Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-10
-. "a London - ".

From, The London Deity Ne'rs.
CAIRO, July 3d. have received from
Father B0noni the following narrative OF
his experiences in captivity with the
Mahdl:
'sWhen the Mah6i marched upon khar-
tOum | was with twelve European sur
vivink of the mission. ia priest,
three nuns, and one cs'ecaist died OF star
walton and bad treatment J, win q ms
sion composed OF Pad G I ous"L Orwaldtr,
the ayman called Giuseppe, k4snaio, a
mechanic, Gabriel MaaaBi. also q me-
chaNo, and three nuns, csttbl she'd
church at Gebel Deli, three days journey
IRON Ubeid.
We had fixed 10 escape on Sept Il, 1852.
A man called Khaiel E0, military OH
Ger. Informed the rebels 20 our Intentions
We had fooisaiy iutrUsted h'm with our
secret Tbereupou FL Muk Omar com
uletplv surrounded us, and sent us sum
mons 10 surrender. stating II we did not
we should he pa 10 the sword. AT inns
juncture the officer commanding ihe
Fevptan troops and all ass men who were
there 10 protect Us. declared for MahnWet
Achmet, the Gahdi. Then selling their
rifles snd ammunition, they passed the
zerebas and deliberately went over 70 the
Arabs We determined to offer TO sur
render on condition that our lives should
be spared, and that we should be allowed
To DFbEFtu 10 E4NIL uHi4JlHelttAfs ACNE
terms we're granted. and we became priS-
ohers. All our cattle, sheep, farming in
struments. book and clothes were seized.
" e were bound and marched Cff to Ma
homet Achmet who was then before
Obeid.
Tdere were seven Of US. and we were
led before MahomCt Achmet. He informed
Us that il would be necessary tor us i'm
meaiately TO embrace Isle mlsm. We re-
piled firmly: "We cannot do this thing
nor f0rsske our mol eigiJu. God iprhids
il: and even we're we 20 dG this and ue
come Mosloms in gatb and outward torn,
OUT hearts would remain unchanged"
This bold reply greatly irrtated Mahomet
Acnmet. He cried: "Hark ye, accursed
infdels! Tomorrow is Friday. / give
You time TO reflect. IL you have not EN-
braced lsamism by the rising Of to-mOr-
rows sun, behold on shall he led forth
and executed as a punt sbment for your
Obstinacy and disObedlence. SO have a
care and recent while yet there is time.
] have spoken
We were during the day visited by
several deryshes, who atiured us TO en-
brace Islamism, but We replied: eve
give YOU, . deryishes, the same answer
as-We did 10 your masler-we cannot do
this thing" Tbey were very wrath, and
spat at us and brandished their long
swords at AS But we trusted in God
The next morning we were led forth from
the hut built Of dhoora stalks, ana where
we had been confined. We found the
Arabs drawn up I'm line. Behind them
was vast assemblage OF horsemen
Thousands of spears and bright swords
CLEANED and glistened IN the rays
OF the morning sun; and we
looked upon it as it rose and
gilIed the edges of the few mimosa
and rocks scattered about on that vast
yellow sandy plain-we looked upon it, as
we supposed, for the last time. Never
again We're W TO see a sun rise; our race
was run; and We, as thousands had done
before US, were TO die martyrs for the
faith Of our Lord. We had no fear. We
reiOleed that We were thought worthy to
dae for His sake. AS We were led along
that long line, marching with firm step
aud heads upright, the Arabs brandished
their long 2-edged swords over our heads,
cuJsHg Us as we passed; aud now we
reached the spot where MahOmet Ach-
Ineb he Mahdi, was.
He was mounted on a magnificent
dr0mfdary. He cried aloud to Us, 80
Christians are you prepared to embrace
lslamsm or % have your heads struck OF
from your sh0uldersY Then we having
or trust in God made answer, 30 Sheik
MahOmet Acbmet YOU have vast powers;
you command this huge assemblage Of
warriors stretching as far as the eve can
see. You can order item TO 90 whatsO-
ever seems good IN yOur eyes, and you are
obeyed: and you "a 50 have power over us
TO slay us. for God for some wise purpose
has delivered us into your hands, but you
have not power, . Sheik, to make US en-
brace lslamism. We prefer death to doing
this thing"
81 e one and all made this solemn asse-
Veration. There was silence all along
those dusky ranks. and near us stood der
Wishes with long swords waiting and
longing 20 do the bidding OF their master
and strike off our heads But MahOmet
AehmeJ gazed upward and eastward for
some time and spoke not. He then fixed
his eagle eyes upon us with intensity.
aud, perceiying that we were st"adiast in
The faith he cried aloud: so, Nazarenes.
may Allah, the most bounutul ard merci-
ful, put your hearts right and show you
the right path;" and when be had thus
spoken he again cried aloud: All We
who are here present. sbeiks and der
wishes. and every mat under YOU bearing
arms, put up now your swords In their
sheaths, for this is the order l give you.
Let these Nazarenes be conducted to my
hut IN safety. / have said I'll"
80 we Were led OF, praising God for hav-
Ing put IL into the heart Of the fierce man
10 spare us. We were conducted to a
straw hut. He ordered US 10 sit down
and to partake of food with him; and he
cOnyersed freely and in an animated man.
ner with US, asking uS our ideas on many
subjects. BE assured" he said. ''ot my
protection. There shall not be hair OF
your heads injured. / shall now give you
in charge OF a Syrian Of the name OF GeOr-
gle stambOuli. This man. praise be %
Allah, has seen the error Of his ways, as
no doubt you viii see shortly. and has EN-
bTaced lslRmism. lie will instruct you
IN all needful doctrine
During the siege priest named Gi0-
vanni L0si died In Obeid. but two others
were captured and compelled TO embrace
Islamism. and there were five sisters
taken at the same time; these were now
sent as companions 70 us, in the hope
that they would follow the example OF
the men. The sisters refused IN the most
determined manner to leave their re-
ligion. In what fearful condition these
poor women were--bags Of bones. They
never left the house. Tnis was the state
of things 20 March 2S. 1888.
Our priyati0ns were great, FOR tbs
Mahdi took no further care Of us. We
were In dirt, with hardly enough % eat
One laym8n died Oi low fever, ard shortly
afterwRrd two sisters sickened aud died
They succumbed under a horrible dread
they were famshed and naked. and wher
IL ralned they were exposed 20 it. / per
"A o.