New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-17
INA MOORISH DUNGEON.
SENIOR BENASULI IMPhISUNED bI IOrN"'
HE WAS UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE UNIT.
ED STATES AND IS COMING HERE
ON THE AUSTRALIA
ON THE AUSTRAL


tn. st..m.r Australia, now due at this port from
Gibraltar carries among her passengers senor Bona
suIi. who has not long been out OF dungeon az
Fez. the ancient capital Of Morocco. He was thrown
into the dungeon at the instance OF TURK, Moham'
med Fakri, employed as Arabic CLERK oy mo on''ea
States Consulate at Tangier who At tho 'imo was IA
Fee on al errand for tho Consul After orief
captivity Benasul was released oy oruer Oh 'no
sultan. Tho details Of the arrest and Imprisonment
., p.nasuu are not mads clear IN the which has
thus far reached this country from Morocco. but he
has friends among merchants in this city VINO 90
business in that country, and II Is known 10 tnem tha
HIS mission across the Atlantic has relation 10 MS
experience In FcL
Benasuli was a we'll known trader in Fez, and was
under the protection Of the United STATES IL is Dc
loved that his story will prove an interesting one
and hat It will throw considerable light on tho widely
circulated charges that the traffic in American Con-
sular protection has been fruitful source OF revenue
to the Consulate Of this country at Tangier
When the news Of Benasulps arrest at Fee reached
Tangier II caused considerable CONSERVATION among
friends Of his In that ancient Moorish city who had
not heard OF any charges being made against him.
They went TO the American Consul-General, W. Reed
Lewis, who declared that ho knew nothing OF tho
matter and had given no orders to Fakri to have
Bensau thrown into filthy prison. having only sent
instructions for tho investigation OF certain charges
against him and TO have him confined to his
own house as an extreme measure, II that seemed
to be necessary. Mr. Lewis at once sent OIL
o. courier, who he said. took orders for
Benasulrs release, but this was not accomplished
promptly and a regular expedition was thereupon
fitted out at the Consulate and dispatched to Fez
on October IL to demand Benasuli's release and to
arrest Fahri and bring him back TO Tanger.
Meanwhile the Sultan had nterfcrod and set the
prisoner free. Tho mighty Far was brought back
to Tangier and on November 10 was In prison. but
afterwad he was restored to favor and authority at
the American Consulate The expenses OF the ex-
pedion to Fea whioh consisted of the ConsuPs clerk
and his assistant an American, two native Hebrews
ono tho United States Consular Agent at SAM and the
other naturalized Amercan-were borne by Benasuii'
Tho Moorish papers still contain queer stories rea'
five to the alleged traffic In American consular pro
tcction papers and Senior Benasun may DO apie 70
furnish some details regarding recent char &C. 10 the
United States unofficial agency at Fez Unti carry
in October this post was held for many years Dy
a Hebrew Yoosuf BIZ Lezra- About this time Consui
Lewis who has charge of all these little functionaes
I'm Morocco Informed tho Governor OF ranger maI
Hag Hamed ell Marrakshi had been appointed IN the
place Of Lezra The latter is wealthy trader oi
Fez who had been anxious for some time 70 secure
protection against the rapacity OF the MOORISH GOV
omment In this, In the arrest OF Bcnasuil, Ihs
Turk Fakr figured and "The Times OF MOROCCO,
nuhlished at Tanger october 20, contslnea tne
Statement that Hag Hamed handed over Sl,2oo 10
Fakri and holds receipt for the amount