The evening times., 1899-04-05
A PRISONER OF THE KHALIFA.
Some of Karl NeufeId'> Experiences
In the Soudan.
Cairo correspondence Of the London y

Cairo correspondence OF the London News)
We have heard a good deal OF Herr Karl
Neufeld since mis- rescue from his tweve
years captivity in the Soudan through the
victory OF the AnglU-Egyptian troops. but
being himself entirely absorbed in writing
a book on his experiences in captivity, AMI
holding all the interviewers who present
themselves as far away from him as pos
sible most of the news published about
this remarkable man is far ffom being cor
rect We have been told, for instance. that
he had broken down completely in mind as
well as in body. Happily, he has done
nothing OF the kind. / have seen him Ie-
peatedly during the last few days. and even
dined with him at his own house | do
not think | could imagine a man more
sound in mind as we'll as in body than my
amiable host. Ii is true he tells US him
self that for some time after his. rescue b
had been in a state of such excitement JhSt
sometimes he had hardly known what he
was doing That may we'll be. But that
state assuredly he has passed by. He is
certainly quite himself again, manly.
simple, modest yet very energetic and
highly sympathetic character.
AS TO his bodily health, he must have
remarkable constitution TO be able u bear
what he has gone through during the last
twelve years. His sufferings have certain
~ tOlQ upon nlln- are SJiii NTltlSH III
his face with strong lines. but they have
not overcome him. He has already Tscov-
cred wonderfully. His carriage is erect
again. his hair-quite white what tn re
was left of it when he was rescued by Lord
Kitchener-has turned fair again; that is
to say the white hair is falling of and be-
ing replaced by young and more vigorous
growth OF healthy fair color: aud also on
the crown of his head, quite bald then. "A
rich crop of hair is growing again. That
is the man VINO defied the tyrant. He fe I
certain he mad TO die, and he preferred
death to life of shame and SUFFERING. He
believed nothing could save him. His exc
cution was already ordered. his tor
had begun. But on his showing that he
neither feared death nor the khaiifa, tle
latter kept him alive, at first very much
against the will OF the man in his power.
At table two Soudanese servants waited
upon us. They had learned to respect him
even in his captivity, and gladly TO lowed
him, unbidden. into the strange land Of the
unbelievers. Mrs. Neufeld and their only
daughter also dined with us. The former,
a charming English woman. when so sud
denly deprived of her husband and bread
winner, had taken to hospital nursing. AMI
so gained living for herself as well as her
child, who, only little girl when in 81
her father set out On his perilous expedi-
ton to trade in the Soudan, is now fully
grown-up young woman, and her fathers
particular pride. II was very chardct -ris-
tic of the man when, introducing me- to his
wife, he said: Yes, have suffered good
deal, but the one who has suffered most is
my wife"
a point which Mr.. Neufeld is anxious TO
repudiate is the statement that he had
manufactured powder for the Khaiifa.
This, indeed, the tyrant had ordered him
to do, and in order TO gain time and also to
improve his position, he had at last put
together something which he had cal ed
model for a powder mill. He showed It to
ne, too, a pretty little plaything with
many little wheels and hammers making
considerable noise. The Khalifa was high
ly pleased with it, and ordered him to pro-
ceed So Neufeld made some more-mod-
els But when at last the Khaiifa declared
one day, very angrily. he did not want any
more models, he wanted cartridges, Neu-
field found himself in greater difficu ties