The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-17

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two years ago. Although she remained
a member Of the Greek church she fire.
quently attended the Protestant worship
and sent her children to the Protestant
school. Young VaciIon was a bright
scholar and a fluent speaker, with con-
siderable literary talent, but was always
wild and restless. fond OF notoriety and
unreliable in character. He never earned
a dollar in his life, but went into poll
ties when a mere boy, and for several
years has lived of the contributions Ior
Macedonian freedom. He is a popular
cafe orator writes pamphlets in support
Of the Macedonian cause, and is an active
and effective ali agitator.
Last spring. after the reorganization Of
the Macedonian committee, he called up
on Mr.. Clark, superintendent of the mis-
sion at Samakoff. and requested a con-
tribution for the Macedonian cause. Mr..
Clark explained that while his sympathy
thies were with the Macedonians in their
struggle for liberty, it would be impoIi-
tic, and unwise for foreigners, especially
for missionaries, to subscribe to political
funds. They were works in Turkey, as
well as in Bulgaria, ana must keep on
terms with the sultan. Vacioff was not
satisfied with this explanation, and short
ly after his visit Mr. Clark received a
written warning that unless a prompt
contribution was made to the Macedonian
cause the missionaries would regret it.
This threat was followed by an incendiary
fire and the destruction of a barn at
tached TO the mission establishment Mr.
Clark then received another letter from
Nacilon saying that the barn caught fire
from an electric spark, and that another
would soon fan in the same neighborhood
unless $500 was Immediately forthcom-
ing. No notice was taken OF this threat
except to solicit police protection and
nothing happened.
During the summer, however. the mis-
sionaries frequently heard of threats
made by him and by others associated
with him in the Macedonian cause, and
NacilOff frequently remarked that the
missionaries would soon be compelled to
pay large sum into the treasury whether
they wanted to or not. He was the first
10 learn of the capture of Miss Stone;
he was the first TO announce that Sl10,-
900 was the sum fixed for her ransom,
and he was identified as the man who
threw the letters from Miss Stone into the
window Of Mr.. HaskeHs residence.
Other circumstantiaI evidence connects
him with the crime, and there is not the
slightest doubt that he is in communica-
ton with the bandits, if he has not act
-arf IA.
Naciion was arrested by the police early
in September, upon information furnished
by the missionaries, but was released
after few days without the notice to
the American consul general or to his
accusers. The government officials ex-
planned that they could not hold him any
longer because Of lack Of evidence. which
was a mere preteXt. as plenty of pris-
oners now in jails of Bulgaria viii testi-
fy. The real reason of his release was
a fear of retaliation from members of
the Macedonian committee, which is act |
ually stronger than the government.
It is believed that the actual leader Of |
the bandits who captured Miss Stone was |
Ivan Zandanski, former keeper of the |
Bulgaria penitentiary, who resides at |
Lubuitza, little town near the scene of /
the incident He is also active with the 4
movement, is associated with I
Vaciloff, and is a notorious desperate. /
lie is known to have followed Miss Stone /
during the summer on several of her 1
journeys, and usually appeared wherever |
she was. This was noticed and comment /
ed upon without suspicion at the time. /
and is remembered as of significance /
since the outrage. Shortly before the kid T.
mapping ZanGanski started ostensibIy up /
on an expedition to visit and organize /
the Bulgarians sympathizers on the Tur-
lkish side of the boundary in the Balkan
and took with him twenty or
more guns from lie arsenal of the Mace
DOMAIN committee at Samakoff lie re-
turned on the 18th of October, surren-
dered the guns to their proper custodian,
and reported that he had met with a
great success. It is current gossip among
the peasants in that part of the country
that he was the leader of the band, and
he has actually been identified by several /
Of Miss Stones companions. He was also
arrested and released for want of evil
dence, without consulting the mission
aries of the United States consul general.
George Toderoff, a mule driver. who
was in charge Of the animals used by Miss
Stones party. and acted as their guide,
is also a member of the Macedonian COM
mittee. and is believed to be implicated.
Upon his return from the mountains he
told several conflicting stories concern
ing the event. which caused his arrest
5ut he was also released by the order
Of the government of Sofia because Of
supposed threats from Macedonian pa
triots. II is established by abundant evil
aence that a number of members of the
ocal Macedonian organization around
Samakoff disappeared the last OF August,
shortly before the capture, and have been
gradually returning TO their homes since
the middle of September. They claim to
have been engaged. like Zandanski. in
revolutionary bands in Mace
ionia. but the natives generally believe
That they composed the party Of brigands
that captured Miss Stone.
It is believed that she was taken to
sal Tepe. a wooded mountain near Lub-
saza. although bcfgfs THIS letter is pub
fshed all Tie facts may be known Con-
sul general Dickinson has been working
with great energy and zeal TO secure evil
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