Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-02-18
NO SLEEP FOR DAYS.
terrible suffsrings of the Three Prison
ers Who Escaped from the Soudan.


ers Who Escaped from the Soudan.
Father Ohrwalder, who with two
Iathoilc Sisters escaped recent
~ from captivity at Omdurman, has
'old the story of the escape. The
preparations for the flight were in prog
ress Tor whole wear. About twelve
months before the fugitives escaped in
the night Father Ohrwalder despatched
an Arab messenger to Bishop Sogaro in
caro- with letter begging him to ar
range some plan with the messenger for
their escape. The Egyptian govern
ment took great interest in the matter
ana provided the messenger with an
abundance Of money to assist the pris-
oners. The messenger returned to the
capital of the Mahdi's successor and
contrived secretly to inform the Father
ana the Sisters of the assistance he had
brought them. He returned only about
mouth before they set out. The
Arab bought four good camels for the
Journey, and the month was spent in
getting ready for the flight.
Alter dark on the evening Of NOyem-
Der Is last, the two Sisters and q negro
glrl, all wearing black wrappers after
the manner OF slaves, joined the Arab
and two companions, who had brought
the camels a short distance from their
dwelling. The four camels were muz-
zled SO that they could not utter cries.
1t was necessary for two persons to
mount on each camel. For about an
hour they rode at a last trot until they
had left all the houses behind them.
Then they followed the left bank of
the Nile till morning at the swiftest pos
slble pace: They met quite a number
OF people travelling on donkeys toward
one recognized them. When day be-
gan to break they left the road and
travelled about two hours distance
from the river, lest they should be recog-
nized during the day.
All that day they rode without dis
mounting over stony and sandy country,
up hill and down. Toward evening
they approached the river again in or
der to obtain water. All the night they
travelled along the caravan route, paus-
ing only little while for biscuits and
water. They rode three days and three
nights without break. One of the
Sisters fell exhausted from her camel,
and wished to be left behind. but her
friends compelled her forcibly to re-
mount. They were in constant danger
Of falling asleep on their camels. The
most wonderful thing is that the cameis
stood the terrible and incessant
work. AS it was they were nearly
dead when the fugitlyes reached place
of safety.
On the morning Of the fourth day
thew had left Berber behind them, and
they camped about three hours distant
from the river. They remained there
in concealment all day. They desired
at night 10 cross the river The ferry
man, however, declined to take them
over till morning, which greatly alarmed
the fugitiyes, for if they waited till
morning, they would probably be
seized. While they were talking to the
ferryman two young fellows who were
standing near gave them to unde rstand
by signs that they would take them
over after his departure. That was
help, indeed. It was nearly midnight
when they crossed the river. Then
they filled their water bottles, watered
their camels, and set out once more on
unknown desert paths.
Near Abu Hamed they approached
the river again to get water. That was
another critical point. They filled their
bottles, ate some biscuit, and then en-
tered the great desert again, and had
gone only few miles when they heard
the cry Of camel behind them. They
realized that they were being pursued
by mounted Arab. They stopped,
and their escort had talk with the
fellow. The Arabs informed them that
they were lost, as the man was unwlll-
ing to accept money and let them go on
their way. On hearing this one Of the
Sisters tainted. The Arabs in Father
Ohrwalder's employ resolved, under
the desperate circumstances, that if the
man would not come to terms they
would SO far disable him that he could
do no harm. At length, after long
parley, the man agreed to accept go
and let them 60 in peace. He further
assured them he would not inform the
frontier guard of their flight for two
days.
Then the fugitives, forgetful of fatigue
and sleep, pursued their journey with
all possible speed, and on December 8
arrived at Murad. Their camels were
reduced to mere skeletons. They had
covered the distance from Omdurman
in seven days. and they reached Cairo
on December q.