“THE BLACK HAND.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1054, 8 June 1912, Page 4

“THE BLACK HAND.”

OLD PLOT RECALLED

The plot against Nicholas I, of Moateuegro, in 1907, has been recalled by the remarkable escape ot one of the imprisoned men, M. Michalo Juvanovitch, who has just reached Constantinople after thrilling experiences. In October, 1907, he and about 20 ot his colleagues, among whom were Radovitch, the president ot the Chamber of Deputies ; Ritzvitch, the Minister of Justice ; and Kurevitcb, the Minister ot Finance, were condemned in Montenegro to 15 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for having conspired against the dynasty of King Nicholas I. All these statesmen are said to have belonged to what is known on the Balkan Peninsular as “The Black Hand,” a secret league with extremely revolutionary tendencies. It is very widely spread throughout the kingdoms of Montenegro, Servia, and Bulgaria.

The condemned men were incarcerated in the terrible fortress of Podgoiitza, called “Youssouvatcha,’’ where political prisoners are retained. Juvanovitch and his unfortunate comrades had been caught in the act of storing up large quantities of dynamite in the house of the Foreign Minister for the purpose, it is said, of blowing up the King’s palace. All the time of their detention the prisoners had to wear heavy chains on their feet. The chains of Juvanovitch weighed nib.

About ten mouths ago they conceived a plan or escape from the fortress. It consisted of digging a subterranean passage. It was an extremely hazardous undertaking, full of difficulties and petite. It was crowned, however, with complete success, owing solely to the courage and perseverance of Juvanovitch. He and Radovitch, who were confined in one cell, feigned serious illness, Their chains were consequently removed. During night time they began digging the passage. The accumulated earth they succeeded in disposing ol little by little down the drain. For over six months the work went on quietly and assiduously without any interruption. One of the warders, however, noticed that the attitude of the two statesmen weie not that of peisons sli icken with illness. Fie