The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-16
MOOR BANDIT
 ONCE WANTED
 BY STATE DEPT,

Washington, Feb. 15-Raisu1i, the
 Moorish bandit who has just again | offered ito surrender to the Spanish
 military forces which are pushing l an active campaign aga..ist him in | Morocco. is the man who once drew 1 the United States into action in that
 vexed corner of the world
 He figured in that celebrated incl dent when Secretary of State John Hay demanded "Perdicaris alive or RaisuH dead"
 That was IT years ago. in 1904. RaisuH had captured Ion Perdicaris
 naturalized American citizen and Kept him prisoner. President RooSe- welt sent a fleet of eight American war vessels stripped for action into fangler Harbor while John Hay sent his famous message to the feeble Sul- tan in nominal command there.
 Raisui, who now says he is "too fat to fight" had long been leader quently swamped the trained battal- ions of a civilized power.
 Per'dicaris, a wes.l .hy man, was president of the European Commis- sion administering affairs in Tangier City in 1904. He was told the story Of his capture and it was recounted some time ago in @ National Geo. graphic Society Bulletin. He was Snatched out of his summer home by Raisulis raiders, and borne of to a mountain stronghold.
 From there, the chieftain proceed ed to open up negotiations with the Sultan of Morocco, Perdicaris' fam fly, and eventually in indirect fashion with the American government, con- cerning the price to be paid for his captive. The United States cut short the chafferfng in the fashion de- scribed. The Sultan, panic stricken, sent 100000 in silver to Raisuh. ap- turned loose some of his friends from Tangier jails, and inoarcerated some of Raisuli's enemies in their place.
 Perdicaris later returned to the Unit ed States to express his thanks.
 Prosp erity, however, came close to ruining his. erstwhile captor, RaisGH. He got into a quarrel with the Sultan about his governorship. was thrown ing off for ransom aid Sir Henry Mo Lean, British commander of the Nor occoan army. He arrayed his tribes men for battle. and descended upon European interests, and in l9O7. suc- ceeded in setting all the hair-trtggers in European diplomacy.
 The French navy bombarded one of his captive towns, Casablanca, the now practically extinct Kaiser Win helm to bat sniffing undue French ex- panison in prospect, but the matter was strengthened out in 8 council chamber instead of on a battlefield. RaisuH was chased back to his moll1l- tain fastness, but news daspetcnes every few years record another or n1s eruptions.
 "In many respects the man inter ested and attracted me in suite of all my natural motives for dislike, Fer icaris says of Raisui in the Geo, graphic Society's report. Ra1sull was gracious and dignified, not to us only. but to. his own wild adherents, who evidently idolized their chiefta1n, whose position among them seemed that of a head of a highland clan In o1deD 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 the County Galway.
 'T found myself unconsciously ac- cepting his contention that he was not mere brigand or cattle-Hfter, Berbcr followers from the tyranny of corrupt officials. His charm of voice, | the natural poise and dignity of his his self-control under prov petition, all betrayed a superior char acter."
 Perdicaris remarks that ''Raisun could not bear to hear a child cry, but there was a fiercer background well Varley, Step-Son to Perdicar1s, was cracked over the head in the raid on the Americans summer home, and both men were forced to ride many
 Tt was in connection with the fra ming of the u@timatun 'Perdlcarls alive or RaisuH dead that a trusted correspondent of The Associated Press In Washington is concerned," the Ge- ographic Society Bulletin remarks 'Beirg entrusted with preparing a m eSsa ge for President Roosevelt 10 sign MT Hay did so, and submitted it to his friend, the newspaperman. for his opinion. We'll, it may be dip1o- | matic. but the Sultan will never get you in the midst of all those words, was in effect the newspapermans yer | dict. Why not say what you mean, l and no more, MT. Secretary Perd.- l cariS alive or RaiSuli dead.
 '<Tlle Secretary agreed President l Roosevelt approved And the Sultan | 5a far got his succinct American de- | mand that he abandoned all usual ori- | ental indirection.''