Lampiao, Bandit King of Brazil. by Mike Bell. In December 1916 Virgulino and one ofhis brothen, Levino, Lampiao was such a man.

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1 O CAhTGACEIFTO Lampiao, Bandit King of Brazil by Mike Bell BACKGROUND There can be very few people who have not heard ofthe famous oudaws ofnorth America and Australia, Jesse James, Billy the Kid and Ned Kelly. Yet the outlaws of South America, the caryaceircs, seem to be little known outside their own ontinent. This is strange because they lasted far longer than their North American or Australian counterparts, surviving until the early 1940's. In a way this may help to explain their relative obscurity for even as the greatest cargrceiro of them all, Lanpiao, was engaging battles with police, the attention of the public ofthe westem world was firmly fixed on the activities of the screen cowboys. The sordid reality ofbacklands banditry could not compete with the cinemas ope heroics of Gary Cooper, Roy Roeen and John Wayne. Lampiao was arguably the greatest of the cargacerios yet his career was by no means an isolated phenomenon. He was only one of many who took to outlawry, the cargacao, over a period of roughly a century. Every man's reason for becoming an outlaw was different, but the political and social structure of rural Brazil contribulrd to Ihem all. As rhe inlerior was colonised duing the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries a relatively snall number of families established themselves in large estates and ranches known as.lattut.ira. Although many ofthese estateslowly fragmented over the yean as they were divided among successive generations, the more astute lafld o*ners managed to retain their power bases through arranged marriages and carefully contrived alowances. Over the years these land and cattle barons acquired the courtesy title of Virquliao F?rt?iru Da Slva " Lampiao An almost feudal society developed beneath lbe cororelerb. handtul of tenants of his own. Vireulino, like most of his The majority of the backlands population lived in abject children of the senao, as the Brazilian backlands are known, poverty hn$ relied upon the cororele,s for employment and had lilde formal schooling. Until the mid twentieth century prolection. The latter was provided by private armies of schools were rare outside the cities and maior towns of cangaceiros called capangas who protected their master's north-east Brazil. However. Virgulino quickly learned all that tenants and kept rival groups al bay. As long as the cororeleri was necessary to survive in the senao, becoming a skilled ensured that the tenants voted the right way the federal and horseman and backwoodsman. state authorities were quite content to let this state of affairs continue. Law enforcement was also heavily influenced by the co.orelers. Dudng Brazil's Old Empire ( ) powers of THE FEI]D WITH SATURNINO law enforcenent rested in the hands oflocal county policechiefs Although Virgulino was later to claim that he joined the who were usually little more than puppeb of the corcre.leis. cargrcao to avenge the death ofhis father in 1921it is clear that when the Empire was succeeded by the Old Republic in 1889 he was closely involved with the cangacer?os for s veral years in reased federalism simply ircreased the power of the beforehand. His entry into the cargacao came about as a result cororelels. Jury triets were little more than a formality as juries of a typical backlands feud with a neighbour in The made up of tenantsiihply hande down decisions in accordance Feneiras accused a tenant of a powertul neighbour, Jose with the wishes of their masters. Such a potitical and social Saturnino, ofstealing their goats. The situation escalated wher structure was bound to cause resentment and ther Saturnino took the matter as a personal insult and wamed that who became bandits as a neans of escaping from it; others he would protect his tenants. became bandits as a means of exploiting the system and In December 1916 Virgulino and one ofhis brothen, Levino, Lampiao was such a man. were rounding up cattle when they were fired on by some of Satumino's capargai. The youthsfled, but returnedtocontinue the round-up the nexl day. This time Virgulino was armed, as VIRGULINO were his brothers Levino and Antonio and one oftheir tenants. Lampiao was bom Virgulino Ferreira da Silva in Vila Bela As the Ferreiras passed close to Saturnino's ranch firing broke county, Pemambuc on 7th July He was one of nine out and Antonio was wound d in the hip in lhe skirmish. children of Jose Fere'ra da Silva and his wife, who owned a Realising that his sons were in danger of getting into serious small ranch at the foot of Serra Vermelha (RedMountain). Jose trouble, Jose Ferreira reluctantly decided to move his family to was not one of the ruling coroneleis, nor was he parti ularly a new ranch at Poco de Negro (the Black Well) near th small poor. He raised cattle, sheep and goats on his ranch and had a town of Nazarc in nearby Floresta county. Saturnino and the

2 Ferreiras had agreed to keepoul ofeach othert way, but within months the feud flared up again. Saturnino and a relative went to Nazare to collect money owed to him lor the sale ofa horse andwasseenby Virgulino- AsSaaurninoleft the town to retum home he was arnbushed by Virgulino and his uncle Manuel l-opez. Satumino escaped unharmed but returned the next day with fifteen of his canpaneas and attacked Poco de Negro. Although only Virgulino and Manuel Lopez were at the ranch when Saturnino and his men arrived they held then off, wouflding one of them. From then on the older Ferreira brothee weni permanently armed and began to dress in the recognised style of the cargacetros (d s ribed later). They also began to associate with alogal cangaceiro chiefrain, Sebastiao Perreira. The citizens of Nazare were less than impressed by the juvenile bandits, particularly as many of them had family ties witb Satumino. When Pereira raided a nearby town the Nazarenos passed out arms, fearing a similar attack. Fightine broke out with the Ferreifts and Levino was wounded and captured. The It is impossible to establish whether Nzzarenospelled out the situation to the Ferreiras - Jose Feneira was either they involved in the ciminal activities of his sons. althoush his moved away or Levino would be shot. continualeffonrlokeephisfamib outol rroublesuggesrt-har he So it was that the Feneiras moved on again, this time to Agua was not. The tragedy of his death at Engenho is lhat he had Brarca county in Alagoas, the state adjoining Pemambuco to neverint nded to stay ther forlong. He had planned to move the south and east. The upheavals of the preceding years had on again to a new permanent home the day after rhe police cost the family a great deal and Jose could only afford to redt a small farm at Ohlo da Agua (The Spring), ctose to yet another Virgulino later justified his life as a bandit as an attempt to uncle. Antonio Matildes. This time it was the Ferreiras who avenge his father's death, but it is quite clear that he was deeply refused to allow the feud to die, retuming to Pemambucoinvolved with bandits long before that time. Virgulino aho several times to raid Satumino's farms afld ranches, For clairned that the raid on Pariconhas was carried out in direci example, on 15th September 1920 a band of fifteen, led by relaliation for the assault on Engenho, but in fact the raid Virgulino and Matildes, raided Satumino's ranches, killing preceded the police attack on the ranch. Like many outlaws and cattle and buming buildings. The police in Agua Branca criminals Virgulino twisted events to suit his own needs and to responded to these laids by searching the homes of the Fefeiras justiry his activities. and Matildes to the point of destruction, but found nothing. In the year after their father's dealh the three Ferreira Some time later however, Joao Ferreira was arested in Agua brothers became fully fledg d cangacerios, fi$t joining the Branca. Joao was a younger brother o{ Virgulino, Levino and band ofantonio Porcino, awellknown bandit in Alasoas who Antonio and never became a cargacer'ro. He had come to Agua was krlled in Septembe' and lhen moving o; lo join Branca to buy medicine Ior one of his sister\ children, but was Sebastiao Perreira once again. The year saw numerous arrested by chief of police Amarilo Batista and accused of skirmishes with the police; on one occasion Virgulino and eight buying ammunition for his brothen. Virgulino was furious and others shot their way through a cordon of one hundred and took Antonio, Levino and a friend rvith him to get Joao twenty eight soldiefs, on another Virgulino was seriously rcleased. The four men were ambushed by Batista's men on wounded in the shoulder and groin and spent three weeks thei way to Agua Branca, but shot theb way out of the trap. Then they sent word to Batista that ifjoao was not released by In the summer 1922 Pel]eila decided to abandon the five o'clock that evening they would bum the town. This was no cargacao and build a new life in the spanely populated state of idle tfieat for cangaceircs often sacked villages and Batista did Goias. Although Virgulino was rhe youngest of the three not have the manpower to resist a determined assault. Wiselyh brothers and a relative newcomerto the cargacao he was a very released Joao. Jose however. wasdetermined to avoid trouble if forceful personality and was soon the acknowledged leader of he could and decided to move hn family yer again. the band.in the months he had been with Perreira he had come to knowall hisprote tors and suppo(en and easily assumed the CAI\GACEIRO CHIEI"TAIN role of cangaceirc chieftain. From now on he was known as Lampiao, a ni kname derived from his ability to This time Jose sent virgulino, Levino and Antonio away while fire a lever-action ifle so rapidly that it created a continuous light he moved the r st ofthe family to the ranch of a friend called at night. Eragoso at Engenho (the Mill) near Mata Grande. The move was made in early Tragically Jose's wife died on the joumey. Despite their father's instructions the three oudaw CANGACEIRO DRESS, TACTICS AND brothers refused to stay out of trouble and out of the area. On WEA?ONRY. 9th May 1921 they attacked the town ofpariconhas. The seven Before going onto look at the historyoflampiao and hisband man band, including the three brothers and Matildes, sacked we should look at lhe dress, tactics and weapons of ihe the store owned by the local police deputy and carried away as cargacerroi. The bandits worc a more flamboyant vefiion of much as they could. Nine days later a police force led by typical backlands costume afld fortunately Lanpiao and his Sergeant Jose Lucena and Amarilo Batista attacked Engenho. men were frequently photographed over the years, and filmed Only Jose Fereira and Fragoso were at the ranch at the time on at least one occasion, so that we have precise details ofhow and both were killed. The police laimed that they launched the they looked. The mostcommon headgearwas a broad-brimned attack without warning because the ranch was known to be the feltorleatherhat, oftenturned upat the front, orfront andrear, base for a band of cargaceiios who had raided Pariconhas and and held in place by a leather chin-slrap. Hats were frequently justified the raid by announcing that they had found the booty decorated with a variety of emblems and badges ofreligious or

3 48 superstitiousignificance. For example, the hat taken from the bush, thus giving the impression that they had sirnply Lampiao's body after his death was decorated with six stars of vanished into thin air. Another method was tie to pieces of Solomon while the chin-strap was covered with nearly fifty sheep or goatskin to their feet with the fur side out. This bluned assorted tdnkets. Decorated headbandswere also wom, either their trail and made pursuit more difficult. Wlen they had to kill as separate items or attached to the ftont of the hat. Cotton animals to eat they would bury the carcasses so that circling jackeas in a variety ofcolours were common, usually wom over vultures would not give away their camp site. They aho used olarles shift. Full length trcusers were sometimes wom, as ruses to avoid capture. On one occasion Lampiao and his men wer jodphuls, but pants cut short below the knee in a style not crawled through police lines at night wearing cowbells. The unfamiliar today were by far the most common legwear. rhythmic clanking ofthe bells aroused no suspicion amongthe The extremely rough terrain of the senao meant that the police and the bandits got away. Even when in secret camps or cargaceiros usually moved on foot, although they were not when staying at the ranches of coieros Lampiao remained averse to using horses when they could get them. As a result caudous, usually leaving a small rearguard camped a short leather sandals were the usualfootwear, althoughboots, shoes, distance away ftom the main camp or ranch house. Many times leggings and puttees in a variety of combinations were also these rearguards tumedthe tables on police units which thought wom. Because the outlaws were frequently on the nove they they had caughthe outlaws by surprise. The sizeoflampiao's canied most of their belongings with them in a miscellany of band fluctuated widely. The police often took this to be an leather satchels and cotton or canvas haversacks. These items indication of their success, equating a smaller band with wer often elaborately embroidered by the outlaws themselvesdecreased effectiveness- This was notso. Lampiao deliberately orby their women. Printedor embroidered blankets were wom reduced his band to a hard core when on the run to make flisht wrapped around the waist or crossed over tle chest, although easierand he neve' haddifficulry inobta'ning 'ecruit<. When he these were often hidden by several bandoliers of ammunition. stayed in an area for any length of time the size of his band This motley raiment was typically completed with a colourful neckerchief, wom outside the coat and fastened by several When they were finally brought to battle the cangacciros' Enger ing;. Cangaceiros wore and caded jewellery wherever ta tics could be unnerving. Lampiao\ men took ro cheering, they could. In the first place it added to their distinctive yelling obscenities, blowing bugles and singing a popular song costume, in the second it was an easy way of carrying loot called "Muhler Rendeia" at the tops of their voices. As if this around, jewellery being one of the most common forms of racket was not enough they would dash from cover to cover, portable and disposable rvealth in the backlands. As an example leaping high into the air and then rolling on the ground to make of the jewellery wom by cangaceiros, in 1926 Lampiao was themselves more difficult targets. The noise and spectacle of the described as wearing a green scarf fastened by a dianond ring, bandits in battle was sometimes enough to scare off inexperiwhile wearing six addi.ional finger rings; three diamonds, a ruby, an emerald and a topaz. All webbing or leatherwork was Throughout his career Lampiao relied upon the suppon of his decorated with pre ious metal or stoneswhen possible and the cor?eros, the backlanders who provided him with food, shelrer whole costume was finished by the application of vast amounts and ammunition. They ame hom all levels of society. There of perfume and brilliantine which gave the cat gaceircs a were many poor farmers and cowboys who wilingly supported distinctive aromal hiin because ofhis ability to hit back at rhe oppressive system, T\e cangaceiros *eapons seem to have been of mainly otbe$ supported him through fear. Many of the larger American or German origin. Mauser bolt-action and winchester lever-action dfles and carbines were the most popular villages were vulnerable to attack unless they bought him off, landownersupported him because their far flung ranches and shoulder-arms, their canying slings heavily omamented with others deliberately used him to settle scores with enemies and coins. medals and emblems, Revolvers and automatics were thenwashed their hands ofhim. The support ofthe coiteros was widelyused. Colt revolven were common as were Colt 19ll and crucial to Lampiao's survival. Without them he would have Luger Parabellum 1908 automatics. Handguns were carried in been totally isolated and unable to last for as long ashe did. In either shoulder or belt holsters, once again elaboratelythe end it was betrayal by one o{ his corleros rhat brought his decorated. Amnunition was never a problem for the cargacer'ros. Supplies were obtained from coiferor and ftom the It was alnost impossible for the smallerlandowners to remain police. ln the lqtter case ammunition was either taken from neutral in the war between the police and the cargacelros. The dead policemenor bought ftom live officers who prefered free wealthy and powerfulandownen were immune to the activities enterprise to mortal combat. The cargacer?os' armament was of the police and had enough men of their own to keep Lampiao usually completed by a long, thin bladed knife wom in a at baywhen they wantedto. Others however were not so lucky. scabbard thrust through the waist belt. These wickedweapons, Lamprao rega'ded all those wbo drd nor snppoa him as his anlhing up to two {eet long, were lethal inclosecombat, being enemies and often treated them brurally;those who supported used as short rapien. They were also used for despatchinghim he lreated generously as long as they remained loyal. The guards and sentries quickly and quietly. A swifi downward blow polic on the other hand regarded most backlanders *ith from behind, enteing through the coilar bone, usualy brought suspicion and were less than subtle in their efforts to extract almost instantaneous death. information. One backlander sunmed ud the Dosition in 1930: The bandi.s' tactics were pragmatic. They survived mainly "I much prefer dealingwith bandits than with tiepolice... the through extortion, demanding 'taxes' or 'voluntary contributions' frem those towns and land-ownerc they could easily the idea that all backwoodsmen protect bandirs... their chief police are a bunch ofdog killerswho come fron the capital with threaten. They would fight when they thought they could win, objective istoget confessions at allcosts... ifwesaywe don't when they were ambushed or to rout a determined pursuer, but know, they beat us. Ifwe tell them they still beat us because it were loath to attack prepared positions unless there was a very proves that we have been ded up with the bandits." strong reason for doing so, such as an unresolved feud or a In the backwoods the cargaceiros were a more immediate demand for vengeance. and permanent threat than the police and therefore many The oudaws were at theirmost dangerous when being closelybacklanders chose to suppo( Lampiao until either rhe police pursued, although even here they had a variety of tactics for altowed them to defend themselves or showed that their tactics losingtheirtormentors. Theywould walkbackwards forseveral hundred yards in their own tracks and then leap sideways into In closing this section on the bandits we should note that they

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5 t4 O CANGACEIRO Lampiao, Bandit King of Brazil by Mike Bell outlaws were kept on lbe run for three months by the police TIIE POLICE forces of thr e states, Ceara, Pemambuco and Paraiba. Eventually Lampiao was forced to seek pastures new in Bahia. The majority oflocalpolice werc relu aant to come to grips with Unfortunalely su h co'operation was frequently sporadic and the cangaceircs. Those recruited from the larger towns and short-sighted, being abandoned after the bandits had rnoved citieswere almosthelpless in the backlands unless they stuck to on. Another shon-sighted policy was tried out after the the major roads and trails. Many of those who were recruited revolution in Brazil in The government decided to deprive from the backlands had more than a little sympathy for the the cangaceiros of arms and ammunition by disarming the cargacerros and had joined up simply as a means of escapingbacklanden. The policy backfired badly. The outlaws con' from the crushing poverty of the serrao. Local police chiefs were tinued to get guns and ammunition from the police and the more nor aler\e to coming to arrangement( wilh lhe c/ngrceiror. powerful cor?eros who were unaffected by the disarmament providing them with amnunition and leaving them alone in policy, while those poorer landownerswho might have resisted exchange foraquiet life. The policestationed in thesmall towns Lampiao no longer had the means to do so. and villages of the rertao were often heavily outnumbered by when police and civilians were armed and co'operated they the cangaceircs and when surpised had no real choice but to weremorethan a matchforthe catgacer'ros. Asan example, on surfender. This was usually the wisest cou$e. If none of Christmas Day 1929 Lampiao amved outside the town of Lampiao's men had been killed he usually treated the police Mirandela in Bahia, requesting permission to enter. Permission fairly; if they resisted and caused casualties before they were was refused and the cargaceiros attacked but were driven off by captured they were tortured and killed. a police sergeant and six men, supported by many of the local There were, however, enough enthusiastic and conscienriouscitizens. Once the police and the states' govemmenls realised policemen around to make life uncomfortable forthe outlaws. the folly oftheir disarmament policy they revoked it and began Some were simply determined to dothejob thattheywere paid toget results.in September 1935 six civilians killedthe outlaws for, others joined up because they were dissatisfied with the Suspeita (Suspicion), Medalha (medal), Limoeiro (L mon efforts of their local force. For instance Clemetino Furtado Tree) and Fortaleza. In June the folowing year olle of joined up after two attacks on his ranch in Santa Cruz by Lampiao's subgroups was wiped out when Antonio de Chiquinha and five other civilians ambushed Jose Bahiano and Lampiao in February 1924 during which the local police had done nothing. Furtado went to Paraiba and joined up as a thrce other cargaceiros. Three months later another subgroup sergeant. Active pursuitofthe catgrcefos usually depended on was badly mauled wh n the citizens of Piranhas in Alagoas small flying columns called volantes who travelled on foot resisted theil attack. Th group's leader, Gato (The Cat) was through the backlands, like the oullaws- These small columns killed and several others were badly wounded were usually made up ofanything up to a couple of dozen men led by an officer and acouple ofncos. The reluctance ofmany focal policemen to fight the cangaceiros mea thatthe rolantes BANDIT KING OF BRAZIL often had to rely upon mercenaries to swell theirranks. Even so Let us now move on to look at the history of Lampiao and his there were relatively few volantes. For example, in men. In earty 1922 Sebastio Peneira decided to abandon the Pemambuco had only one volatteoftwenty men and an officer cargacao and make a new life for himself elsewhere. Following to deal with all the bandits within lhe borders of the state. Perreira's depanure Lampiao quickly became the dominanl Allhough vo.iarfes were far more effective than local police in menber of the band even though he was the youngest of the combatting the cargrcer'ros, sometimes br;nging them to battle three Ferreira brothers in the cargacro. over the next sixteen andoccasionally ambushing them. it was soon realised that the years he led hismenin so manybattles, raidsandskirmishesthat most effective method of ddving them out of an area was to only the major events of his career can be outlined here. deprive them ofthe support provided by the coileros. and there On 26thJune 1922 Lanpiao and his men raided the house ofa were several campaigns which centred around the elimination wealthy noblewoman in Agua Branca and fled with large of the suddort of the coiteros. For instance in late 1926 the amounts of jewellery. Some days later a party o{ forty police Pemambuio ChiefofPolice, Enri o de Souza Leal,launched a and about the same numberofarmedcivilianswent inpursuit of new campaign. Some coiteros were too powerful 1o challengethe outlaws. ln typical cargacerro style Lampiao ambushed and dire tly aswehave already seen. The result was that th efforts routed the force near Espirito Santo just inside Pernambuco, ofthe police were directed against the srnaller andless powertul kill;ng dree and seriously wounding two more. A number of coiteros. Few were ever brought to trial as this only created killings were attributed to Lampiao during the surnner of 1922 synpathy for them and the oudaws. The police adopted the but his next major attack was on the town of Belrnonte in tactic of simply detaining them for long periods while endless Pernambuco. The reason for the attack seems to have been an enquides were made. Although.his policy paid dividends it did attempto kill Colonel Luis Gonzaga who owned a store in the somelimes backfire. Forexample, tbe police managed to detain town and had been a majoropponent ofpeffeira. Avicious gun Lampiao\ younger brother Joao for eighteen months, but battle raged for five houls during which Gonzaga's men and another brother, Ezekiel, took to the cargacao to avoid the seven policemen managed to hold their own against the police. outlaws. Finally Lampiao's men gained the upper hand. The By co-ordinating their efforts lhe police ofthe north eastem heart went out ofthe defenders when Gonzaga was killed and states of Brazil could make life difficult and dangerous for the the bandits looted his store. The victory, however, was a costly cangaceiros. Aftet Leal launched his campaisn in late 1926 the one for Lanpiao. He had four or five men killed and several

6 15 rnore wounded. This attack was unusual in that it was pressed home even though the defenders resisted stoutly and LamPiao took losses. It is likely that Larnpiao had agreed to kill GoEaga for Perreir as a matterofhonour andtherefore the attack had Lampiao's raids went on during 1923.In late Julythe outlaw chiefand his men returned to Nazare to attend a wedding, but got involved in a gunfight with the local polic and townspeople who had no rime for the cargacerros. Lampiao and his men fled, (EARA '--- but the Nazarenos pursued him relentlessly for the rest of his a' r RIO ORA\DE days. At least sixty oi them joined various volattes andfifteen \ were killed in action. In March 1924 Lampiao was wounded in a runningfight with, i...'"',i' t---' the Paraiba police. The bandits were mounted this time and Lampiaot horse was brought down- Asthe outlalv rolled clear I \ PARAIBA j he was hit in the heel, but managedto avoidcapture- For twelve dayslampiao survived on the food he had in hishavenackand both the polic and his own men scoured the country for him,,j prarallguco Eventually he was found by the catgaceiros and made a full recovery at the ranch of one of his coitems. ln July Lampiao was still not fit enough to lead his band in an assault on the town oi Sousa, Paraiba, in conjunction with the band led by Chico (t e* Perreira and had to delegate the responsibility to Antonio and t- cr Levino. Chico, by the way, does not appear to have been.:"t v/ related to Sebastio Pereira. Chico had a grudge against the /'<*' town and persuaded Lampiao to let his men take part in the bo raid. About seventy bandits attacked on 26th July and looted several businesses and homes. The police pursued the outlaws closely after the raid and caught up with Lampiao and sixteen of his men who were resting at the ranch of a coilero. As the police closed in they fell victim to Lampiao\ tactics. His rearguard ambushed the police, killing one, wounding another and Putting the rest io flight. A similar raid took place on 20th February lgx when MAP l NORTH EAST BRAZIL c Lampiao and about forty men attacked the town of Mata the Brazilian Communist Pa(y. For tr{o years after the failure Grande in Alagoas after its citizens refused to hand over a of the revolution Prestes led a column of mgamuffin revolutionaries a ross the states of north eastern Bnzil in an attempt 'donation'. The outla*s withdrew after a two hour gun battle and once again were p[sued by police towards Pemambuco. to rekindle the fire of revolt. The govemment placed the At Serrote Preto (Black Hill) ranch a major battle developed. responsibilitiy for the defence of the states in the hands of the The police force was made up of two groups, one from Paraiba states' police, the cororelers and their hired gunmen. Ceara and one from Pemambuco, totallingthree officers and s venty Congessrnanoro Bartolomeu wrote to Lampiao asking him seven men. Rashly, the Paraibans charged the ranch buildings tojoin one ofthe Patriotic Battalions being organised to defend where the bandits had taken cover. The Pemambucans were the state against the Prestes column. To gain Lampiao\ more cautious, keeping their distance and opening 6re. The confid nce Bartolomeu had his letter counter-signed by the bandits'fire killed several Paraibans and forced the rcst to go to famous cleric. Padre Cicero ofjuazeiro do Norte. ground. Then Lanpiao sent his brother and a dozen men out Padre Cicero Romana Batista was regarded as a saint by the from the ranch to flank the pinned Paraibans. Seeing this nove, peasants of north east Brazil. He had arrived in Juazeiro in 1872 the Pemambucans switched their fire to Levino's group. This as a young priest and attracted national attenttion in 1889when caught the unfortunate Paraibans in a cross fire between itwas alleged that acommunion host had turned to blood in his Levino's men and their Pernambucan colleagues. As the hand. The town ofjuazeiro flourished as word ofthe'miracte' casualties mounted the police withdrew, leaving at leastwelve spread; hundreds of romeiros (pilgrims) flocked to the town to dead and carrying away many more wounded. pay promeisa to Cicero - money paid to the church in the hope Lampiao's success in battles with the police during the mid of atofling for their sins and gainirg spiritual rewards. After twenties was marred by the death of Levino in July The Lampiao became a bandit many Of his family moved to Juazeiro band wa5 attacked by a volarte of Paraibans led by Sergeant to avoid Dolice Denecution. Jose Guedds and Levino waskilled. Lampiao was incensed with Lampiio arrived in Juazeiro on 3rd March 1926 having grief and ambushed the Paraibans twice in as many days, but already fought one a tion against the Prestes column in the Guedes was an experienced commander and drove off the mistaken beliefthat it was a police force. The outlawchiefand oudaws on both occasions without suffering any losses. Taking his men stayed in Juazeiro for a week during rvhich time they out his anger and grief on a couple of local towns, Lampiao w re feted and photographed. Duringthe week Cicero tried to murdered seven innocent people and then vanished for six convince Lampiao to give up the cargacao and arranged for him months before reappeanng in Ceara. and his men to recieve new uniforms and rifles. At some point during his stay in Juazeiro Lampiao was given a document commissioning him as a Captain in the Patriotic Battalions of CAPTAIN LAMPIAO AND TIIE PRESTFS COLUMN the United States ofbrazil. Although the document \ras good In July 1924 there was an unsucc ssful revolution in Sao Paulo enough for Lampiao its validity was always in doubt as it was againsthe Brazilian govemment. One of the leaders of the signed by an inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture, the only revolution was Luis Carlos Prestes. later to become leader of Federal official available in Juazeiro at the timc.

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8 17 After Lampiao leftjuazeiro he was quiet for a few weeks. The andgullies ofthe mountain and then ambushedthe policewhen Prestes column had moved on and peace temporarily returned ihey tried tofouow. The battle lasted allday. Ten soldiers were to north eastern Brazil. Th n Lampiao decided to return to killed and at least a dozen more wounded. including Manuel Juazeiro to recieve Cicero s blessing before finally givins up his Neto whose volante was part of Teofanes forc. Su of life as an oudaw. Unfortunately the intervening weeks had Lampiaols men were killed before he led thenl to safety across given Cicero time to reflect upon what had happened and he the top of the mountain. nowhad seriotrs doubisthathis linkswith Lampiao, not leastof which was the possibility that his candidacy for the Federal Chamber ofdeputies could have been seriously affected by his relationship with the bandit. Political am bilion obviouslv meanl rnore to Cicero than saving souls and he refused to see the outlaw leader again. Feeling disappointed. rebuffed and betrayed Lanpiao returned to the...]rltaoro with a vengeance. Throughout the summer of 1926 he launched a series of atlacks on ranches and towns in Paraiba. Peroaorouco aou Alagoas. including assaults on the close relatives of Jose Saturnino. By now Lampiaowas being referred to as the bandit kingof Brazil andthe Governorof the backlands. Impudendl,. he wrote 10 the governor of Pcrnambuco suggesring that the state should bc dividcd bctween ihem, he would lake the backlands while the governor could have the towns. But Lampiao's activities were rousing the anger of his enemies. volanres led by Jose Saiurnino and Manuel Neto of Nazare criss'crossed the country in hot pursuit of him and his men. Lampiao s luck almost ran ou! in September. A m.tjor batile developed on a ranch near Floresia county, Pernambuco. and Lampiao was shot througb the chest and carried fron the bartlefield. SERRA GRANDE AND MOSSORO Although his wound was serious Lanpiao was fit enough to move again by November, but the outlaws were slill beinghard pressed by the police. A large force undcr Major Teofanes lorre. had rrken ro Ihe tield in pur.urt of rhe crnprcc"o'. Teofanes already had a reputaiion as an outlaw catcher, bcing the man who had brought in Antonio Silvino in 191,1. Two hundred and fifty five of TeofaneJ men caught upwith the band at Serra Grande mountain, about twenty miles from Vila Bela city. on 28th November. The outlaws feu back into the rocks NAZARENO VOLUNTEERS c. 192,1

9 18 The police claimed that Lampiao's brother Antonio was killed at Serra Grande, but that was not the case. Antonio died some weeks later at the ranch of a coirero. He was wrestling with some fellow outlaws Ior the possesior of a hammock when a gun went off accidently and killed him. Luis Pedro, the man who owned the gun, expected to be kill d when he told Lanpiao of th accident, but the bandit chief simply elevated Luls to the position ofhis second-in-command, replacrng his dead brother. The defeat of the police at Serra Grande coincided with the appointment of a new govemor in Pemambuco in late The new govemor, Estacio Coimbm, appointed a new and ene4etic chief ofpolice, Enrico de Souza Leal, afld called a meeting of top ranking officials of neighbouring states to agrce upon concerted action against the cangaceiros. As we saw earlier, Leal took action againsthe coiteros while the volarres stayed in the field to keep Lampiao on the move. For the next six months he was continually on the run and his band was by no means the only one to suffer from the stepped up police campaign. In June 1927 Major Teofanes produc d a list of over one hundred cargaceiros kiled since early December. At least twenty five were from Lampiao's band, but the rest were from other bands caught up in the hunt for the outlaw leader. In the same month Lampiao deoded that enough was enough and abandoned his old stamping grounds in Pemambuco, Paraiba and Alagoas in favour of a raid into fuo Grande do Norte. Specifically, Lampiao and his men went north to attack the towfl of Mossorc, either at the request of the Rio Grande cangaceiro le der Massilon Leite or at the rcquest of Colonel Isias Arruda, a prominent landowner and poli.ical figure in Aurora county, Ceara, who had a gudge against the town for some undisclosed SPENCER SMITH MINIATURES (Metal and Planic 25l-l0mm sca e) a Ancri(rn Cieil wrr p u! \! r,j leb,nnea ptr.lis., 'n.lud'nb rule\ in.l demn same!23.45 UK o, f3s..rs ove6eas po a ^n ridn war oi IndeFnd.ce/s ven Yea6 w,r Sanpler pi.( {mel.lor pbni.l!1.95 PleaFend SAE for derail\ to: P.ie lohnnon, 5 S.rossar fiod,chb*(t, rondon, w4 4Qx, unired xinsdom PAINIING SERVICT AVAITABIE tu)o I)R:o'goDS praoorl,ctiods New figures to add to our ltth-lgth Century Native lndians 'TIPOO' Sultan of Mysore EI 16. Native Swodsmm, u il\ Shmshir dd Shield wlatever the precise reason for Lampiaot raid on Mossoro, EI17, Native med with (atd punchins knile md shreld his men left Aurora county on gth EI13. Native Rdkeler dd assistet {it} 12'ukel JuDe 1927 and went north on lpack oi2l El 19. Native Tribesmd wirlr Malchl@k horseback, robbing and buming ranches as they did so. The LI r0. Nahvp Regul4 w th FFn, \'nu\lpr r,r shdm\c I population of Mossorc leamed ofthe approach of the combined These teues oe in o slyle o/dess used fiolghour rhe 17th. r3!h forces of Lampiao and kite and roughly three hundred police ond lgth Century ih Southem hdid, ond nor used in fie r799 ho. and citizens began to fortily the town. The bandits attacked at dgdinsl I'l,ellinelon. Mom IiguEs w'll be odded soon. four o'clock in theaftemoon ofl3thjune 1927 and were startled Nee lot le by the strength of the resistanc. Fire came from the station, the prefect\ house, the school, hotels and other buildings. Before Warriors of the Dark Ages VIK 16, Halt naked wmior thrcwins a sped. shield. lon g si caneacehos were dead afld many more wounded. VIK 17. Kneline with de. dd shield. rrcdins helmet. Lampiao was so stunned by the unexpect d defeat that kite l.ik 13. M.iled wdior ddvdcins sped out, shield rp. tempoffily took command of the oullaws, leading them due vik 19. Thswing sptu, shielded rvdjns quilled coal, west into Ceara and the town of Limoeiro do Norte on the l'i( 20. Catchir8 amws on Juaquaribe river which they reached on the 15th. shi.ld, carrying ae. seding helnel. From here the outlaws went south, now pursued Viking MM.l pmks dnd Houworls by over five to louo 9 wn. hundred troops and police from Rio Grande do Norte, Ceara For mrc der,ils snd:!1.75 [gs.m plu 4 ICR s], for a lill elalogue, a and Paraiba. On the 20th June the outlaws ran into an ambush Dack of 5 smpl6. ed a 12 monrh update wce. TIIO DRAC.ONS PRODUCIIONS and although tney managed to escape with only one man 70 Lnck t4re, Msh, Hudddsfeld wounded they lost a[ their horses, pack animals and ammunition. Two days later the police caught up with the outlaws again, lrhs rsn,fl m4jis drlildblei srnrai. vili'ieida*ae6. Lak Bnrish W51 Yo*shie HD1 4QX Nalr)lsiii l",anrry.l.lc at Macarimba. A force of fifty cavalry and three hundred and \logrldnd Indiffi rhmueh lne rnnrs adi rsufs fifty infantry commanded by Major Moyses de Figuerido stumbledontothebanditsaccidently. The troopsopenedfi re at up a plan which would eliminate Lampiao and glve them all the a nnge of two hundred yaids, too far away to be effective and glory. Arruda invited Lampiao and his men to a feast on 7th July giving t]rc outlaws time to tate cover. By now Lampiao had to celebrate their retum from Mossoro. After Lampiao and his recovered his composure and was back in command of his men. men arrived the ranch was surrounded by Major Moyses and After the firing had gone on for half an hour he tded a trick. He fifteen of his men. as well as over one hundred of Anudat ordered his men to slowly c ase fire, giving the impression that capargas. To make the capture of Lampiao\ men easier Airuda they were slipping away as they usually did. When the firing had poisoned their food, but the bandit leader was suspicious. Irom the cargacer'ros'positions ceased entirely the troops broke When several of his men were violently ill Lampiao realised cover and cautiously advanced. At point blank range the what was going on. Fighting broke out, but once again the outlaws opened fire again, killing several soldiers and routing cargaceiros shot their way to fteedom, breaking through the the rest. Having halted his pursuers, Lampiao led his men south surrounding cordon and vanishing into the sertao. again, arriving back in Aurora county in early July Colonel Aruda was now embarrased by bis contact with the r'totoious canagaceiro and tried to restore his position by Coniinued next bonth... betraying him. He contacted Major Moyses and the two drew

10 t4 O CANGACEIRO Lampiao, Bandit King of Brazil - Part III by Mike Bell INTO BAHIA: MASSACARA AND ABOBARAS came across them. By 1937, the year before Lampiao's death, the crews had had enough and imported date loads of For the next year Lampiao's fortlnes were at their lowest ebb. Thompson sub-machine guns for their protectron. He continued to raid in Pemambuco and Alagoas and get into In December 1929 Lampiao committed one of his worst skirmisheswith the police, but his band was dirninishing in size atrocities. He and eighteen men took over Queimadas, a snall and recruits were not as forthcoming as they had been. In townon the Juazeircsalvadorailroad. The eight policemen in August 1928he decided that he had to moveon again and on the 2lst he crossed the Sao Francisco nverinto Bahia, just the town werc caught entirely by surprise and overpowered north of before they could rcsist. Lampiao held court all day and then the Pernambuco Alagoas border. By this time the band was murdered seven of the policemen at sunset, sparing only down to iuslfive men: his brother Ezekiel. known aspontafina Sergeant Evarislo because the townspeople pleaded for his life. or Sure Shot, his brother-inlaw Virginio, known as Modemo, The bandits organised a dance and a film show in the evening his second-in-command Luis Pedro, and two others, Mariano before leavingat four o'clock the next moming. The execution and Mergulhao. of policemen was not untlpical of Lampiao but the scale of the Almost immediately Lampiao's luck began to tum. within a massacre was unprecedented. As word of the killings spread week he established himself with Colonel Petronilo Reis of other towns resisted Lampiao's approach. Santo Antonio da Gloria county and beforc long was using 'Petro's'ranch By the end oi1929 Lampiao's networkofsupporters was well as a base. Lampiao was pursued into Bahia by established in Bahia and the following summer the police Manuel Neto and his volarfe, but their behaviour to*ards the suffered yet another defeat at his hands. Lieutenanl GerminianoJose dos Santos and his volarte of fifteen men picked up Bahian peasants was so brutal that tbe Bahian govemment asked the Pernambucans to withdraw them. the cargacer?os' trail about twelve miles from Tucano on 3lsl For six months Lampiao adopted a low profile, building up July. They trackedthe outlaws, all too easily as it tumed out, to his network of contacts, protectors and coileros. He rcappearcd a ranch at Mandacuru at the foot of Serla do Urubu (Vulture on f6th De ember 1927, takingover th town ofpombal for the Mountain). As the volante apprcached the ranch they were daybefore disappearingintothebacklandsagain. About aweek arnbushed by Lampiao and fifteen men. The police were later a Bahian volante led by Captain Hercilio Rocha unnerved by the bandits who attacked in their usual fashion, surrounded the ranch atmassacarawhere Lampiao andhis men singingand yelling and leaping in the air. The vorarte was lucky had gone to ground. Rocha, however, was not accustomed to have any survivors at au. Germiniano and h;s second-incommand were killed. as were three others, and anorher five dealing with Lampiao and his tactics and was taken by surprise when he was attacked from behind by lhe cangaceins' werc seriously wounded. The survivors fled. leaving the rearguard. Aftertwoof hismenwerekilled, Rochaorderedhis cargacetos io strip th dead and wourded of their weapons and volarte to withdraw. ammunition. Three weeks later the Bahian police again clashed with Any alrempt\ there mighi have be n lo olganise a new Lampiao when they tracked him and eight of his men to the campaign against Lampiao in the aftermath of Mandacuru were town of Abobaras. The oudaws were enj oying the local market. thwarted by the outbreak of a revolution in November Lampiao and four of his men were dancing with some girls on cet'rlio Vargas overthrew the govemment of President the porch of a house, while the four other cargrcer?os kepl Washington Luis, bnnging to an end the First RePublic. watch. The eight man police patrol surrounded the town and Lampiao took advantage ofthe chaos following the revolution then moved in. They clashedwith the {our sentries and stopped to launch a new series of raids into Alagoas, Sergipe and in their tracks. All nine bandits then withdrew. but not before Pemambuco from his bases in Bahia. Mergulhao had been mortally wounded. During the fight the police recognised one of the bandits as Christiano Gomes da Silva, also known as Corisco or the Diablo Louro - the Blond MARIA BONITA AND MARANDUBA Devil. Corisco was brave to the point of foolishness and cruel to At some time in late 1931 or early 1932 Lampiao acquired a the extreme. He would staywith Lampiao for the next ten years femalecompanion. Her name wasdonamarianenem, the wife and wa\ de\tined to be Lhe last ot rhe carsacerio5. of Jose Nenem ofjeremoaba in Bahia. Maria and her husband who was a cobbler,lived in the village of Santa Brigada, not far fiom Jeremoaba. The maniage was not a happyone and Maria QIJEIMADAS AND MANDACURA spent a lot of time on her parents'ranch on the Bahia-Sergip For the rest of 1928 Lampiao roaned across Bahia, robbing and border. Here she met Lampiao and at sometimeinthewinterof killing. He took a particular dislike to the construction crews she agreed to leave her husband and follow him. This who were building a road across the state from Juazeirc to set a precedent and before long many other cargacerios had cloria. Roads were a drrect threat Lo the cargacerios eren acquired common law wives. Like their menfolk, the wom n though they were scar e in the senao. They allowed the police were given nicknames and Maria was re-named Ma a Bonita to move rapidly from town ao town andconcentratetheirforces. (Pretty Mary). Lanpiao began by threatening the crews in August 1929 and The not unnatural result of these ba klands unions was a when that failed to have the desired effect he attacked a nine number of children, who were usually given away as soon as man crew in October, killing them all. For the rest oi his life they were bom. Lampiao and Maria had a daughter in 1932 Lampiao continued to attack construction crc\,vs whercver he whom they gave to a coibro in Sergipe to raise for them.

11 Corisco and his common law wife, Dada, had a son vrhom they victory over the cangaceiros. A volarte caught up with six gave to a priest in Alagoas in cangacehos led by Azualo (Bluebird) in a comfield in the ln October 1931Bahia launched anew campaign against th Mundo NovcMonte Alegre area of the state. The outlaws were bandits who were by now operating out of an area known as the taken completely by suryrise and although they fought hard Raso on the Bahia-Sergipe border. The Raso was a three four ofthe six were killed and two captured. Bythe end ofthe hundred mile square area of sand, dense vegetation and Iittle year the growing exp rience ofthe Bahian forces was bringing water, ideal for the bandits to use as a refuge. After three results. In the period October 1931 December 1933 they had months the police aught up with Lampiao again. This time a killed twenty-four bandits and fought roughly thirty battles. force of one hundred men, including the Nazareno volante led They also claim that their campaign had ddven Lampiao out of by the tireless Manuel Neto, attacked the cangaceios at cenlral Bahia for good and there does appear to be some truth in Maranduba on the Bahia-Sergipe border on sth January this. For what was left of his life Lampiao spent most of his time The bandits were aware that the police were coming and took in Alagoas and Sergipe and on the north-eastern border of the unusual step of s tting up defensive positions and stocking Bahia, rarcli venturing into the interior of the state. up on ammunition. Surprisingly the police showed little The slackening of the police campaign against Lampiao by imagination in their attack, even though they knew exactly the Bahian polic after December 1933 is indicated by the rapid where the bandits were. Neto's men anack d frontally while the drop in police in the field. In July 1934 there w re still five rcst of the force,led by Lieutenant Liberato de Corvalho, fired hundred police and twenty-two volan tes searching the state for over tieir heads. No attempt was made to flank the cargaceiros_ theoutlaw; by December 1934 the numbe$ had drcpped to two The fight was almost a repetition of the farce at Massacara four hundred and fifty men and seven vo.lartes and most of the latter years earlier. In a two hour battle the police lost five dead and at were from Pemambuco. least a dozen wounded. Many of those hit were caught in the Although the battles with the police continued through the crossfire between the bandits and Corvalho's men. l-amdiao mid thirties there was a definite and distinct change in lost two krlled and t! odiedofwounds. Lampiaoissaid robave Lampiao's tactics and method of operation. He displayed an given the coup de grace to one of the wounded himself to put indeasing tendancy to split his band up into subgroups led by him out of his misery. his most trusted men. This was not a new tactic. but LamDiao The debacle at Maranduba requires some explanaiion. It is began ro use il more hequenrly. h nade ir harder for rhe police inconceivable that a commander as experienc d as Manuel to pursue and catch the cangaceiros, although if they were Neto wouldftontally assault a prepared bandit position without caught the smaller numbers of outlaws found it harder to defend some very good reason. The explanation appears to lie in the themselves. The greater use of subgroups also indicated aftermath of the xpulsion of the Pernambucan volarte foom another change in Lampiao's methods. Although the subgroups Bahia in Noa long afterwards the Bahian state govemment often combined for major assaults on towns and ranches the was forced to admit that it needed the assistance of experienced cangaceiros were relying more and more upon extortion to volantes llke the Nazarcnos led by Neto. They asked the survive. A number of small groups of bandits could hit far morc Pemambucans to allow them to retum, but under Bahian targetsthan one large band and even though the smaller groups control. Thus it seems that it was probably Neto's force thar probably demanded less than the single large band had done, tracked the cargaceiros to Maranduba, but that they were the overall profit may well have been greater. Subgroups were unable to influence de Corvalho's poor tactical plan. not only more vulnerable to attacks by the police on the rare One can only speculate as to why Lampiao decided to occasions they caught up with them, but were aho prone to abandon his usual tactics and stand and fight at Maranduba, to armed resistance by civilians. As we have seen two subgroups the extentof preparingpositions, whichwa something unheard were wiped out in 1935 and 1936 by civilians who had had of in bandit warfare. Maybe he knew the restrictions under enough of the cargacerios. which Neto was operating in Bahia through his coireroi and saw In the end Lampiao's change in tactics proved to be counter an opportunity to eliminate the hated Nazarenos once and for productive. Once the population saw that they could defend all. Until more evidence comes to light we are unlikelyto know themselves against the crrgaceiros they became more inclined to provide the police with information. As a result police For the rest of 1932 the cat'and,mouse game of raid and brutality against the peasants declined slightly, whil Lanpiao ambush went on between Lampiao and the Bahian police. had to step up his reign of teror to hold his own. There were numerouskirmishes but by the end of rhe year the Despite these changes in the nature of Brazilian banditry police campaign had little to show for itself- Although a handtul Lampiaowas alegend in his own right by Numerouspulp oi cangaceios had been killed the police had suffered far novelsofhn adventur s, both real and imaginary, had appeared greater casualties. in muchthe samewayas they had done in North America during Other poli e tactics during 1932 were just as ineffective in the life of Jesse James and even a small numb r of serious eliminating the bandits. Captain Joao Miguel cane up with a studies of the cargacao had made an appearance. In 1935 the plan which it was believed would finally destroy Lanpiao. At Syrian film maker Benjamin Abrahao had nade a documentry the time the state was in the grip ofone ofthe frequent droughts on Lampiao and his band although it took many months to which periodicallyamict Brazil. Miguel suggested depopulating track down the elusive bandit and many hours to convince him large areas of the state where Lampiao was known to have that the camera was not a amouflaged machine gur. widespread support and concentrating the peasants into a few Unfortunately the film vanished shortly after it was made and key towns which could be closely controlled by govemment did not reappear until by which time all but a few of the forces. By depriving Lampiao ofhis coiferos in an inhospitable scenes had deteriorated so badly that they were unusable. countryside Miguel believed that the cangaceros would either Abrahao never nanaged to film the cargacer'roi in battle. The starve orsurrender. The plan failed miserably. The concentration policy created even more resentment towards the police got into a fight with a volarle on the farbankofa river. Abrahao one opponunity he had occu.ed when a subgroup led by Corisco and the govemment, while Lampiao and his men simply moved raged and ursed but could not get his crew to row across and ort ofthe drought zone into Sergipe. In January 1933 the ptan film the fight- By this time Lampiao had become the subject of was abandoned and Miguel was replaced by Lieulenant de several other fictional films of his life, the Iirst appearing 1930 Corvalho who had fought at Maranduba- under the title 'Lampiao. beast of the no(h-east. In Oclober 1933 the Bahian police finally achieved a major Continued next month '

12 45 O CANGACEIRO Lampiao, Bandit King of Brazil - Part IV THE END AT ANGICOS bv Mike Bell By 1938 Lampiao and his band had been terrorising Alagoas for well over three years following his return from Bahia. His career as an outlaw had come full circle as he had started out as a bandit in Alagoas and Pernambuco back in The police campaigns occasionally brought results; six bandits were killed in the first quarter of 1938 alone, but Lampiao himself seemed as elusive and invulnerable as ever. In the summer of however, as the apparently endless cycle of bandit raids went on, the Alagoas authorities resolved to eliminate Lampiao once and for all. The man who masterminded the opelation was Jose Lucena, Lampiao's old enemy fom Pernambuco and who was now leading the campaign against the cangaceiros in Alagoas. Lucena knew that Sergeant Jose Bezzara, commander of the state's forces at Piranhas, was thoroughly corrupt and had been selling ammunition to Lampiao for some time. Lucena visited Bezzara and made it clear to him that times were changing and that the state government would no longer tolerate such activities. Either he took positive steps to eliminate Lampiao within thirty days or his illicit dealings with the outlaw would be publicly exposed and he could take the consequences. Realising that he had little choice Bezzaraagreed to do his best to dispose of the troublesome bandit. He made it clear to the local population that he wanted to know as soon as Lampiao reappeared in the area and that dire consequences would befall any coiterowho let the cangaceiros to go by without letting him know. Before long one of Corisco's coiteros, a cowboy nimed Joca Bernandes, brought word that the cangaceiros had recently crossed the S5o Sebastio river into Alagoas and were not too far away. He also said that Pedro de Candido of Entre Montes would know exactly where Lampiao was. Bezzarawas in Pedra when this news came in but his colleague, Sergeant Aniceto Rodrigues, sent him a coded telegram:,.the bull is in the pen". On Wednesday 27th July Bezzara and his men left pedra for Piranhas, having borrowed a machine gun from a Bahian unit in the area. They did not tell their Bahian comrades what was going on as they did not want to share the glory of the destruction of Lampiao with anyone else. At about ihe same time Sergeant Rodrigues and his volante made a public display of leaving Piranhas in a truck. The two groups met on the road between Pedra and Piranhas and then quietly returned to Piranhas after dark. Lampaio and his men were only a few miles away. They were camped on ttre Angicos ranch on the Sergipe side of the 56o Sebastio river between Piranhas and pedra, having made a brief reconnaisance into Alagoas. The outlaw chief had selected a site on the Tomandua creek between two low hills covered with thick vegetation and sent word out to his subgroups to gather for 9ne oj their regular meetings. By the 27th a subgroup led by Angelo Roque had already been and gone. Corisco's men had yet to arrive. Roque had warned Lampiao that he had picked a dangerous place to camp, with the river in front of himand the hills on either side. In the event of a fight the only means of escape would be back up the creek. But Lampiao felt secure. His main coitero in the area, Pedro de Candido, had brought word that Rodrigues and his men had left piranhas and he siw no cause for alarm. To placate his men, however. he told them MAP 2. RIO t9t DO NORTE, PERNAMBUCO & PARAIBA. MAP 3. ALAGOAS, SERGIPE & BAHIA ANGICOS 1938

13 46 that they would move on the next day. T"hecangaceirossettled down for the night. As usual they had built widely spaced brush shelters in which to sleep. A sewing machine had been found for Maria Bonita so that she could repair some of the outlaws' worn clothes. Lampiao was still convinced that they were safe and told his men that they could sleep in their undershirts rather than fully dressed as they did when on the run. At eight o'clock that evening Bezzara and Rodrigues left Piranhas in three boats with forty five men and three machine guns. They beachedon the Alagoas side of the river just short of Entre Montes and two men were sent to fetch Pedro de Candido who was then forced to reveal the location of Lampiao's camp. The police took Pedro'syounger brother as a guide, or hostage, and set off on foot towards the camp as a light rain began to fall. As they got closer Bezzara began to lose his nerve and suggested that they wait for reinforcements to arrive. Officer candidate Francisco Ferreira de Melo, who was temporarily attached to Bezzara's command, overruled the reluctant sergeant and insisted that they go on. The rain had driven the cangaceiros' dogs inside the brush shelters, so no alarm was raised as the police approached. Bezzara split his force into four parts and surrounded the sleeping camp. The police spent an uncomfortable night in the dizzle, hardly daring to move in case they gave themselves away. As dawn broke it became clear that they were closer to the cangaceiros than they had imagined, the darkness, rain and brush having concealedmany of their shelters. No one was supposed to fire until Bezzara gave a pre-arranged signal, but as the cangaceiros emerged from their shelters a policeman was spotted. A cangaceiroyelled a warning and grabbed a rifle, then the firing became general. Machine gun fire raked the camp as the confused cangaceirostumbled out of their shelters, firing in all directions. The police said later that Lampiao had been killed early on in the fight. He had come out of his shelter and was in a policeman's sights when the firing began. Luis Pedro and many others tried to flee, but Maria Bonita shouted after him, reminding him that he had sworn to die with his chief. Shamed, Luis turned back and fought furiously until he was shot down with Maria. Desperately the cangaceirostried to turn the fight by breaking through the police lines and surrounding them but they were driven back and began to flee. The surprise was total. Eleven cangaceiros were killed, including Lampiao, Luis Pedro, Maria Bonita and another woman, and many more were wounded for the loss of only one policeman killed and one wounded. The dead cangaceiros were beheaded as was the usual custom and the jubilant police returned to Piranhas. l''i' ai' hh, u SERGEANTANICETO RODRIGUES(SEATED)AND TWO OF THE MEN FROM HIS VOLANTE. PIRANHAS WARGAMING THE CANGACAO The battles between Lampiao and the police are ideally suited to one-off skirmish gamesor to a small campaign. The numbers involved were usually small enough for each individual to be represented. Indeed, with the exception of a few large actions such asserra Grande, the protagonists could usually be counted in dozens at the most. A typical game could revolve around an assault by a volante on a ranch held by the cangaceiros, with some provision for a bandit rearguard to appear at some inopportune moment. Alternatively a game could be based around a meeting engagement as the cangaceirosand a volante run into eachother in the backlands.even an ambushcould be staged if there was some provision for a trap to be sprung AFTERMATH prematurely. Without Lampiao to lead them the remaining cangaceiroswere Campaigns can be set up using ideas borrowed from board soon rounded up or killed. Thirty five were killed or games.if an umpire is available, movement could be carried out surrendered in the months after Angicos and there were reports face to face on a suitable map, but with the cangaceiro player that some of the survivors were fighting amongst themselves. having large numbers of dummy counters which are only Only the two main sub chiefs, Corisco and Angelo Roque, revealed as such when they are contacted by volantes. Genuine managedto l-astfor much longer. Roque continued to raid along cangaceiro counterswould be revealed when they are contacted the Bahia-Sergipe border with a small band until 1940when he by volantes or when they raided towns and ranches. With an surrendered and drew a long prison sentence. Corisco's men umpire a more sophisticated system can be evolved using were involved in a fight with a volante in August 1939in which multiple maps. As in all bandit campaignsprovision would have three cangacerroswere killed and early in 1940Corisco himself to be made for the changing allegiancesof the local population. was shot through the right arm. He was still suffering from the With an umpire genuine and false intelligence can be fed to the wound when another volante caught up with him in May. By players through the population; without an umpire some simple now Corisco had only one other cangaceiro with him and two method of determining allegiances and information gathered women. The Blond Devil played the part right up to the end, could be set up using dice. holding off the volante with a pistol in his left hand until his For those more interested in action than manoeuvring, an comrade and the women vanished into the serfao. Inevitably he even simpler campaign suggestsitself using a variation of the old was hit and mortally wounded. The cangaceiro and the 'battleships and cruisers' system. Draw up a map divided into a cangacaowere dead. number of squares and with a suitable number of targets -

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