Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-11-27


the missionary. including the amount
Of ransom demanded.
This and other circumstances make
it very clear that Vaciloff intended or
expected to be the medium Of negotia-
tion for Miss Stones release, and his
failure Is undoubtedly due to his ar
rest, which frightened him and COM
PEELED him to deny all knowledge Of
the affair. The missionaries and the
United States consul general were not
allowed to question him or communi-
cate with him while he was in Jail. He
was released by the order Of the au-
thorities at Sofia upon the pretext that
no evidence had been offered against
him, although no one had been invited
to present evidence.
The only inference to be drawn from
this unusual procedure Is that the Off
cials and the managers Of the Mace
donian revolutionary committee real
lied the complications that might en-
sue with the United States, the damage
their cause would suffer before the
world and the odium they would be
compelled to endure II Vaciloff's plans
were carried out.
1t has been absolutely impossible for
the missionaries to obtain information
concerning Miss Stone from any source
since her letter was received and
Vaciloff arrested. although there have
been frequent rumors concerning her
movements and those Of Mrs. Tsilka,
originating among circles known to be
friendly to the bandits.
The presence Of a military force
which was sent to the neighborhood
ostenslbly to capture the brigands and
rescue Miss Stone has also aided to de-
feat that purpose, because it has pre-
vented people who might have fur
nished valuable information from COM
municating with the missionaries or
lending them any aid. Every man who
has shown signs of knowledge has
been arrested, imprisoned for a few
days and then released without any
opportunity having been offered to the
friends Of Miss Stone to communicate
with him. These proceedings have ter
rorized the neighborhood and have
baked every effort made by the mis-
sionaries to approach Miss Stone.
Another reason for their inability to
open communication Is their refusal to
offer money as ransoms or for infor-
nation. The inhabitants Of that part
of the country are very poor, they are
naturally avaricious and some Of them
might have been persuaded by the
judicious use Of money to defy the au-
thorities and furnish information and
assistance. The missionaries, however,
have been exceedingly scrupulous in
refusing to appeal to meroenary mo-
tives. From the beginning they have
declared that no ransom would be
paid and all offers both to them and
to Consul General Dickinson, involv-
ing payments Of money, have been
promptly rejected. The wisdom Of this
policy is seriously questioned by those
who know the Bulgarian character and
the customs Of the country. Natives
and foreigners in the neighboring
country are in the habit Of paying
blackmail and ransom. Custom has
overcome their scruples on this point
and in several Of the Turkish provinces
brigandage is regarded as legitimate
occupation. 1t Is, of course, impossi-
BILE to say what might have happened
II the customs of the country had been
followed in this respect; but the mis-
sionaries have taken the same high
ground as the merchants Of New York
in ITS, when they declared that they
would pay millions for defense; but
not one cent for tribute"