The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-01
THE MAHDps PRISONER IN ROME.
Father Bonomi, After1Bis Terrible Captivity,
Visits the Pope.

Visits the Pope.
Rome Letter in New York Sun.
The missionary, Father Luigi Bonomi, who
has succeeded in making his escape from the
prisons of the Mahdi, was received on Thursday
evening, the 18th inst, by his Holiness Leo
XIII, in private audience.
Father Bonomi was made prisoner by the
Mahdi in the capture of Nuba in the beginning
of 1883. He was taken with some others, mis-
sionaries and sisters, viz. Father Paolo Ros-
signoli, Cleric Tridon Locutelh, Sister Teresa
Geigolini, the superior of the house, Sister
Concetta Corsi, Sister Caterina Chncarini, Sis
ter Elisabetta Venturini, Sister Fortunate
Guasse, negress. The Mahdi also captured at
Nuba Brother Giuseppe Regnotti, Brother
Gabrielle Mariani, and the Sisters AmalIa
Andres, Eulali Pesavento and Marietta Caprini.
All these missionaries belonged to the vicariate
of central Africa. This vicariate was established
in Africa chiefly by the exertions of the italian
bishop, Mgr Daniele Comboni, under the pro-
lection of the cardinal bishop of Verona, his
Eminence Luigi Canossa, magnanimous and
generous bishop. This cardinal established
specially for Africa the Sisters of ST. Joseph,
who had to go with the missionaries to give
Christian education to negro children. Mgr
Comboni died comparatively young, only fifty
years old, on Oct 10, 1881, at Khartoum. His
consecrated only few weeks ago by Cardinal
Moran, together wiki the new Archbishop of
Dublin Mgr. Walsh.
Father Bonomi is one of the missionaries
under the jurisdiction of Mgr. Sogaro He
arrived in Rome from Naples on Aug. g. and
thus related to his Holiness the history of his
capture and captivity:
AS soon as they had been made prisoners they
were taken in presence Of the Mahdi, who tried
his best to persuade them that he was prophet
nv Cod and fh ar thav chOnlI oix,o fbo
Christian religion and become followers of Mo-
hammed.
Father Bonomi answered for all, saying: "You
are not prophet; if you are, show it with less
talk and more deeds Here is good opportu-
nifty for you. You have so many soldiers here.
Feed them all with one goat, and we shall believe
that you are the prophet which you say you are.
Take my head; l do not care ! know you are
an impostor.D
The Arabians who surrounded him would have
torn the poor old father to pieces. But the
Mahdi ordered him to be taken away safely, and
iItrusted all the prisoners in custody to one of
his servants at Ell Obeid, saying that they were
blind and he would pray for them, that they
might be converted and receive light from
above
The jailor, brutal and fanatical Arabian,
made their captivity horrible, and some of the
sisters died. The Mahdi having been unable to
compel them to give up their religion. a certain
paper with q profession of Isamitic faith, sent
by him for signature, being sent back unsigned,
he spread rumor that all the fathers and
sisters had been willing to receive the new
religion, and had given up Christianity. Il was
a lie, merely directed to discourage any promise
that might have been made by relatives and
friends for their rescue.
The friends, however, had never believed it,
and had several times planned rescue. 1t was
difficult to find people who, for money or love,
would undertake the risk of an escape. At last
an Arabian camel-driver WAS hired for 800
down, and with the promise of much more if he
would come back with the father and
his companions. The messenger had to
deliver a paper to him, although he
did not know him personally. and
for that purpose description of the father was
given to him. The Arabian found the father
Immediately, who at first thought he had to do
with treachery, but as the messenger gave evi
dence of his connection with the fathers of
Egypt. he had to believe. Another missionary,
a German. who was prisoner with Bonomi,
at first would not consent to escape Father
Bonorni tried in vain to persuade him. He re-
fused steadily. So. having settled on a certain
place outside of Ell Obeid where the driver of
the camels would wait for him, he met him
there, and both started the missionary dressed
as poor fellah. They travelled solitary road
out of the track of the caravans and suffered the
most horrible thirst rather than stop at the