Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-08-15
A CLOSEUP OF RAISULI
The Famous Bandit Has A Tender
Heart.
WHY PERDICARIS WAS MADE PRISONER
Inside Story of Historic Incident
Collection of the Ransom Money
Was Conducted in q Thoroughly
Business like Manner-No lndignity
0ffsred 10 the Captured Man.

Offered to the Captured Man.
That relentless bandit Raisuli, the
Villa of Morocco whose present raids
have caused a political crisis In SPAIN
has another side.
HE could not bear to hear a chllo
cry, while on several occasions l no
ticed his care even to avoid allowing
the bees collected on his cup To
drown" is the surprising statement
not of a friend, but Of the wealthy
American who was held for ransom
by Raisuli in 1904, until President
Roosevelt sent feet Of warships and
his famous ultimatum. "Perdicaris
alive or Raisul! dead" to Morocco.
Ion Perdicaris own story Of his ad-
ventures as the prisoner Of the "Moroc-
can Robin Hood" is told in commu-
nication sent by him to the National
Geographic Society soon after his re-
lease.
(Mr. Perdicaris related how he was
captured in previous bulletin)
I'm many respects the maa interested
and attracted me in spite Of all my
natural motives for dislike. Raisuli
was at once so gracious and dignifed,
not to us only, but to his own wild
adherents, who evidently idolized their
chieftain, whose position among them
seemed that Of the head Of a highland
clan In the olden times.
HE was quick to see the humorous
aspect Of a situation, while his repartee
was as immediate and to the point as
though he had been born in County
Galway itself. In fact I discovered to
my CONSERVATION that was beginning
to like the man in spite Of my natural
resentment. found myself uncon-
sciously accepting his contention that
he was not mere brigand or cattle
litter, but a patriot struggling to rescue
his Berber followers from the tyranny
Of the corrupt chereeflan officials. His
charm Of voice. the natural poise and
dignity Of his manner, this self-control
perior character. He is in fact a born
leader and with certain statesman
like quality. He deplored the condt-
tion Of his country, the feuds which
separate the tribes. the many deeds
of violence, and the blood so uselessly
shed.
"In fact, this strange experience
while in camp with Raisuli at Tsarra-
dan began to assume an aspect Of un-
expected and idyllic charm. The life Of
the natives; the little touches of more
gentle human character; the tiny child
who offered me fruit, which l at first
declined. until noticed the expression
and disappointment and modification
upon the boys face. and then the
radiant and almost ridiculous salts
faction Of the little fellow when ! pre-
tended to enjoy his half-ripe Offering;
the many attempts Of the wild people
about me to propitiate me; their curl
osity as to our own manners and GUS
toms, as when one venerable inhabi-
ant of the village led me gently aside
to inquire why we walked so energeti-
cally up and down the village green.
For health's sake was my reply.
Indeed said the old Mohammedan,
and may l ask how many such daily
turns, up and down, It may require
to keep Christian in good health!'-
all AFFORDED matter Of interest and re-
hection.
while standing near Raisuh one
day on the village green, Of which we
were now allowed the freedom, one of
his followers came up from Tangier,
almost breathless from his haste, to
report the arrival Of the two American
squadrons. The man described how
the eight frigates had entered the bay.
one after another. He told Of the an
xious deliberations Of the Moorish au-
thorities and of the alarm Of the ma
tive inhabitants. who feared the town
might be bombarded. The man declar-
ed that the place was 'bkloub', or up
side down.
II watched Raisuli with anxiety, lest
apprehending. the landing of marines,
with a view to our relief and his own
capture, he might endeayor to drag US
to some more distant and inaccessible
retreat. What was then my surprise
when looking UP with a bright smile.
he said. We'll, 1 think can now con-
gratulate you!
"T do not understand you.' replied.
"I mean answered Raisuli, that
the presence Of these vessels will lead
the authorities at Tangier to make
such representations to the sultan as
may result in his accedins to my de-
mands. and then you will be able to
return to your friends
"Raisuli was confronted by the
problem as to what disposition he was
to make Of the seventy thousand silver
Spanish dollars which he demanded
for our release. Here at Tsarradan
there were no iron safes, nor so much
as a house with a cellar, while the
thatch Of skafI, or dried reeds, the
only roofing Of the houses. offered pnt
poor security should he leave so much
coin stored in a village where he him.
self was but a transient soJourner.
ITO the great amusement Of hulai
ALI and to my own considerable as
tonishment, the solution Of this
troublesome question which Raisuli
proposed was that La Sonora as the
natives called my wife, should receive
the seventy thousand dollars from
Torres and deposit the money to her
own credit in Tangier at the bank
where we were accustomed to cash
our checks. and that he Raisuli, might
then draw upon Mrs. Perdicaris as oc-
casion should require.
II, however, entirely declined to re-
quest my wife to accede to this singu-
lar proposal and whom l explained to
Raisuli the suspicious to which such
an arrangement might expose us, he
at once said that he would be the last
to wish to place us in such a position.
1.-The next morning it was still dark