The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-22
BRIGANDS OF THE BALKAN
By Whom Miss Stone. the American Mission
ary. Was Captured.
(From Leslie's Weekly

The entire Christian world has been
interested in the fate of Miss Ellen NJ.
Stone, the American missionary. who
was captured by brigands in the noun
tains of European Turkey on Septem-
Der Sd and held for a ransom Of $4,000.
At the time of the capture Miss Stone
was on her way from Bansko, Mace
donia, where she had been holding a
summer school for Bible workers, to
Djumiak, half days journey.
Other members of the party We're six
students from the collegiate institute at
Samokov, three or four Bulgarian
teachers, Mr.. and Mrs. Tsilka. who mad
spent several years in America. and Mrs
Coshera. On the afternoon of the day
named. as they We're resting in the noun
tains, a party Of thirty or forty armed
men suddenly surrounded them and
ordered the party to proceed up the
mountain side After going short dis
lance the prisoners were halted and all
stripped Of their watches, money, and
other valuables. Then all. with the ex-
ception Of Miss Stone and Mrs. Tsilka,
We're set free. Word was then sent by
the brigands to Sanlokov that unless the
sum of $4,000 was paid into their hands
by October 5, Miss Stone would be put
to death.
Strenuous efforts were made by Consul
General Dickinson at Sofia to reach and
rescue the imperiled women. but all in
vain. Our state department also took
prompt and vigorous measures to the
same end but this effort was also uasuc-
cessful. An appeal was made finally to
the friends of missions in America and
elsewhere to subscribe the amount neces-
sary to secure Miss Stones release. A
prompt and generous response was made
to this request and over half the sum
demanded had been raised by October s,
when it was reported that the brigands
had given another months time.
The mountain Businesses of that Bal
kans in southwestern Europe. where this
outrage occurred. have been for years
the Ell Dorado of brigands. Macedonia
and Albania. made up of heterogeneous
population Of Serbs, Bulgars. Albanians
the descendants of the old Spartans
and the last corner of Europe remaining
under Turkish sovereignty-are still the
scenes of more crimes and horrors than
any other part of the Balkan peninsula.
Abduction, robbery and murder are
every day occurrences. and, instead of
being punished by the Turkish authori
ties, are encouraged.
The land, though naturally rich and
fertile, has been so grossly neglected
under Turkish rule that brigandage
seems universally conceded to pay much
better than agriculture. Christians are
forbidden, under severe penalties, to
carry arms, but they take to the hills
quite as naturally as the Turkish Kurds.
and travellers who would make their way
through these regions must take their
lives in their hands.
Only four years ago, Mr.. Gerasim D.
Kyrias, who established the school at
Kortcha, Albania, where Mrs. Tsilka.
the captured Bulgarian missionary, was
stationed, was taken prisoner by the
brigands, who mistook him for a wealthy
merchant for whom they were lying in
wait When they learned that their cap
tive was connected with British society
they refused to release him, expecting
a large ransom would be paid for him.
Then followed four months of indie
soribable dangers and sufferings in his
wanderngs and hidings with the high
waymen. Untiring efforts, in the mean
time, We're made by Mr.. Kyrias's friends
for his release. At length the brigands
accepted the terms offered them-about
one-fourth the exorbitant sum which
they at first named and the captive
was released.
The only time that the Ottoman gov
eminent rouses into activity Is when
some high Turkish official or opulent
tax-gatherer is hailed away and held for
ransom. In these cases pursuit of the
brigands is vigorously organized, and in
case of capture justice is summary. The
brigands are usually crucified and the
cross with it's CHASTITY burden set up in
the market-place as an object lesson for