Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-06-30
PERD|CARIS TELLS
OF HIS TREATMENT
Captives of Raisuli Relate Expert
ences in Robbers Camp.
RAISULI POSES AS PATRIOT
Escaped Prom Prison After Serving
FOur-Ycars' Term, and Turns
Mighwnyman, for the Good
OF His Country.

Tangier, June 27.-Ion Perdicaris,
the American who last week was re-
leased by the Brigand Raisuli, is much
better, and gave an interview deScrip-
tive of the circumstances of his cap
ture and OF his experiences while a
prisoner in Raisuli's camp.
He says that on the night OF May is,
he had just entered the drawing room
after dinner, and hearing a noise
among the servants, he and Cromwell
Varley, the British subject, who was
also captured by Raisuli, went to in
vestigate the cause. They were iul-
mediately surrounded by armed Moors,
who bound and maltreated them.
Varley resisted, and was struck on
the head with the butt of a rife and
q knife was slashed across his hands,
making serious wounds. At first 1t was
thought Varley's skull had been frac-
tured.
Perdicaris and Varley were then
carried away on horseback. They
were bound with ropes and roundabout
roads were taken in order to avoid
villages. The bandits stopped at Tsar-
radent, "a hours from Tangier, and
Raisuli allowed Perdicaris to write to
his wife the next morning, and also
to the shereef of Wazan, asking them
to intervene for himself and Varley.
Lived I'm a Filthy Hut.
At Tsarradent the captives lived in
a filthy hut. They were not allowed
to go over 100 yards away from It, and
were strongly guarded. When the
shereef of Wazan arrived. big tent
was placed at the disposal of the pris-
oners, and in other ways the shereef
was the means of alleviating their
condition to considerable extent.
The attitude of the Moors changed
from insult to fair treatment.
Spies of the pretender who were in
Farley to accept post under the pre-
tender.
Raisuli daily called and held long
conversations with the prisoners. He
said anarchy was reigning in the coun-
try. The animosity of the people, he
said. was not directed against the sui
tan, but against the governors.
Raisuli's father, Perdicaris said, left
him much property and cattle, which
aroused the animosity of the Kaids,
who induced Bashaw, by presents, to
rob Raisuli of his belongings. and
nnally to imprison him for four years
at Mogador.
On his release. Raisuli interviewed
Mohammed Ell Torres, representative
of the sultan at Tangier, concerning
the restitution of his property, and
this being without avail. Raisuli swore
to take the law into his own hands,
with the result already known. Raisuli
said that he bore no i'll will towards
Europeans. but stated that the only
way to bring the Moorish government
to its sense was l'y capturing Euro
peans until the fore gn powers awaken
to a realization OF the existing condi-
tions.
Bandit Poses as Patriot.
Mr.. Perdicaris said that Raisuli Is
posing as a patriot who wants to see
the country happy and peaceful, and
he is offering to accept the response
bility for maintaining the country
from Tangier to Fez and clear it of
robbery and crime if he is backed UP
by the powers. He found in Raisuli an
educated and intellectual man.
The only time the prisoners were
anxious was during the last two days
when they were at BarabiD, the vii
lage of Zelat, the governor of the Benz
M'Sara tribe When the exchange oc-
Cured over three hours was lost in the
exchange of compliments, Raisuli re-
fusing to talk business until the last
moment. but apparently Very suspi.
cious of an attempt to capture him.
When he received the money ami the
men turned over to him by the ransom
party he hurried away toward his vii
lage.
Perdicaris and Varley Immediately
mounted horses and proceeded for
Tangier, journey of 16 hours.
During the interview, Perdicaris ex-
pressed gratitude to the English
speaking people for their sympathy
during his captivity. Describing Raj
suli further, he said he did not get the
impression that he was sordid man,
but one who thoroughly understands
the necessity for the maintenance OF
law and order. He exercises a great
control over the people, and lis fol-
lowers display remarkable devotion to
him. His followers are increasing
continually. Raisuli organized tae
confederation of the kabyles, in which
for many years anarchy existed. His
force now amounts TO 5000 men.
armed with Mauser and Remington