THE TERROR OF THE BALKANS.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 278, 23 April 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE TERROR OF THE BALKANS.

The news of the capture of the notorious brigand, Captain Athanas, the terror of travellers in the Balkans (says the Pall Mall Gazette), has caused a sigh of relief. His career is the most remarkable in modern brigandage. He had withdrawn himself from his profitable and romantic business some time before his capture, and lived peacefully as a citizen at Kaslowitz. His past did not, apparently, affect his social position in a town which is somewhat remarkable for its indifference as to the antecedents of its inhabitants, for the one very good reason that he had given up all the inconvenient habits associated with his former adventurous life. He tried even to make himself popular among his neighbours, and gave his ill gotten gains—a veritable Robin Hood—for the benefit of the poor and distressed. His generosity with other people's money has not been without effect. Mankind can sometimes be grateful, and mankind in the shape of bis fellow-citiz ns have petitioned by telegraph for his release If he did not exactly make tor himself a name so deservedly famous as that of RozsaSandor and other great men of that ilk, his fame has passed far beyond the boundaries of the mother country. The deed by which his memory will go down to posterity is undoubtedly the " holding up " of the international "express in 1891 from Constantinople to Vienna at the station of Tschcrkeskoi. close to the Turkish capital. The train was derailed, and the passengers under the escort of the Berlin tourist firm of Stangen were plundered and carried off to the mountains to be held as hostages until a ransom was paid. Among them was an Englishman. With the exception of four Germans and a Jew all were subsequently released. With a sharp eye to business, the Jew, a rich Berlin merchant named Moritz Israel, was despatched to Constantinople, and brought the alarming news that the hostages would be murdered unless a ransom of 200,000 f. was forthcoming. The German Government intervened, and finally paid the rausom. Later some of the brigands were captured. But Athanas managed to evade all pursuit.