THE TRUE HISTORY OF MY ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE
If I am wearying my readers with this long-drawn-out episode, which
never seems to draw to a close, I may ask their forgiveness on the
ground that weeks have been spent in collecting the links which were
scattered between Europe and Omdurman, and without the links complete
the tale might, and very reasonably so, have been disbelieved.
The messengers I despatched with the first letters quoted, arrived
in Assouan some time in January or February, 1889, and delivered the
letters to Mankarious Effendi, who at once wrote to my manager, as he
had sold up my business, and left for Alexandria. Receiving no reply,
Mankarious Effendi wrote to the German Consulate at Alexandria, who, on
March 4, replied as follows:―
“Alexandria, March 4, 1889.
“MANKARIOUS EFFENDI RIZK, Assouan,―
“In reply to your letter of February 18 last, I am very sorry to
inform you that the agent of Mr. Charles Neufeld, the Mahdi’s captive
in the Soudan, Mr. Möller has shown that he cannot help Mr. Neufeld
in any way. It is rumoured here that the house established by Mr.
Möller for Mr. Neufeld has refused payments for |161| some months
back, therefore Mr. Möller finds it quite impossible to send to Mr.
Neufeld any sum unless he refuses many payments to numerous creditors
who claim any amounts from Mr. Neufeld’s house. Mr. Möller was called
to this Consulate, and directed to give a full statement as to his
proceedings in the said house, and how the latter stands, and on doing
so, it was found that Mr. Möller has done nothing wrong, and we have
therefore nothing to say against Mr. Möller.
“But as regards the £500 deposited in the Credit Lyonnais by Mr.
Neufeld before his departure to the Soudan, Mr. Möller has shown
receipts for over £400 paid to creditors, and the rest was spent
as travelling expenses between here and Assouan, and for the
establishment of the new house in Alexandria. Still Mr. Möller has
asked Abd-el-Kader Bey, who came recently back from the Soudan, to
advise him as to the way in which he could send him a sum of money.
Abd-el-Kader Bey’s advice, however, was that no money should be sent
to Mr. Neufeld, because the latter cannot make use of money there.
Abd-el-Kader Bey stated, further, that Mr. Neufeld was then in chains,
and was only induced by his guards to ask for money. He was then very
much threatened and ill-treated by them. This is all about the case
now which I lay before your notice.
“(Signed) The German Consul,
“HELWIG.”
At the same time, my manager, on my own letter-paper, sent the
following:―
“Alexandria (undated).
“After salaams, etc., yours to hand and details notified. In reply, I
inform you that I presented myself at the German Consulate, and found
a letter from you addressed to the Consulate, stating therein that Mr.
Neufeld had written to you to the effect that he claims £500 from me,
although I had paid this sum to creditors who claimed sums from Mr.
Neufeld. I have sent goods to Halfa and Assouan, the value of which I
have not yet received. I inform you further that Nicola Lutfalla has
sold the dahabieh, the horse, and the donkeys, and did not send me the
price of same, |162| though he sold these without any permission from
me. Consequently I wrote to him to send me the account or the money,
yet nothing of the kind was received from him.
“Will you kindly arrange to sell all the goods in charge of Nicola,
because he wrote me saying that he was ill, and can neither buy nor
sell; so kindly sell the things and forward the money in order to
cover the claims (_i.e._ the sums advanced to me by my guides, and the
money I had asked for).
“Please also have a complete list made by Nicola, showing all the
things he sold, and let me have this list, making thereby the thing
clear, otherwise I shall have to take measures through the Government.
“Regarding our two houses in Assouan, will you kindly let them for any
rent, from which you will pay the taxes. Should they be vacant now,
please look after them, and send people each week to keep them clean.
They should always be kept locked. Should anything remain what cannot
be sold, keep it for Mr. Neufeld, and any letter you write me, please
address to Mr. Möller, Mr. Neufeld’s agent in Alexandria, and oblige.
(Signed) “MÖLLER.
“N.B.—Ask Nicola for account as well.”
While this correspondence was being conducted, another of my messengers
arrived, and again Mankarious Effendi wrote to the Consulate, receiving
the following in reply:―
“Alexandria, March 12, 1889.
“A previous letter, dated March 4, was sent you. On the same date a
letter was received from you. You may be sure that what Mr. Wilhelm
Möller says is quite true, that is that Mr. Neufeld is no longer a
German subject nor _protégé_, because during his stay in Egypt Mr.
Neufeld has never claimed the protection of Germany, where he was
born. Thus he has lost his nationality. This is according to what
we learn from the parties interested in Germany. Upon this, this
Consulate can in no way look into the affairs of Mr. Neufeld nor
protect his rights, except to punish Mr. Möller should he have done
anything to be punished for, as we |163| stated to you in our letter
of March 4th. But the investigations made in our Consulate show
clearly that Mr. Möller has done nothing wrong for which he ought to
be punished.
“Should you, however, think it necessary, with reference to Mr.
Neufeld’s two letters, which are returned herewith, to have his
business made over to you, this step should be taken before the Mixed
Tribunals, if Mr. Möller refuses to make over to you Mr. Neufeld’s
business willingly.
“As regarding the testament made by Mr. Neufeld, which you sent to
this consulate on October 23, 1887, this was first kept in this
consulate, and then, when Mr. Neufeld’s wife came here in September,
1888, she asked for it, as it had been reported that Mr. Neufeld was
dead. This testament was then sent to the Governor of Alexandria as
the one concerned, to which Mrs. Neufeld had to refer as a local
subject. So the Governor opened the testament, and handed it to Mrs.
Neufeld, who is still in possession of it. Mr. Möller has now removed
his business to Cairo, where he intends to get married. Salaams.
(Signed) “The German Consul,
“HELWIG.”
Mankarious would have entered an action to secure my property, but
the argument had been used that the letters were not written by
me, and that perhaps I did not know their real contents. He did
not know, nor did the Consulate in a later incident know, that the
small Latin characters written by me on these letters proved their
genuineness, as they were the “cash code” I had used with my manager
in business telegrams. Mankarious sent Mohammad Ali back to Omdurman
with my discredited bill, and with verbal messages that he would do
all in his power to raise monies for my escape. While he was making
arrangements, Moussa Daoud-el-Kanaga, who had spent some time on the
road ingratiating himself with |164| the people whose assistance we
should require in our flight, put in his appearance, and learning how
matters stood, without confiding in Mankarious or Mohammad Ali, came
on to Cairo, in the hope that he would be able to get the money on the
strength of the letter that I had given him, for, as he admits, he
wanted all the glory and all the profit for himself.
I continue the history from the sworn statement of Kanaga, taken
before a lawyer and in the presence of witnesses who could vouch for
the greater part of it. I admit I was myself a little incredulous, but
Kanaga has since backed up his statement by producing two documents,
the authenticity of which cannot for a moment be called into question,
while two are actually recorded _in extenso_ in the registers of the
German Consulate. Kanaga, according to his statement, on arrival at
Cairo, presented the letter addressed to my manager, at the German
Consulate, delivering at the same time my verbal messages. By the
German Consulate he was taken to the Austrian Consulate-General, who,
after hearing his news, sent a consular official with him to the War
Office, where he related his story.
[Illustration: MANKARIOUS EFFENDI WITH GUIDES.]
It is quite evident that Count Wass, the Austrian Consul-General,
believed that Kanaga would be assisted to start back immediately on
the proposed expedition, for he entrusted him with an autograph letter
dated Sunday, October 27, 1889, addressed to Slatin, asking Slatin to
request the Khaleefa to reply to the message sent him by the Emperor of
Austria concerning the Austrian Mission captives. Kanaga |165| was
put off time after time on the grounds that no reply had been received
to the letter he had delivered. Losing patience, he returned to Assouan
and made up a caravan on his own account, and, when all was ready,
returned to Cairo to report that all arrangements were complete. He was
again passed from one to the other, and on April 26, 1890, he presented
himself for the last time at the German Consulate, and being told that
there was “no reply,” he demanded a certificate to the effect that he
had delivered my letter, but had not received any monies in connection
with it, when a signed and sealed certificate was given him.[8]
[8] “Attestation. At the special request of Moussa
Daoud-el-Abadi (Ababdeh), this is to certify that the above on
October 22, 1889, brought to the Imperial Consulate a letter
addressed to William Möller Assouan, and said to be from
Charles Neufeld. This is to certify also that the said letter
to Mr. Möller was sent to Mr. Neufeld’s father, but up to the
present no monies have been received in respect of it. Signed,
Becker.”
The letter itself was copied into the Consular registers G. 48,
p. 385, and the following is a translation of the contents:―
“William Möller Assouan. Three days ago I sent to you
Mohammad Ali with a letter and receipt for £100. Do not make
any difficulties about payment, and give him as much money as
possible according to the letter I have sent you. He is a sure
man, and I hope he will be the go-between between me and you
after this, and there shall be reward for it. I have agreed
with him that he shall receive 25 per cent. of the amount you
give him for his services. With the other man mentioned in
his letter and mentioned here, you might act as you like, but
do not make any difficulties to him. I hope I shall be able
to buy my liberty after his return, and then all expenses
shall be rewarded. I have sent to you up to now.” . . . The
Consulate omitted to register the names of the guides sent,
and left the space blank. The certified copy of this letter
also states that the letter contained certain Latin characters
which were undecipherable; these, again, were my ‘cash code’
to my manager, proving the authenticity of the letters and
guaranteeing the contents. On the back of the letter was
written, ‘Pay to Moussa Daoud-el-Kanaga the sum of £30
received. Dated December 5, 1888.’”
Kanaga concealed the Consular certificate and the letter for Slatin
in his jibbeh, and set off for Omdurman. On nearing Berber he was met
by a dervish patrol, taken prisoner, and hurried before the Mahdist
Governor of the town. There he was confronted by two men who swore to
having seen him conversing with myself and Wad Adlan. This Kanaga did
not deny, but said that he had only spoken about trade, and that he
had permission to trade. The Governor told him it would be better to
tell the truth, for he had |166| received the news from Omdurman of Wad
Adlan having assisted him in arranging my escape, and had also received
news from Cairo of his visits to the War Office and the Consulates, and
knew that the goods he had with him were a blind to his real object in
going to Omdurman. But, continued the Governor, Adlan has been killed,
and Neufeld has more chains on him. No confession could be dragged
out of Kanaga, so he was flogged and thrown into prison, the Governor
confiscating his camels and property. After a short spell in prison,
Kanaga was set free and told to return to his own people. To have sent
him as a prisoner to Omdurman would have necessitated the Governor
sending at the same time the confiscated camels and goods, and as the
Governor wished to keep these for himself, the only way he could keep
them was by “forgiving” Kanaga, and releasing him. Kanaga lost no time
in making his way back to his people, but after this narrow escape, he
made no further efforts to penetrate into the Soudan, and the relation
of his experiences deterred every one else from attempting my escape.
In giving my narrative to the world—owing to the very evident attempts
made in certain quarters to discredit me—I have felt it incumbent upon
me not for my own sake, but for the sake of my mother, wife and child,
and relatives, to produce as far as lies in my power reliable evidence
that the slanders persistently circulated in the Press before and since
my release are only what I have characterized them to be. Therefore
none may cavil at the means I adopt for |167| the attainment of this
object provided those means are honest, however disagreeable the
process may eventually turn out to be for others.
In reply to the charges of refusing to escape from the Soudan, I
have, I venture to believe, brought together the links of the chain
of evidence in my favour up to the present period of my narrative.
Other evidences will be forthcoming in connection with incidents to
be treated of later. The letters I have quoted are ample proof that
from October, 1888, until April, 1890, my guides and myself were doing
all in our power to effect my escape. Meanwhile, the Intelligence
Department on March 10, 1890, are writing to my wife as follows:―
“Mohammad Effendi Rafai, late Sub-Lieutenant, 4th Battalion, 5th
Regiment, who left Khartoum three months ago, states he knew Neufeld
very well, and saw him at Omdurman only a few days before he left.
Neufeld had been under surveillance until about five months prior to
this, but was now free. His release was owing to one of the Emirs
representing to Abdullah Khalifa the great service Neufeld had been
in enabling arms and ammunition to be taken from the Kabbabish at the
time Neufeld was captured. He now was employed as one of the Khalifa’s
mulazimeen, and received a small salary; the Khalifa gave him two
wives, and treats him well. Neufeld has very little to complain of
except want of funds, which renders living difficult, good food being
very dear. He is frequently staying with Ibrahim Bey Fauzi, who
has opened a small coffee-shop. It is untrue that the Khalifa ever
threatened Neufeld’s life; he was only threatened with imprisonment
unless he turned Mussulman. Does not think it possible that Neufeld
can receive any letters, etc., from outside. Neufeld does not occupy
himself in business in any way. Has never heard Neufeld express any
wish to go away, but does not think he would be able to do so even if
he wished it, as every one knows him.” |168|
In September, 1888, it had been reported to my wife that, having
made an attempt to escape, I had been recaptured, and taken back to
Omdurman and executed. It was therefore very kind and considerate of
the Intelligence Department to see the error rectified, but I venture
to think that the sweets of the good news need not have been converted
into gall and wormwood by telling her that I owed my release to my
“assistance” in betraying the caravan of the loyal Sheikh Saleh into
the hands of the dervishes. Even had there been any truth in such a
statement, I think that an English lady might have been spared this
unnecessary heart-pang. I thank God nightly—ay, hourly, that He has
brought me alive from the hell I lived in, to rescue my wife from the
hell she was thrown into with such reports as these.
It must not be imagined, from the foregoing, that there is the
slightest intention on my part to cast aspersions on the War Office
or the Consulates. I place plain simple facts before you, and these
because at the time when I was anxiously awaiting the return of my
messengers, picturing to myself the efforts my friends were making to
ensure success—though, as has been seen, they were very differently
occupied—reports were being circulated that I refused to escape, and
my wife in consequence was the recipient of numberless letters of
sympathy, in which some were “praying to the Almighty to turn the heart
of your erring husband,” while others were expressing the hope that
the ties which bound her to me would soon be severed by my meeting my
deserts at the hands of the Khaleefa’s |169| executioner! Those who
prayed for me I thank; One who knew the truth, heard those prayers:
those who condemned me I do not blame, and feel no resentment against;
they merely believed what was communicated to the Press.
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