ATTACK BY BRIGANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9142, 25 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

ATTACK BY BRIGANDS.

An* attack was made by brigands upon Bellova on the 7th July. According to an eye-witness, about 30 brigands, having the appearance of Macedonians, armed with Martini-Henry rifles, and plentifully provided with cartridges, made a descent upon the Bellova Railway Station at night time, the signal being given by a spy. The station was suddenly surrounded by the robbers, who fired several shots, greatly terrifying the people inside the building, who had not organised any defence. The brigands accomplised their work very rapidly, and retreated, carrying off with them five persons—viz., M. Binder, representative of the Oriental Railway Company, and M. Lander, representative of the Railway Junction Company, both Austrian subjects; the stationmaster, a telegraph clerk, and a rich Bulgarian merchant from Sofia. M. Binder, who had been twice previously captured by brigands, was maltreated. The Government took energetic measures, in the first place to procure the release of the prisoners, and then to organise an active pursuit of the band. As soon as the intelligence was received two companies of infantry were despatched by special train to Bellova, whither other troops had also been sent, from Philippopolis. In future the railway line, and especially Bellova station, will be guarded by detachments of troops.