The herald., 1895-03-17
Slatin Bey Escapes From Prison
in KhartOum
HE WAS FAMOUS in HISTORY
A Mahdi at the Time That General
Gordon Was Killed
After Nine Years in Ch aims, During Which
He Made Nine Attempts to Get
Away, Satin Escapes

Cairo, Egypt, March 16.-The following
are the particulars of the escape of Slatn
Bey from the Mahdi's camp, Omdurman,
khartoum, where he has been a prisoner
for eleven years past. Slatin Bey escaped
with the assistance of Soudan merchant
named Eyail. who arrived here from
Omdurman some months ago bearing
letter from Slatin Bey. in which the latter
asked if some arrangement could be
made with Eyail so as to enable him to
escape. Eyail was placed in communica-
ton with the Austrian consul here, Baron
Heidler Won Egeregg-Syrgenstein, who
made a contract with the merchant, the
latter agreeing to try and effect the es-
cape of Slatin Bey.
When the arrangements were com pleted
Eyail returned to Omdurman and laid his
plans to get Slatin away. but the first at
tempt failed. Eyail, however, persisted
and eventually succeeded in getting Slatin
Bey out of Omdurman.
The merchant closely followed the
plans of Abdallah, the native who was
successful in bringing about the escape OF
Father Roslgnoli from the camp OF the
Mahdi. He obtained possession OF camels
and when the proper time arrived arose
out of the camp at night and made at full
speed for Berber, following the Nile as
closely as possible by night and hiding in
the hills in the daytime.
For eighteen days, suffering great
through the desert to Sassoun 1t was
three days after they left Omudurman
before their escape was noticed. When
the alarm was given there was hot pur-
suit and body of pursuing dervishes,
reached Kokrels, sixty miles from Sua-
kim. last week. Slatin Bey had made
nine previous attempts to escape.
Slatin Rev. who is Austrian. was
the Egyptian Governor of Nenaar when
Khartoum fell and General Gordon was
killed. At that time he was in chains
at Khartoum, where he has been in
prison since. In the early part OF 1889
family living in Vienna named Slatin re-
ceived a letter from Khleffir Abdallah.
who succeeded the late Mahdi as chieftain
of Egypt's rebelliouS provices in Soudan.
The letter stated that Slatn Bey had ad-
opted the religion of Mohammed.
He lives with us, the letter contin-
ued, ''honored by our friendship, one of
our valued advisers. and is perfectly con-
tented and happy in the highest degree.
We see neither grief nor chagrin, but on
the contrary he is perfectly healthy and
is looked upon as our own son, and one
of the most honored Mahdis."
The letter invited any of Slatin's rela-
tives or any Austrian to visit him, assur-
ing them they could do so in perfect
safety in consideration of Slatn's faith
in Islam, and that he had become one of
the most eminent and highly esteemed
Mahdis. At about the same time letter
was received from Slatin, which estab-
lished the authenticity of this communica-
ton. Reports concerning Slatin have
been contradictory. but it is believed he
was employed in the most servile capaci-
ties while in captivity.
After Father Oherwalder effected :his
escape in December, 1891, he stated that
there were forty Europeans. still held at
Omdurman, that they were kept loaded
they had lost all hope of ever escaping.
He also stated that Slatin Bey was still
alive and belonged to the bodyguard of
the Mahdi's successor, but that he also
was closely watched.