The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-12
REFUGEE NUNS GET FREE
SAD STORY OF TIE MAHDPs FIRST
PRISONERS.

DER With Them.
or the refugees from Khartoum. who
were recently on their way TO Cairo from
Aorosko, a writer in the London Daily
AetCs says: They come back to civilization
from e long and dreadful period OF bond
age, during which death must often have
appeared to be the only door Of escape. No
doubt there have been many times when
death would have been a welcome release
from apparently interminable miseries. The
refugees were members OF the Austrian,
sometimes called the Italian, mission at
work in the Soudan in 1881. In 1889 this
mission was carrying on the good work In
Kordofan, near FL Obeid, and at Jebel
Gedir, aud, as this was the time which the
mahdi began to achieve his success in these
regions, they were among his earliest pris-
oners.
"The names Of the refugees at present on
their way home are Father Ohrwalder,
Sister Caterina Chiucarini, and Sister
Elizabeth Venturini. The two ladies' names
appear in an honorable list at the end of
work just published by Messrs. Sampson
Low, MarstOn q Co.-the records Of Gessi
Pasha's Seven Years in the Soudan.' In
that work. which describes Gessi Pasha's
illness at Khartoum, we read: THE sisters
OF the Italian mission, whose names we will
record, because they afterward fell into the
hands of the mahdl. nursed Gessi by turns,
giving a good example of the highest Christ
ian virtue. Here are their names: Sister
Vittoria Zaganini (Superior), Giuseppe
Scandola, Matilde lombard, Fortunate
Zanoli. Elisa Suppl, Rosalia Conte, Fran,
cesca Delmosso, Ainalia Andreis, Maria
Colpo, .Caterina ChincaTini, Elisa Ven
turini'
That is a glimpse of the Italian mission
in Khartoum in February and March, 1881.
And here Is a glimpse of the mission in 1891,
bringing Into view the name Of the other
refugee, that Of Father Ohrwalder. 1t Is
gwen In Maj. Wingates interesting history
Of 'Mahdiism and the Egyptian Soudan,'
macmillan a. co.,: OF the Austrian mis-
sion (mOst Of whom are Italians) there are
now, II is said, ct Omdurman, (which it will
be remembered, is reached from Khartoum
by ferry across the White Nile,l Father
Don Giuseppe Ohrwalder, whose Arabic
name is Yusef; Father Paul Rossignoli,
whose Arabic name is Solar ell Kheir;
Brothers Domeulco Polinari and Joseph
Rognotto, whose Arabic names are I'M
known; Sisters Teresa Grigolini, Concetto
COrsi, EliZabetta Venturini and CATERING
ChincaTini. These sisters are said to have
retained their Christian names. The two
fathers are now living in the principal mar
ket. Father Ohrwalder makes a few pias-
tres daily by weaving, and two Of the sis
tiers earn livelihood by making bread.
Sister Teresa G7igolini is said TO be living
with the late Dr. George Bey's daughter in
the house Of a Greek merchant
The danger Of attempting to escape is to-
great for any to risk, as in case of recapture
the penalty of death would almost certainly
be inflicted
IaSt ,o,koDoo
the great interest now felt in the home
coming Of three of the refugees but there
has been more than one previous escape. to
which we owe some knowledge Of what the
refugees have suffered before they come to
tell us all their s0rrowful story. In June,
1855, Father Bonomi escaped from FL Obeid,
in Kordofan, leaving behind him Giuseppe
Ohrwalder, Paolo Rossignoll, and Giuseppe
Regnato. He brought the news that the
nuns, two of whom are now on their way
| north, were cruelty treated at FL Obeid,
employed as domestic slaves, beaten. and
tortured. 1t appears that in 1882 Father
Bonomi, with a mission composed of Father
Ohrwader and two artisans, Regnato and
Mariana, had established church in Jebel
Deli, three days journey from FL Obeid.
They had about sixty converts, liberated
slaves, whom they brought up to various
trades and agriculture. A company of
Egyptian soldiers was stationed at the mis-
sion 60 protect them. A branch mission at
Ell Oheid consisted of priest, a layman,
and five nuns. On the approach of the
mahdi the Arabs revolted, and attacks were
made on the mission station, which, it ap-
pears beroically sustained a siege from
April l to the middle Of September. 1882
BY this time, however, the mahdi had
gained his first important victory in the
destruction of Yusef Pasha's army. He
was now on a triumphant northward
march, and Elias Pasha OF Ell Obeid, rea-
ton of Zebebu's, who had been dismissed
by Gordon from a high post, invited the
mahdi to come and take that city.
The mahdi accepted the invitation, and
one of his preliminary steps was to depute
an emir named Mex Omar to destroy the
outside mission station and kill the priests.
Mex Omar found this easier said than done.
He only sat down before them and waited
for reinforcements. The priests had
arranged for moving off one night, when
they found that they had been betrayed;
they were summoned to surrender on pain
of death. The black troops, who up till
now had stood by them, began to frater-
uize with the mahdIs men, and the
brave men of the mission were re-
duced to Hobson's choice. They made
condition, however, and surrendered them-
selves on condition that their property
might be taken, but that their lives should
be spared and that they should be allowed
20 60 on to Egypt. The brave priests
seven in number-were taken to the mahdi,
who Yves now finding Ell Obeid a hard nut
to crack. The Christians inside that city
aud the troops under Mohammed Pashe
Said were making a much Drawer resistance
than the traitorous Elias had counted upon.
The mabdi ordered the seven priests TO pro-
fess Islamisn. No. said the priests Next
day. said the mahdi, you will come again
and profess IslamisIn or be beheaded.'
ION the next day the mahdi had his
army-10 900 horse and 10000 foot-drawn
up in imposing array. He himself was
mounted on a camel, aud the seven priests
were ordered again into his presence. By
way of preliminary intimidation the Arabs
were allowed to brandish their swords over
the priests heads. Said the mahdi: "Will
you profess Islamism. or have your heads
cut Off we will not become Mahomme-
dams, said the faithful priests. Whereupon
the mahdi, relenting in view of their cour-
age, only answered, May God lead you
into the right pathp and ordered the Arabs
to sheathe their swords. He afterward
saw them in his hut, ate with them, and
promised them protection. They were
given into the charge of Syrian, and the
whole mission were housed in large straw
hut out of which they dared not venture
for fear of the fanatical dervishes Here,
said Father bonomi, one laYman died, and
also two nuns were frightened to death at
their terrible position, and overcome by des-
titution, lack OF clothing, aud exposure to
rain. The madhi himself was touched with
their condition; for though he would not