The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-10-13
MISS STONE
IS No NEARER
To LIBERTY
Brigands Will Not Give
Up Captive Until
Cash Is Paid.
Negotiations to Reduce the
Ransom Have Not Met
With Success.
There Is Still Great Danger That the
Lawless Band Will Kill the Mis-
sionary Woman if Pursued
by Soldiers.
Special Dispatch TO The Call.

CALL BUREAU 1906 G STREET, n.
n W, WASHINGTON, Oct. E.-AIiss Ellen
N. Stone is apparently no nearer liberty
to-day than she has been since captured
by brigands in Bulgaria. A serious men
ace TO her life has been removed by the
compliance of Turkey and Bulgaria with
the request of the United States not to
authorize their troops TO attack the band
should its new place of refuge be dis
covered. There remains danger that a de-
tachment, coming suddenly upon the
brigands, may attack and that the latter
will murder their prisoner. This is a con-
tingency which both Consul Eddy in Con-
stantinople and Consul Dickinson in Sofia
are trying to guard against.
The State Department is extremely anx-
ious that the entire amount of Miss
Stores ransom shall be raised as rapidly
as possible. 1t is evident that the efforts
70 secure a reduction in the amount of
ransom have failed and that before they
viii release their captive the brigands
viii insist upon the payment Of the entire
$4,000 demanded
The American agents will continue nego-
Uations with the brigands through the
channel Of communication already estab-
lished in the hope Of securing additional
time within which the ransom can be paid.
Negotiating With Bandits.
CONSTANTINOPLE Oct. 12-The situ-
a1icn in the case of Miss Stone tonight
is that Missionaries Baird and Haskell
are still trying TO get into touch with the
brigands in order 10 agree on the amount
Of ransom It is scarcely likely that this
agreement will be reached for some days
AS soon as word comes from the mis-
sionaries that the amount of the ransom
has been determined upon a member of
the United States legation will start for
The place named with the money.
Since the brigands who abducted Miss
Stone were located on the mountain of
Gultepe. the approach Of the troops in
duced them to change their retreat. They
are now hiding on the Turko-Bulga
frontier, ready to cross to either side, as
circumstances demand. The decision to
suspend the movements of the troops was
partially due to the difficulties of operat-
ing II the mountainous country and part
~ owing TO fear that a further advance
might endanger the life of Miss Stone,
hence me American 065lIe 70 ly 10
negotiate for the payment of a ransom
It is hoped this will result in the release
OF Miss Stone in a few days.
Bulgaria Not Implicated.
SOFIA. Oct. IAN official communica-
ton, which has just been issued here, in
dignantly protests against the assertion
that the Bulgarian Government has been
conspiring with the Macedonian commit
tee in regard to the abduction of Miss
Ellen NJ Stone, the American missionary.
The note points out that while nothing is
positively known Of the composition Of
the brigand band, it was undoubtedly
formed in Turkey. Miss Stone was cap
tured near MehOmia, a short distance
from a Turkish post, and her captors
were seen October in the hills between
the Turkish villages of Eleschnitza and
Jakorunda, all these facts tending to
show that she has never left Turkish ter
TitOry-
BERLIN, Oct- 12.-According to reports
received here from Sofia the captors of
Miss Stone demand that the ransom shall
be deposited at Samakov. A Bulgarian
cattle drOver, who was an eyewitness of
the kidnapping has been arrested on sus-
Dicion Of completely in the outrage at the
Y instance Of the United States Consul.