The San Francisco call., 1901-10-16
Channel Of Communica-
ton With Brigands
Interrupted.
When Last Heard From the
Captive Asked that Pur-
suit Be Stopped
Captive American Missionary and
Her Companion Both Appeal for
the Prompt Payment of the
Ransom Demanded.
spee..I p,zpaech 70 rhe call.

CALL BUREAU. 14os G STREET, N.
w, WASHINGTON. Oct. I5.-Impenetra-
bic to Washington is the mystery of the
present condition and Whereabouts of
Miss Ellen NJ. Stone. The channel Of
communication which Mr.. Eddy, secre-
rary Of the American legation in Constan-
tinople. had established with the brigands
has been interrupted He is not informed
as to the point TO which they have re-
treated. nor IS he advised as to their fur
ther purposes. To add to these distress
Ing features Of the situation, the State
Department has again become apprehen-
sive that, Notwithstanding the assurances
Of the Bulgarian and Turkish govern
ments. their troops viii attack the bri-
gands should they locate them Mr.. Eddy
and Mr. Dickinson. the latter at Sofia,
will make renewed representations to the
governments to which they acceded in the
hope Of obtaining explicit instructions
which viii prevent an attempt TO arrest
the brigands even should their where
abouts be learned by the Government
forces.
Brigands Threaten Death.
SOFIA. Bulgaria, Oct. 15.-Although the
time fixed by the brigands who abducted
Miss Ellen n Stone, the American mis-
sionary, for the payment of the ransom
demanded expired week ago, no one has
appeared at sammakof to claim the
money or to announce the fate Of tho
captive 1t is now learned that the band
has dissolved. but that Miss Stone is kept
under surveillance at some distance from
the frontier. This is due to snow and cold
weather rendering the mountains unin-
habita bic The efforts of the police to ar
rest Saraokof, formerly president of the
Macedonian committee, who is suspected
Of completely in the KIDNAPPING, are still
unavaning. The failure is due to the
sympathy Of the inhabitants and local
authorities.
The parents Of Madame Tsilka, the Bull
garian teacher who was captured by
brigands with Miss Stone, have received
another letter from their daughter urging
the step already taken, namely stop
ping the military pursuit because the
brigands threaten the prisoners with i'm
mediate death in the event of danger to
themselves The writer says that she and
Miss Stone are hidden in a subterranean
retreat and are treated courteously. She
says the only means of securing their re-
lease is TO pay the ransom demanded
Letter From Miss Stone.
Further word has come from Miss Stone
in the following letter. written from
Macedonia, TO w W Peet, treasurer of
the Turkish Mission in Constantinople:
My Honored Friend-I write to inform
you that on September 3 I was captured
by q great number of armed men-some
forty-as 1 travelled from Bansko to
Diamaala with about twelve teachers,
students and others. They took with me
for my companion Mrs. Catherine Tsilka-
The reason why they captured US is for a
ransom. The price which they demand
for Is G25,OOO, Turkish, which sum must
be paid in gold, and this entirely without
the knowledge Of the Turkish and Bull
garians governments, within the term of
eighteen days from to-day.
The condition Of Mrs. TsiIka decided
the limit. as she is to give birth to
child in three months.
Prays That Money Be Paid.
I'VE are pursued by Turkish army. 1
beg Dr. Haskell himself to go to Con-
stantinopIe and exert himself for the pay
ment Of the ransom at Sammakoff, where
men will receive it on presenting an order
from me.
The men who captured us at first
showed courtesy and consideration toward
US. but now since Turkish soldiers and
Bashi Bazouks nave begun to pursue US
and the ransom,is delayed our condition
is altogether changed.
Therefore. L beg you to hasten sending
the ransom demanded and that as ener-
getically as possible you will present to
the Turkish Government that it stop the
pursuit Of US by soldiers and Bashi Ba-
zouks; otherwise we shall be killed by
the people in whose hands we are. l pray
you to communicate without delay the
contents OF this letter to the representa-
tive Of the United States at the Porte
and request his most serious cooperation
PRAY for US. We are at peace with
God.
With hearty salutations, your friend,
ELLEN NJ. STONE"
Russia Ready to Assist.
CONsTANTINOPLE, Oct 15.-The Rus
sian Government has repeated its express
sion Of a desire 10 assist the United States
Government by all practical means in