OUTLAWRY IN TRANSCAUCASIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15824, 24 July 1913, Page 4

OUTLAWRY IN TRANSCAUCASIA.

BRITISH CONSUL ATTAQKED. DESPERATE FIGHT FOR LIFE. (From Ocb Own Correspondent.) LONDON, June 11. ' Mr John Pavoni, the British Viceconsul at Poti, in Trans-Caucasia, is the hero of a terrible fight against a largo band of armed brigands. Mr Pavoni and his brother fought desperately against overwhelming oUds, and after both had been wounded succeeded in driving off the assailants. - Six of the latter were wounded and their leader killed.

Mr Pavoni telle a, 6tirring story :—" At half-past nine in the evening I was sitting in the dining-room with my eldest brother Henry, taking tea, when suddenly I heard the key in the lock of the outside back door being turned. This was followed by the slight creaking of the door as it was opened. There is a closed verandah leading from the dining-room to the' outside back door, and I got up to go to tho dining-room door to find out what was happening. However, my little daughter Helen, who had been pouring out tea for us, was before me. She ran to the door and opened it, but with great presence of mind slammed it immediately and shouting 'Brigands!' crouched down in a corner of the dining-room. " My brofjher was armed with a revolver, and I had a Webley automatic pistol. Henry rushed towards 'the door, but before he had touched tho handle the door opened from the outside, and the brigands were facing us. .Without hesitation my brother fired point blank at the fii-st one, giving him two bullets in the chest. As the wounded man staggered back a second brigand took his place, and pointed his rifle at me. I got in my ehot first, and with effect, for he turned on his heels and made off. At the same moment three more of the brigands dashed into' the diningroom. In the meantime their accomplices were firing at us from the verandah, and our escape from death can only be described as miraculous.

"I hit the leader of the band, and he fell on his back. But he was up again in an instant, and hurled himseli towards me. I fired a second time, and onco more he dropped to the floor. I thought he was dead, and turned to help my brother, who was holding his own against the others. I had only time to get one shot in -when I Teceived a stunning blow on the head from behind, and fell like a stone, losing consciousness for a few seconds. On recovering myself and opening my eyes I saw the brigand chief Mikaberidze over me, with his rifle clubbed. My pistol was still in my hand, and I gave him one full in the chest. He nearly fell, but managed to totter towards the doorway, I reeled and caught him by the coat and shot him for the third time. Then he vanished, and with his disappearance the reetseemed to lose courage. My brother and I fired incessantly at them, and finally drove them away from the house, after pursuing them to the top of the backdoor steps. A SERVANT'S TREACHERY. " The brigands were undoubtedly well organised, and all were armed -with quickfiring rifles, revolvers, and long knives. As far as I could judge they numbered about 10 or 12 men, and the 'fight in tho dining-room lasted between five and 10 minutes, during which timo some 40 shots were exchanged. The police arrived on the scene a quarter of an hour after tho fight, and .found Mikaberidze's dead body in a neighbouring street. He had received four wounds. In the same were two heavy native overcoats, a good number of cartridges, and a portion of a rifle.

" Mikaberidze was one of tho most notorious brigands in Gouriaj and since his escape from Siberia, 12 years ago, had terrorised the district. It has been proved that one of my native servant girls let the gang into the house. She has made a, confession, and is now under arrest."

Mr John Pavoni'e wound in the head is not dangerous, and a ricocheting bullet, which struck his brother near the temple, cut only the skin.