Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-10-01
THIRTEEN YEARS AS A SLAVE.

Adventure of an italian Priest In the
soudau.
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,
| well built man, tanned q 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 a priest Of the
Austrian mission Of Ell Obeid. In the
kordofan. and went through the hor-
rors Of the four and a half months
siege until January. 1883, when he was
taken prisoner. It 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-
car" l said to him the day before he
left
"Oh, yes, and go back with pleasure,
as Africa is for me now a second faith
erland. feel that my work is there;
and, besides. think Of all the prisoners,
less fortunate than myself, whom l left
behind and whom l must do my utmost
to deliver"
Are there still many?"
about fifty, including five Italians
care there no Englishmen?
"No; 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 Is the most learned
and intelligent person now in
the hands OF the Soudanese. He
was banker at Assouan. and three or
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 II
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 tc
hang him, when he was asked: How
do you die? As a Christian or Mus
sulman? Niefelit answered quickly: y
die Mussulman.'
so his life was saved, but he was
left for years in chains until he gave
proof of his ability, and he was Their
used by the caliph to manufacture salt
peter and gunpowder. He also endeav
ored to make dies for coins. and de-
signed beautiful tomb for the mahdi
which the caliph, however, did not ap
prove OF, considering 1t too European
. and fearing that II executed Niefeli
I would acquire certain importance ir
the eyes of the Soudanese."
Passing to speak OF the situation II
! according to the latest news received
> by him It is most unhappy, because O
the fearful misery. dreadful anarch,
, and widespread corruption. 1T /!
, something heartrending" exclaimed
e the missionary. ut seems really tina
, the hand of God is striking and exter
l minating that people. on whom lie 81
; many sins. England could now easil!
reconquer the Soudan. especially as ,
/ large portion Of the inhabitants there
would favor 1t, to escape from the tyr
amy Of the caliph.
, "There Ia, in fact, party stront
enough which wishes the intervention
OF Egyptians, English or Italians. o.
any stranger. in fact, to end the hor
rors of which they are the victims ant
witnesses. This party is becoming 81
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 then
with a general massacre. However. 1
is my opinion that England will no
reconquer the Soudan until her occupa
ton Of Egypt is permanent and unit
she needs no pretext to justify he
presence on the Nile. After the re
cent defeats on the Red sea side thu
Soudanese have a holy terror Of thu
Italians also, and their most terrbl,
curse is: May you be struck by al
Italian ball.