Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-08-28
THIRTEEN YEARS AS A SLAVE.
Adventures of an italian Priest in the
S0udan.

| ADVENTURES Oh an lthlIRn frl0SU IN tn0
soudan.
Father Paolo Rossignoli, who, after
a long series of almost incredible ad-
ventures and thirteen years slavery in
the Soudan, succeeded in miraculously
escaping from the hands of the caliph,
has been received by the pope before
returning to Africa to the scene Of his
former painful sufferings, says the Pail
Mall Gazette. He is a strong, broad,
we'll built man, tanned a deep brown
by the African sun, and wears full
beard, which is rapidly turning white
from the sufferings he has gone
through.
Father Rossignoli was priest Of the
Austrian mission of Ell Obeid, in the
Kordofan, and went through the hor-
rors Of the four and half months
siege until January, 1883, when he was
taken prisoner. 1t would be impossible
to describe all he suffered for thirteen
long years, until assisted to escape by
the Englishman, Maj. Wingate Bey and
Mgr Sogaro, archbishop Of the Soudan.
$50 you are really returning to Afri-
ca?" / said to him the day before he
left.
"Oh, yes, and 60 back with pleasure,
as Africa is for me now second faith
erland. l feel that my work is there;
and, besides, think Of all the prisoners,
less fortunate than myself, whom left
| behind and whom must do my utmost
to deliver"
Are there still many?"
"About fifty, including five Italians"
"Are there no Englishmen?"
mo; all Of them died long ago.
Among those still alive are twelve
Syrians. ten Jews from Smyrna, some
Greeks and Swiss, few Germans and
one Austrian, certain Me
felt, who 10 the most learned
and intelligent person now in
the hands OF the Soudanese. He
was banker at Assouan, and three or
four years after the fall Of Khartoum
he led an expedition to the center of the
Soudan, his purpose being to help the
Kabbabish tribe on the other side OF
the Dongola against the mahdi. The
latter, informed in time Of his plans,
surprised the expedition, defeated 1t
completely, the men being mostly
killed or taken prisoners, among the
latter the leader Niefelit, who was con.
demned to death. The rope had al
ready been passed around his neck to
hang him, when he was asked: How
do you die? AS Christian or Mus
sulman?' Niefelit answered quickly: !
die Mussulman.'
$50 his life was saved, but he was
left for years in chains until he gave
proof OF his ability, and he was then
used by the caliph to manufacture salt
peter and gunpowder. He also endeav-
ored to make dies for coins, and de-
signed a beautiful tomb for the mahdi,
which the caliph, however, did not ap-
prove Of, considering 1t too European
and fearing that II executed Niefelit
would acquire certain Importance In
the eyes Of the Soudanese."
Passing to speak OF the situation In
the Soudan, Father Rossignoli said that
according to the latest news received
by him it is most unhappy, because OF
the fearful misery, dreadful anarchy
and widespread corruption. 1T Is
something heartrending" exclaimed
the missionary. 1T seems really that
the hand of God is striking and exter-
minating that people, on whom lie SO
many sins. England could now easily
reconquer the Soudan, especially as
large portion of the inhabitants there
would favor it, to escape from the tyr
amy of the caliph.
"There is, in fact, party strong
| enough which wishes the intervention
of Egyptians, English or Italians, or
any stranger, in fact, to end the hor-
rors of which they are the victims and
witnesses. This party Is becoming so
important that the caliph some time
ago had all the so-called coffee houses
demolished in which they were accus-
toned to meet and threatened them
with a general massacre. However, 1t
is my opinion that England will not
reconquer the Soudan until her occupa-
ton of Egypt is permanent and until
she needs no pretext to justify her
presence on the Nile. After the re-
cent defeats on the Red sea side the
Soudanese have holy terror Of the
Italians also, and their most terrible
curse is: May you be struck by an
Italian ball."