Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Report from April 23 of a bandit attack at the Capuchin convent in Sion, capital of Valais adjoining Switzerland, at the beginning of last month. 24 robbers sought lodging, then attempted to rob the friars but were mostly torn to pieces by guard dogs after the treasurer tricked them into a room with the animals; the rest fled.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
Twenty four banditti went to the convent of the Capuchins who are very hospitable to all travellers, and begged a night's lodging, saying they were all smugglers, who got their livelihood by conveying goods into Piedmont. The mountain being at that time of the year almost impassable in the night, the friars received them very charitably, and lodged them all.
About eight o'clock, when every monk was retired to his cell, the villains took to their arms, and secured every body in the convent, by confining them in a large room. They then threatened the father treasurer with instant death, if he did not shew them the room where he kept the convent's money.
The friar had the presence of mind to address the assassins in the following words: "Gentlemen, I hope you will not hurt any of my brethren: You shall be introduced into the room where we keep our money; but the sum we have at present is not very great, as all the rents have not yet been paid. Come along with me, and you shall have it."
Thereupon he went up stairs, followed by eleven of them, and opening a place where some blood-hounds were kept for protecting the convent, and for discovering the bodies of poor travellers that perish in the snow, he, with evident marks of fear, went in, and speaking to the dogs, each seized his man, and most of the robbers were torn to pieces by them.
The treasurer then went down stairs, and raising his voice, began to encourage his brethren to make a stout resistance, and, soon after joining them, he had the pleasure to see the other villains running towards the mountains.
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Convent Of Sion, Capital Of The Valais, Adjoining Switzerland
Event Date
Beginning Of Last Month
Outcome
most of the robbers were torn to pieces by the dogs; the other villains running towards the mountains
Event Details
Twenty four banditti begged lodging at the Capuchin convent, claiming to be smugglers. After securing the friars, they threatened the father treasurer for the money. He led eleven upstairs to a room with blood-hounds, which attacked and tore most to pieces. He then rallied the brethren, and the remaining robbers fled.