The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-11-05
BANDITS OF BULGARIA.
Conditions OF Miss Stones Cap
tivity Told by w. E, Curtis.
POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE CASE
Threatened war Between Turkey
and Bulgaria May He Hastcned by
the KIDNAPPING Incident - similar
Atrocities Caused Turko-Russinn
Wharf.-The Macedonian Problem.

Atrocities Caused Turko-Russian
Wharf.-The Macedonian Problem.
The Chicago Record. Herald prints a
special cable from its we'll known STAFF
correspondent, William Il. Curtis, now
In Bulgaria, which clearly and most
admirably sets forth all the complicat-
ed conditions underlying the remarka
Die case of Miss stone the American
missionary now in the hands OF Bull
garian or Macedonian brigands. Mr.
Curtis statement, written from Sofia,
is as follows:
The war which is threatened be-
tween Bulgaria and Turkey may be
FASTENED by the Stone incident. Mace
dOnia, or Roumcla, now q Turkish
province, formerly was part of Bull
garia. It's inhabitants. who are Chris
tians, are descended from the same
stock and have largely iutermarred
with the Bulgarans. They arc now
suffering from the prosecutions Of the
Turks
Similar Bulgarian atrocities caused
the Turko-Russian war Of 1871. BY
peace treaty the sultan granted TO the
Macedonians independence similar to
that enjoyed by the Bulgarians, but a
conference of European powers held
at Berlin restored the province to Tur-
, ,kay upon guarantees of the appoint
lhlnt OF Christian governor and re-
lief from persecution and excessive
taxation.
AS usual the sultan's promises remain
unfulhlled. The prosecutions are grow
ing worse, and murder, robbery and ra-
pine are continual. The cxasperated
Christians are preparing for retaliation.
and a revolution will tai place as soon
as conditions are favor 'e.
The so called Mace oman committee
of Bulgaria was organized for the pur-
pose of providing money and arms and
assisting in the preparations for an out
break.
The Macedonians are now well organ
ized. The peasants have guns conceal
ed and drill at night in the forests I'M
der Bulgarian officers. Almost every
citizen OF Bulgaria beSngs to the or
ganization and contributes literally to
the cause.
The government of Bulgaria encour-
ages the movement and has organized
a large army TO assist the Macedonians
when the revolution begins. Indirect en-
couragement and sympathy are extend
ed by Russia. which practically con
trolls the Bulgarian government.
Any unusual provocatlon is likely to
cause an outbreak. The Macedonian
committee is anxious to involve Turkey
anp the United States by means Of the
StdIne incident. 1t needs the ransom
money 10 buy ammunition.
The Macedonian committee is a part
of the national existence. Both support
ers and opponents of the government
unite in the movement hence the gov
ernment is powerless TO control or pun
ish the bandits. The Turks are equally
powerless, as the captors are Bulga-
rians The payment of the ransom,
therefore, is absolutely necessary.
The former officers of the committee
were deposed last summer because of
rascalty. The president, Boris Saraoif,
disappeared two days after the kidnap-
ing Of the missionary. His whereabouts
u uOl hnONhf DhN ht 10 btAiNNNh W ~
with Miss Stone.
Sarsoff is a notorious desperate. He
was recently acquitted of murder, al
though undoubtedly guilty, and has
been enga ged in n general system OF
blackmai to raise funds for the pro
posed revolution.
He has extorted money from hlgl
government officials and wealthy citl
zens by means of anonymous letters
threatening to abduct their children
The government is afraid to arrest hin
because the common people consider
him a great patriot.
The present officials of the Macedo
nlan revolutionary committee, who ar'
honorable men. abhor the kidnapping o
Miss Stone and publicly disavow sym
pathy with the brlgands.
Stoyan Mikhallovsky, the new presi
dent, is a highly respected literary maj
and poet. He recently published al
article denouncing the act and express
Ing regret lest It prejudice the Europe
an public against the movement 70
Macedonian independence.
All the communication that hav
been received from Miss Stone hav
been written in the Bulgarian Ian
guage, which proves that her captor
Are Bulgarians. If the latter were oi
binary bandits, they would be satisfie
with a small ransom, but the revolt
tlonary committee is in need OF a COZ
siderable sum of money.
The last case OF the kidnapping OF
foreigner occurred near the same place
The victim was an agent of the Bri
ish Bible society, and no politics wa
/ involved in the affair. He was detair
cd for three months and then ransom
ed for $4,000.
The Macedonian sympnthizers belleN
that If the full amount is paid they ca
communicate with the captors easll
The local organ Of the Macedonian cor
mittee published the news OF the ca
ture and named the amount OF the ra
som several days before the demal