Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-03-21

Cairo, Egypt, March 16.--The follow
ing are the particulars Of the escape
Of Slatln Bey from the Mahdi's camp
at Omdurman Khartoum, where he has
Deen prisoner for eleven years past;
Slatin escaped with the assistance OF
a Soudanese merchant named Eyail,
who arrived here from Omdurman
some months ago bearing a 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 nj communication
with the Austrian consul here. Baron
Heidler Won egg-Syrgenstein, who
made contract with the merchant.
the latter agreeing to try and effect the
escape of Slatin Bey. When the ar
engagements were completed, Eyail re-
turned to Omdurman and laid his plans
to get Slatin away, but the first at
tempt failed. Eyail, however persist
I'd and eventually succeeded in get
ting Slatin Bey out Of Omdurman.
The Soudanese merchant closely fol-
lowed the plans of Abdallah, the native
who was successful in bringing about
the escape of Father Rosignoll from
the camp Of the Mahdi They obtained
possession of camels and when the pro-
per time arrived rose out Of the camp
at night and made as full speed for
Berber, following the Nile as closely as
possible by night and hiding In the hills
back from the river in the day time.
For eighteen days, suffering great pri-
Vations, the .fugitives journeyed throug
the desert to Assouan. 1t was three
days after they left Omdurman before
their escape was noticed. When the
alarm was given there was not pur-
suit and a body of pursuing dervisheS
reached Kokreb, sixty miles from Sua-
Kim last week. Slatin Bey made nine
previous attempts to escape.
HE PLAYED MOSLEM.
Slatin Bey, who is an Austrian, was
the Egyptian governor of Senaar when
Khartoum fell and General Gordon was
killed. At that time he was LED IN
chains to Khartoum where he mas peen
a prisoner ever since. In the early part
of 1882 family living In Vienna re-
ceived o letter from Khletfir Abdallah,
who succeeded the late Mahdi as chief
TAM of Egypts rebellious provinces III
Soudan. The letter stated that Slatin
Bey had adopted the religion Of Mo-
manned
HE lives with u.s." the letter continu-
ed, "honored by our friendship, one of
our valued advisers, and Is perfectly
content and happy in the highest de-
gree. We see in him neither grief nor
chagrin; but on the contrary, he is per-
fectly healthy and is looked upon as our
own son, and one of the most honored
The letter invited any Of Slatins rel
atives or any Austrian to visit him,
assuring them that they could do SO in
perfect safety in consideration Of Sla-
tins sincere piety, of his faith in Islam
and because he had become of the most
eminent and highly esteemed mahdis.
At about the same time letter was re-
ceived from Slatin, which established
the authenticity of this communlca-
tlon. Reports concerning Slatin Bey
have been contradictory, but 1t Is be-
lieved that he was employed In the
most servile capacity while In capti-
witty.
After Father Ohrwalder effected his
escape in December, 1891, he stated that
there were forty Europeans still held
at Obdurman, that they were kept
loaded with manacles and were often
cruelty beaten, and were so strictly
guarded that they had lost all hope of
ever escaping. He also stated that
Slatin Bey was still alive and belonged |
10 the body guard of the Mahd's success |
sor, but that he was also closely watch