The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1922-05-06
RA|SULf WANTS
TO Die IN PEACE
Moorish Leader, Now Object Of
Spanish Attack, Once Drew
United States Fire.
SAYS HE'S TOO FAT TO FIGHT
Seventeen Years Ago He Figured in
Incident When Secretary Hay De-
manded "Perdiearis Alive Or
Raisui Dead"

Washington.-Rais the Moorish
bandit who has just again offered to
surrender to the Spanish military
forces which are pushing an active
campaign against him in Morocco, is
the man who once drew 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
Raisun dead"
That was II years ago, in 1904.
Raisuli had captured Ion Perdicaris, a
naturalized American citizen, and kept
him prisoner. President Roosevelt
sent a fleet of eight American war
vessels stripped for action into the
Tangier harbor while John Hay sent
his famous message to the feeble sui
tan in nominal command there.
Grows Too Fat to Fight.
Raisuli, who now says he is "too fat
to fight" had long been leader Of
the wild tribesmen who have frequent
ly swamped the trained battalions of
a civilized power.
Perdicaris, wealthy man, was pres
1dent OF the European commission ad-
ministrating affairs in Tangier city in
1904. He has told the story of his
capture and it was recounted some
time ago in National Geographic So
c1ety bulletin. He was snatched out
of his summer home by Raisuli's raid
ers, and borne off to a mountain
stronghold.
From there the chieftain proceeded
to open up negotiations with the sultan
of Morocco, Perdicaris' family and
eventually in indirect fashion with the
American government, concerning the
price to be paid for his captive. The
United States cut short the chatter
ing in the fashion described. The sui
tan, panic-stricken, sent $4,000 III sill
YER to Raisuli appointed him governor
of district, turned loose some of his
friends from Tangier jails and incar-
cerated some of Raisulis enemies in
their place. Perdicaris later returned
to the United States to express his
thanks. -
Prosperity, however, came close to
running his erstwhile captor, Raisuli.
He got into a quarrel with the sultan
about his governorship, was thrown
out and promptly retaliated by bearing
off for ransom Kaid Sir Henry Nc
Lean, British commander of the Mo-
roccan army. He arrayed his tribes
men for battle and descended upon the
coast, doing much damage to European
interests, and in 1907 succeeded in
setting all the hair-triggers in Euro
pean diplomacy.
The French navy bombarded one of
his captive towns, Casablanca, the now
practically extinct Kaiser Wilhelm
came to bat, shifting undue French ex-
pansion in prospect, but the matter
was Strengthened out in a council
chamber instead of on a battlefield.
Raisuli was chased back to his noun
tain fastness, but news dispatches
every few years record another of his
eruptiOns. -. F.. !. -.
captivated Captive. ..--.-
I'm many respects the man inter-
ested and attracted me in spite of all
my natural motives for dislike" Per-
dicaris says of Raisuli in the Geo
graphic society's report. "Raisuli was
gracious and dignitied, not only to us,
but to his own wild adherents, who
evidently idolized their chieftain,
whose position among them seemed
that Of head of highland clan in
olden times. He was quick to see the
humorous aspect of situation, while
his repartee was as immediate and to
the point as though he had been born
in the County Galway.
II found myself unconsciously ac-
cepting his contention that he was not
mere brigand or cattle litter, but
patriot struggling to lift his Berber
followers from the tyranny of corrupt
officials. His charm Of voice, the nat
ural poise and dignity of his manner,
his self-control under provocation, all
betrayed superior character