On the 3rd inst. I started on horseback from these mines to proceed to Carolina, accompanied by my foreman. After a ride of two miles along a narrow path, surrounded by thick bushes and brushwood, two men, armed with Remington carbines, suddenly stepped out into the footpath four yards in front of me, and ordered me to dismount. My attendant, who carried a gun, found himself attacked in the same way by three others. Seeing resistance was useless, we dismounted. They searched us for arms, and took away our watches, which they eventually returned. They then led the way to a ravine, where the brushwood effectually concealed us. I was politely told it was only a question of ransom. I answered that I supposed so, but desired to know who was the chief of the band, as I did not wish to treat with all of them. On this, one of them told me he and another were the leaders. He then gave me a letter to read, in which they fixed my ransom at £40,000. In this letter my brothers were repeatedly informed that Ishouldbemurderedif their request was not attended to. They also gave directions about sending the money. They requestedmetosigntheletter,whichldid. They ordered my foreman to take the letter to my relatives at Linares, entrusting him with our two horses, which were only in their way. We then continued travelling all that day and night, I on a donkey, and they on foot; only resting for a short time on two occasions. I was only threatened the first day, probably with the intention of making me write letters urging my brothers to send my ransom as soon as possible. This I refused to do, and seeing that their threats were useless they abandoned this system and told me they did not intend to hurt me —that they were sorry to be obliged to place me under such restraint. During my captivity I was guarded by four of the robbers. Most of the brigands appeared to be men who had not worked for some time back. Several of them expressed themselves well. They disapproved of capital punishment. One of them said he was giving a good education to his son, and if he thought he would tako to his father's profession he would shoot him. On the 12th those who had been waiting for the ranson returned, bringing with, them one of

tlie mules my brothers had sent? I then heard that I was free, but was only allowed to start on my way back in the evening? The chief then gave me £6, saying I might require it on the road—that it would not be right for a caballero to go about without a penny. He informed me that henceforth I might travel about these mountains with safety, as they would be the first to take care no other band should molest me. i then mounted the mule, and accompanied by one of the brigands, rode across the country for several hours. At midnight, on reaching a path which lie said would lead to a house, he left me. About half an hour later I came upon some woodcutters, with whom I spent the rest of the night. Next morning one of them guided me to our mine, and thence I proceeded to Linares, where 1 arrived on the evening of the J 3th. J. then t'uvt learned the amount of ransom sent, namely, <£GOOO.