The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-02-11
HIS LIFE EXCITING
Famous Prisoner of the Mahdi"
Visits Medina.
Man Held in Chains for Twelve Years
by the Mahdi and Freed by Kitch-
ener Has Had Most Roman
tic Career.

tive son of the desert and in dress,
speech and manners an Arab. the only
white man who ever openly visited
Medina, the holy city of the Moham-
medans. recently returned here The
pilgrim was Dr. Karl Neufeld, the ia
nous prisoner OF the Mahdi' who
was liberated by Lord Kitchener in
the Sudan many years ago.
Few men have had a more romantic
and exciting career than this celebrat-
ed traveller. AS a physician. teacher.
merchant and contractor he went to
the Sudan in 1886. When the uprising
of the natives began he was taken
prisoner by the Mahdi and kept in
chains for twelve years. Freed by
Kitchener. he returned to Germany
but after a lecturing tour he made
his way back to the Sudan. Shortly
after the outbreak OF the present war
he had to leave his adopted country
again, as he was expelled by the Brit
ish authorities.
After his return to Germany he was
sent to Constantinople, where he
placed himself at the disposal OF the
Turkish government. He was used
as an emissary to the Arabian tribes.
and for this work probably no man is
better qualified. AS he speaks the
dialects OF all the Bed9in tribes,
knows their customs and has en-
braced the Mohammedan faith, he
wins confidence wherever he appears
in the world Of Islam.
After organizing the Arabian tribes
on the Peninsula OF Sinai for an in
vasion of Egypt this strange man
went to Damascus and decided to visit
Medina
Accompanied by four Arabs he left
Damascus in June After his train
passed Maan and FL Ulla the Turkish
officers with whom he travelled became
distrustful and they even kept aloof
from him when they saw him say his
prayers like every pious Mohamme-
dan. When he reached Medina. the
Ramadan, the great Mohammedan fes-
tival, had just begun He placed him
self under the protection of a promi-
nent native who has charge of the pill
grims from the Sudan and his host
conducted him to the Harem-es- Sheri-
ia. the temple where Mohammed is
buried with his favorite daughter Fa-
TINA and his son-in-law.
When he stood before the crypt of
the prophet the German traveller was
surrounded by an angry mob. His po-
sition became quite critical until two
Arabians made their way through the
crowd and declared:
we know him; he is the effendi OF
Omdurman and Assuan, a good man
and true Mohammedan."
Even this did not entirely satisfy
the mob and Doctor Neufeld was only
permitted to stay in the temple after
he affirmed his faith with a solemn
oath. For two or three weeks he was
continually watched by natives who
we're not convinced by his religious
professions and by Egyptian spies il
the service of England.
The latter tried in every way to in
fame the natives against him by call
ing him an infielA and Christian dog.
At a meeting of the scribes and sheiki
he was asked where he came from
, and there was great excitement whel
l he calmly said: From Germany"
The priests and chiefs were salts
3 fed, however, when he related how h
| was converted to Mohammedanism b.
a a pious sheik in the Sudan.
. Doctor Neufeld remained in Medin
{ nearly two months in continual inter
1 course with the sheiks. ulemas an
S prominent pilgrims from Tripolitanis
0 Tunis, Morocco. Persia, Afghanista
y and India He obtained much valuabl
+ information From the pilgrims h
S learned that the Jehad (holy war
movement is fast becoming gener;
4 in ali Mohammedan countries. II
8 found that the Arabs are especial
n bitter against the British, because tn
h English government has closed tn
n Red sea and stopped the great al
r nual pilgrimages from Egypt an
n India TO Mecca and Medina Still moi
n bitter were the Mohammedans over ii
g fact that the English have proclaime
d. the new ruler OF Egypt appointed
them Sultan o. the two holy places
o because all of the faithful insist TIL
IS this title only belongs to the caliph
IS Constantinople
" by their attempt to establish I
" Egyptian caliphate the British ha'
SO made one of their greatest mistakes
sr Doctor Neufeld said on his return
lie Constantinople The Arabs will new
or forgive them this Interference wi
to their religious affairs. and the bloc
ade of the Red sea.
le THE population of the whole wei
Mt ern part of Yemen is in uprisil
Y: against the British. In this part
~ Arabia only the sheik Ebesi is in t
81 way of the English and he possess
s little power and influence
is All Arabs are fervent admirers
Germany, he said. and every one
them knows the name Of Field Nj
shall Won Hindenburg. When the tie
m graph brought the news of the fall