The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-17
china Appeal. to the Powers.
sLATIN nEY ESCAPES.
Held Captive by the Mahdi nt Khar-
toum for Eleven Years


CAIRO, Egypt, March 16.-Slatin Bey has
escaped from the Mahdfs camp at Omdur-
man, Khartoum, where he has been a pris-
oner for eleven years past. He is now at
Assouan. Slatin escaped with the assist
ance of Soudanese merchant named Eyail.
who arrived here from Omdurman some
months ago, bearing a letter from SIatin
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 communication with the Austrian
consul here, Baron Heidler Won Egeregg-
Syrgenstein. who made contract with the
merchant, the latter agreeing to try and
effect the escape of SIatin Bey. When the
arrangements were completed Eyail re-
turned to Omdurman and laid his plans TO
get Slatin away. But the first attempt
failed. Eyail however, persisted, and
eventually succeeded in getting Slatin Bey
out of Omdurman. The Soudanesa merchant
closely followed the plans of Abdalfah, the
native who was successful in bringing about
the escape of Father Rosgnoli from the
camp of the Mahdi. They obtained pos
session of camels, and when the proper
time arrived they rode out OF the camp at
night and made at full speed for Berber,
following the Nile as closely as possible at
night and hiding In the hills back from the
river in the daytime. For eighteen days,
suffering great privations in the meantime.
the fugitives journeyed through the desert
to Assouan. 1t was three days after they
left Omdurman before their escape no~
ticed, but when the alarm was given there
was a hot pursuit, and a body of pursuing
dervishes reached Kokred. sixty mites fropl
Suakim, last week. Slatin Bey made nine
previous attempts TO escape.
Slatin Bey, who is an Austrian. was the
Egyptian Governor of Senaar when Khar-
toum fell and General Gordon killed.
At that time he was led in chains to Khar-
toum, where he has been prisoner ever
since. In the early part OF 1889 family
named Slatin living in Vienna, received a
letter from KhIaffif AbduIlah, who sue
Egypts rebellious province In Soudan. The
latter stated that Slatin Bey had adopted
the religion of Mohammed .'He lives with.
u.s." the letter continued, "honored by Que
is perfectly content and happy In the high
est degree We see in him neither grief
nor chagrin, bus, on the contrary he is
perfectly healthy and is looked an as
The letter invited any of Slatin's relatives
any Austrian 20 visit him, assuring them
they could do so in perfect safety. In con-
sideration of Slatin's sincere piety of his
faith in Islam, and because he had become
one of the most eminent and highly
teemed Aahdists. AT about the same time
letter received from Slatin, which
established the authenticity of this commu-
ncation.
Reports concerning Slatin Bey have been
contradictory. but il is believed that he was
employed in the most servfle capacity while
in captivity. After Father Ohrwalder ef-
fected his escape in December. 1891. he
stated that there were forty Europeans stu
held at Omdurrnnn; that they We're kept
loaded with mauacles and were often cru
ely beaten. and We're so strictly guardcS
that they had lost all hope of ever escap-.
ing. lie also stated that Slatin. Bey was
still alive and belonged to the bodyguard
OF the Mahdi's successor, but that he also
was very closely watched.