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Show RAISULI BANDIT OF RARE CHARM Washington, D. C That relentless bandit. Raisuli, the Villa of Morocco, whose present raids have caused a political po-litical crisis in Spain, has another side. "He could not bear to hear a child cry, while on several occasions I noticed 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 1004, until President Roosevelt sent a fleet of war ships and his famous ultimatum, ulti-matum, "Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead" to Morocco. Ion Perdicaris' own story of his adventures ad-ventures as the prisoner of the "Moroccan "Moroc-can Robin Hood" is told in a communication communi-cation sent by him to the National Geographic society soon after his release. re-lease. "In many respects the man interested inter-ested and attracted me, in spite of all my natural motives for dislike," said Mr. Perdicaris. "Raisuli was at once so gracious and dignified, not to us only, .-hut to his own wild adherents, who evidently idolized their chieftain, whose position among thera seemed that of the head of a Highland clan in the olden times. Has a Superior Character. "He was quick to see the humorous aspect of a situation, while his repartee was as immediate aid to the point as though he had been born in County Galway itself. In fact, I discovered to my consternation that I was beginning to like the man, in spite of my natural resentment. I found myself unconsciously uncon-sciously accepting his contention that he was not a mere brigand or cattle lifter, but a patriot struggling to rescue res-cue his Berber followers from the tyranny tyr-anny of the corrupt shereefian officials. His charm of voice, the natural poise and dignity of his manner, his self-control self-control under provocation, all betrayed be-trayed a superior character. He Is. in fact, a horn leader, and with a certain statesmanlike quality. He deplored the condition of his country, the feuds which separate the tribes, the many deeds of violence and the blood so uselessly use-lessly she;. "While standing near Raisuli 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. "I watclied Raisuli with anxiety, lest apprehending the landing of marines, with a view to our relief and his own capture, he might endeavor to drag t) to some more distaat and inaccessible retreat. What was then my surpri.se when, looking up with a bright smile, he said: 'Well, I think: I cn now congratulate con-gratulate you !' " T do not undersold you,' I re plied. " 'I mean,' answered Raisuli, 'thai the presence of these vessels will leai the authorities at Tangier to ntakv such representations to the sultan a may result in his acceding to my d(-mands, d(-mands, and then you will be ablu to re turn to your friends.' Part as Friends. "The next morning it was still dark when our men began loading the pack mules, and we reached the crest o,' th-mountain, th-mountain, which lay between us and Tangier, just as the svn rose. "At last the mules, bearing the sllvei dollars, carefully packed in box ss. ar rived; hut now luncheon was again served in honor of Mulai Ahmel, and must be partaken of, after whiYh the bullion was counted in another room. "'The silver,' said Raisuli, address ing me, 'has been counted- 20,(.'00, as stipulated, in Spanish dollars!, but these letters,' showing me as he spoke a cheek book containing certified checks on the Comptoir d'Eseompto. the French bank at Tangier, 'of the value of these, which are supposed to represent $50,000. I know nuthinj; However, I will accept them on yom personal guarantee.' "When I had examined the checks certified by Torres and El Gannam Ihe sultan's delegate minister of ti nance, I gave Hie required assurance verbally, and Raisuli, leading me to the door, where I found my horse waiting wait-ing for me, hade me adieu, saying that he had learned to look upon me as n friend and that he hoped I cherished no ill feeling on account of my detention." |