Mr, Riva was kidnapped at his quiet' home at Timer (ron Gate) near Loyar was easily taken by the bandit gang numbering only about 100, The Tocal milita were over-pawered and, after looting the town, the outlaws. marched off to a mountain near by, taking with them 8 captives. Mr. Riva and several Chinese, including} the linen station-master, During. the first day of his captivity, the Italian engineer had to walk over! 40 miles, being dragged bare-foot actes hilly districts and thorny) paths. As night approached, Mr. Riva was unable to walk, being weak with fatigue, hunger and thirst, He was given neither food nor water and was tied to the back of a mule, moving slowly towards the west.
During the 44 days, the band moved from one place to another, travelling mostly at night, as they' wanted to make their movements: to be as mysterious as possible. Town after town and village after village was looted and burned by the outlaws as they provesded on their journey. Bratal murders were committed, the vietimhs being mostly farmers and famine refugees. tone town, Mr. Riva related, the audits captured a large number of ttle girls and boys, all under the age of 10, and put them to death ina horrible manner. Six of these children were tortured and slain before Mr. Riva's eyes, as the gang svanted to show him what it would mean if the ransom money was not forthcoming. A large number of young women were also seized and. carried off.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.