Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-16
THREE MONTHS IN CAPTIVITY
Miss Stone and Her Companion
 Still Held By Brigands.

No Case on Record Where Women Have Heretofore Been Held Captive so Lone-United States Cannot Ad- vance Money as Ransom-American
 Missionary Board for the Sake O. Precedent Refused to Advance Any. Sofia. Nov 3O.-On December 5, three months have elapsed since Miss Ellen M. Stone, the American missionary, and Mime TSilka, her companion, were Kidnapped by brigands ill the neigh borhood of BanOkO, in Macedonia. They have therefore been over ninety days in confinement, and it cannot be said that there is much prospect of their immediate relief. Although precedents can be cited where brig ands have held men for an even longer period, there is no case on record where women have so long been held captives. The average length of con finement is from six weeks to two months, but of course everything de pends upon circumstances and sur roundings. Many competent persons diplomatists and politicians are inclin- ed to criticise the American officials for the manner in which they have treated the incident from. the begin ming. Instead of following the well worn course taken by all European governments in such eventualitieS, policy was inaugurated ill Turkey which so far has proved failure. When d European subject is kidnap- ped in Turkey his embassy at once in forms the port that it will be held re- sponsible for his life and ransom, or ders that all military movements shall be stopped and in most cases Advances money for the payment of the ran som, the Turkish treasury rarely being ill a position to meet such call. The brigands always treat with a straw man," and as soon as an agreement is arrived at, the money is taken to a spot agreed upon, where the prisoners are also brought, and the amount of the ransom handed over.
 In virtue of it's constitution the United States government cannot either pay, or even advance money to- wards the ransom of any American citizen captured by brigands, and in the present case the American mission ary board decided to make no pay ment, for the sake of precedent. In- stead. however, of bringing extra pres sure to bear upon the porte to make 1t find the money, the United States officials determined that the bandits should be forced to relinquish their captiyes, and the Turkish and Bull garian governments urged to take a series of military measures, which threatened to bring about the deStruc- tiOn of both the Kidnapped ladies. At the last moment this policy was aban- doned and MT Dickinson, the diplo- matic agent of the United States at Sofia, was instructed to enter into ne- gotiations with the brigands This ac- tion is also criticised here, as it irri- tated the Bulgarian government by inn plying that the brigands were on Bull garlan territory, and, secondly, it was regarded as undignified as a represen- tatiye of government is not consid- eSed to be the proper person to treat with brigands. 1t is generally felt here that it would have been far wiser to use the missionaries as intermediates as not only were they on the spot. but they were, in fact first approached by the brigands.
 MT Dickinson had not received his credentials when he hurried off to SO- fla, and, therefore, had no official sta tus. Nevertheless, the goyernment promised him every assistance and 2. vigorous search was prosecuted along the frontier without any result. The Bulgarian government declared that the brigandS were not upon Bulgarian territory and suggested that MT Dick, inson would be following better course if he went to the Turkish from tier, where he could have more direct relations with the band. MT Dickin- son, however, remained in Sofia and succeeded in opening negotiations W;tls the brigands. It cannot be denied thar the Bulgarian government resented inc taclt disbelief jn their assurances. Which MT Dickinson's remaining in Bulgaria evidenced, and therefore, did not, perhaps, give him all the assist ance they might have done had he taken their advice and gone to the Turkish frontier.
 The attitude of the government of the principalfty is easily intelligible. They are afraid that they would be compromised if the presence of the band on Bulgarian territory is estab- lished. However, as already set forth. the attitude of the government did not prevent Mir Dickinson establishing re- lations with the band, but it would ap- pear that he did not make the most of AII0f SIX weeks spent in fruitless negotiations no prog ress has been made towards a settle ment On the contrary, these inconse- quent negotiations have tended to make the brigands. firmer in their de termination to insist upon the payment of the full amount of the ransom. al- though at one time some of the band were willing to accept 920,O00 (Turk- ish).
 MT Dickinson has returned to Con- stantinople to give the brigands time to reflect upon the possibility of the United States officials refusing to pay any ransom if the band does not, with in a certain date, accept the amount available. MT Dickinson will consult with Spencer Eddy, the United States charge d'affaires, on the advisability of presenting the brigands with an ul- timatum to this effect.
 There the matter stands, and it is evident that there is little prospect of an early solution of the problem.
 HEAVY FRESHET.