The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-08
troops guarding the track and bridges
TRYING FOR A REELECTION

Constantinop1e, Oct S-Mr Haskell,
the American missionary at Samokoff,
Bulgaria. is opening negotiations with
the brigands with the view of reducing
the amount of the ransom demanded
for the release of Miss Stone.
MONEY COMING
Boston, Oct. S.-Nearly half the
money needed to ransom Miss Ellen
M. Stone the missionary, from the Bull
garian brigandS has been placed in the
hands of Kidder, Peabody & Co. Tie
exact figures at midnight were $45, ,543. 40
cash and $1,000 in pledges OF this
department to be forwarded to its con-
sular agent at the place where it can
be used most expeditiously. Members
of the firm, W hen informed of the AS
sociated Press cablegram from London
to the effect that. Vienna adVices indi-
Gated there would be a months extern
sion of time in which to pay the ran
som, said the forwarding of money
would not be delayed in the least
During the afternoons the officials of
the American board in charge of Con
gregational missions met informally
Nothing was talked of except Miss
Stone and the matter of the ransom
The officials personally contributed to
the ransom but as officials they took
the position they have maintained all
along that it would be inadViSa BILE for
them as a mission board, to pay a ran
som-this for the reason that it would
be putting a premium on brigandage
that must in the end make missionary
work in wild and rough countries more
difficult and possibly impracticable.
After this meeting it was officially
given out that the state department at
Washington had agreed tc take full
charge of the delivery of the ransom
to the briganGs. If news comes that
Miss Stone still lives. or until the news
of her death is received, collections for
the ransom will continue to be made.
ABDUCTED UNDER ORDERS.
o TN-,sI TS<I0 I,
published the following dispatch from
Vienna:
Mr.. Dickinson and the director of the
American mission had a long audience
with Prince Ferdinand at Sofia. There
is no doubt that Miss Stone was abb
Quoted under orders from the Macedon-
ian committee"
WHAT BRIGANDS WILL DO.
Cleveland, O., Oct. 8-"If the ransom
of Miss Stone is not paid 1 frnnly be-
lieve her head will be set upon pike
pole in the nearest village said e. t.
Sweeney. of Columbus, Ind. former
consul general to Turkey, today. Con-
tinuing, Mr. Sweeney said:
Il think the kidnapping of Miss Stone
was done for political purposes. Her
captors wish the United States to seek
revenge upon Turkey. True to their
promise, the brigands will release Miss
Stone if her ransom is paid If not
they will cut a finger off and send it to
her friends; then an ear, and finally
her head will be put upon a pike pole
in some little village of Turkey.
Il know them, know their methods of
opera ting, and know their history. [
have had numerous experiences with
them and whatever may be their
faults, they are honorable men as far
as their words co.
TIME EXTENDED ONE MONTH.
London, Oct. S.-As'fG is reported from
Sofia" says a dispatch from Vienna, 70
the Daily Express, that United States
Consul Dickinson and an envoy of the
missionary society arrived there Satur-
day intending to follow up Miss Stone.
the abducted missionary, and to deposit
a portion of the ransom. The brigands
have extended the time for payment
one month"