The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-04

the Sultan, and If they live to tell the
story, publishers will be eager enough
% buy 1t. They are fairly certain Of
receiving courteous treatment. They
may be chopped to pieces as an ex-
ample of what the followers Of the
prophet can do to a dog of an un-
believer, but until that moment arrives
they will live as well as their oaptors-
which, il not up TO western standards,
Is better than not living at all. This Is
suggested by the story told by Mr..
Harris, the correspondent of the Lon
Ion Times, who speaks from expert
snce, His capture and retention by
The tribesmen constituted almost an
International incident-as his captors
fesired-and his release after three un-
comfortable weeks was the result only
Df much skilled diplomacy on the part
of the British foreign office.
Mr.. Harris Is an old hand in the East.
he has lived In Morocco many years
and knows everybody there that is
worth knowing. He has lived with
The Arabs Of the Yemen, and escaped
from their desire to kill Christians by,
80 to say, the skin of his teeth. But
bis capture shows that he has not yet
fully fathomed the guile of the Orien-
tai. The troops Of the Sultan had Just
burned village, and Mr.. Harris went
out to see what had been done. He
was unarmed, and was accompanied
only by his Moorish groom. Out ON the
plain he was shot at. and a retreat
was ordered, when his movement was
stopped by the approach of two tribes
men, whom he knew. who advanced
with conventional signs Of friendllness.
They wanted to know what the Sultan
Intended doing, and asked him to come
to the chief so that he might get
messages to carry to his majesty.
Under promises of safe conduct he
went, and was promptly pounced upon
and captured by retainers of Ralsuli.
the chief
Ralsull, according to his story, Is n
handsome young man. mild in manner
and courteous In address. Mr.. Harris
had known him well in TaEgier before
he took to the hills. He received the
Englishman warmly and told him that
no harm would come to him as long as
the Sultan made no attack. II this
happened he would sorrowfully be
compelled to kill him. Perhaps he
would kill him anyway. for by what
better means could he embarrass his
enemy than by killl1tg a prominent
Christian, and an Engllshman at that9
This was all said IN the presence OF
some 1000 tribesmen, most OF whom
were fiourishing their knives and
hangers in a most threatening manner.
In the meantime. everything possible
would be done for the comfort Of the
prisoner.
They put him in jail. 1t was a very
small, very dark and very dirty room.
When the prisoners eyes became ac-
customed TO the darkness. he saw on
the floor the headless trunk of a man.
That was a cheerful beginning, and
Mr.. Harris's feelings were not quieted
by the remarks made by some men
who little later came IN TO remove
the corpse. The intimation was that
soon there would be another In tile
same room, and OF a giaour. For nine
days he was kept in this room. He
got, In quantity, all he wanted to eat,
except once. when for thirty-six hours
there was food for no one. and, save
for few kicks and slaps with slippers.
he was not misused. He was not
allowed to change his clothes or TO
wash his face. Every evening at sun
down he was taken out TO have con-
versation with Raisuli, who kept assur-
Ing him that possibly, but not prob
ably. his life would be spared. Once.
as an earnest OF this, he was taken
down to a gully to see the mutllated
body Of a Moorish soldier. who had
been captured, and jokingly assured
him that a few days might see him in
the same condition.
AT the end Of nine days. on hot, !
moonless night, he was put ON mules |
back and taken up into the mountains.
where he was the captive of tribe |
friendly to him. There he remained |
for twelve days, iii great luxury, as
compared with what he had endured |
at the hands Of Raisuli. He became,
in a sense, one Of the tribe,-shayed |
his head and adopted their customs
generally. 1t was very pleasant
vacation, and would have been thor
0ughly enjoyed had not there been the
very uncomfortable feeling that should |
the negotiations fall through he would
be put out of the way with small cere-
mony. In the end he got his release,
It almost led to bloodshed
among the tribesmen, and with great
ceremony was conducted into Tangier.
Thus ended the adventure, which
shows that the Balkans have
not a monopoly on the exciting incl
dents Of the modern world. /
"A NIGHT IN A KINGS TOMB.