New-York tribune., 1899-03-26
PRISONER OF THE kHALlFI.
SOME OF KARL NEUFELD'S EXPERIENCES
IN THE SOUDAN.

Cairo correspondence of The London News.
We have heard a good deal of Herr Karl
Neufeld since his rescue from his twelve years
captivity in the Soudan through the victory ot
the Anglo Egyptian troops, but being hlmseh
entirely absorbed in writing book on MS eA-
periences in captivity, and holding all the inter
viewers who present themselves as far away
from him possible, most OF the news pup
lishcd about this remarkable man is far from
being correct. We have been told, Tor instance
that he had broken down completely in mnd as
well in body Happily he has done nothing OF
the kind | have seen him repeatedly during
the last few days, and even dned with MN AT
his own house ! do not think | could imagine
"A man more sound in mind as well as IN body
than my amiable host. 1t is true he tells us
himself that for some time after his rescue ne
had been in state Of such excitement that
sometimes he had hardly known what he was
doing. That may well be. But that state as
suredly he has passed by. He is certainly quite
himself again, a manly, simple modest, yet
very energetic and highly sympathetic character.
As to his bodily health. he must have re-
markable constitution to be able to bear what
he has gone through during the last twelve
years. His sufferings have certainly told upon
him. They are still written in mis- face with
strong lines. but they have not overcome hnn'
He has already recovered wonderfully. HIS car
riage is erect again, his hair-quite white what
there was left Of il when he was rescued by
Lord Kitchener-has turned fair again that is
TO say the white hair is falling of and being
replaced by a young and more vigorous growth
Of a healthy fair color. and also on the crown OF
his head. quite bald then, rich crop OF hair IS
growing again That is the man who dehed the
tyrant He felt certain he had TO die, and he
preferred death TO life of shame and suffering.
He believed nothing could save him. His eXecu-
ton was already ordered. his torturos had be-
gun But on his showing that ne neither feared
death nor the Khalifa. the latter kept him alive.
at first very much against the VIII OF the man
in his power.
At table two SoudaneSe servants waited upon
rs. They had learned to respect him even in his
captivity. and gladly followed lin. unbdden.
into the strange land Of the unbelievers. Mrs.
Nrufcli and their only daughter also dined with
us. The former. charming English woman,
when so suddenly deprived of her husband and
breadwinner, had taken to hospital nursing. and
gained living for herself as well as her
child, who, only a little girl when in lSS. her
father set out on his perilouS expedition to trade
in the Soudan. is now fully grOwn-up young
woman and her fathers particular pride. Ii
very characteristic of the man when, nitro
ducing me to his wife he said, "Yes, | have sut-
fcrcd good deal. but the one who has suffered
most is my wife"
point which Mr.. Neufeld is anxious TO re-
featured powder for the Khalifa. This. indeed.
the tyrant had ordered him to do. and in order
to gain time and also TO improve his position, he
had at la 5t put together something which he
had called a model for a powder mill He showed
il TO me. too pretty little plaything with many
little wheels and hammers making consider
able nose. The Khalifa highly pleased
with it, and ordered him to proceed So Neu-
field made some more-models. But when at last
the Khallfa declared one day very angriy, he
did not want any more models. he wanted car
tridges. Neufed found himself in greater diff
fcultics than ever, out Of which finally only the
victory Of tie invading army had saved him.