Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-05-16
A Moorish Abduction.

The following incident OF Moorish
life, which occurred a few weeks ago,
thoroughly illustrates The state of inse-
curity to which the natives are subject.
and which appears to be the normal
condition OF their existence in Morocco.
One day an American and an English
officer were riding a ong the beach, and
when about two miles from Tangier
perceived a group of fishermen who APP
peared to have some alteration with a
sruculent-looking Moor, armed with the
usual long tirelock. On seeing the
horsemen approach some four or five
men, accompanied by a pretty-looking
Moorish girl of about seventeen years
of agn, separated from the crowd and
called out that the armed Moor had
been trying to carry off the girl by force,
threatening at the same time to kill her
if she resisted. While this explanation
was going on the man of whom the COM
plant was made had taken to his heels.
and, being a good runner, had gained
a considerable distance when the two
gentlemen rode after him.
Find ng himself pursued he made for
river, which he waded across up to
his middle. His pursuers plunged in
'afterward, and on being hard, pressed
the Moor again waded the river. Three
times this maneuver was executed, but
lat lastthe two gentlemen came up with
the fugitive, whom they captured and
,dlsarmed. Tn then gave the fellow
in charge to the fishermen, who had
now arrived on the spot, having fol-
lowed the chase on foot, and sent him,
accompanied by the Moorish girl, to the
Tort, where the khalifa administers ius-
tice. The girl, Rachma Halfsoutz by
name, stated that, about two months
ago, she was enticed by two women to
take a walk with them on the beach.
When a short distance from the town
swo armed Moors suddenly made their
appearance and carried her off by force
TO the village of FL Menaar. Here the
men We're joined by a third. and she
was detained by them, being continually
subjected to brutal outrages.
After about a fortnight she was taken
10 the Village of Imgoha, and from that
10 IN Hassan, near Tetuan, where
uer csDtors met a party of mountain
GERS, and now the girl discovered from
a conversat on which she overheard
mat an arrangement was being made
40 sell her as a slave to these men. The
pafgaln, however, not being completed
al once she was taken to a village neal
.lorre Blanquille, on the coast, and not
lar from Tangier. During the temper
ary absence of two Of the Moors the cap
I'VE contrived to elude the vigilance Of
me third. and secured his Pr niard, which
que concealed about her person, intend
ing to DE end herself if driven 20 extrem.
10y; She then slipped quietly out of the
ullage, and, ice clear, ran as fast as
1.e was able in the dire ton of Tangier.
hhlter her departure sore time elapsed
pIelore the ma in whose cha ge the girl
mao been left discovered that she had
made her escape; but then, having
armed himself with a loaded gun he
started lii hot pu suit. oyertaking his
o.c.lm on the beay h., whe G she had en-
JJoHntered some fishermen, who were
ashLaW!ing in their nets. and from whom
Ih1elnp ored protection. Judging from
tha account she appea to have received
n eme most hrrtal treatment while a pris-
ones' As She was constantly re ,uired to
so 'nrough the native Moorish dances ;