Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-10-15
THE BRICANDS
THREATEN DEATH
Nine. TslIka Anxious to Have
Their Pursuit Stopped.
In UNDERGROUND RETREAT
No One Has Appeared at samokoR TO
Demand the Ransom Money or
Tell OF Captives' Fate.

Sofia. Bulgaria, Oct. l5,--The parents
Of Nine. Tsilka, the Bulgarian teacher
who was captured by brigands with
Miss Ellen NJ. Stone, the American mis-
sionary, have received another letter
from their daughter urging the step al
ready taken, namely, stopping the mill
tary pursuit, because the brlgands
threaten the prisoners with immediate
death in the event OF danger TO them
selves The writer says that she and
Miss Stone are hidden In subter-
ranean retreat and are treated courte-
ously. She also says the only means Of
securing their release Is to pay the
ransom demanded.
NO DEMAND FOR RANSOM.
Sofia, oct. l5.--Although the time
fixed by the brigands who abducted
Miss Ellen NJ Stone, the American mis-
sionary, for the payment OF the ran
som demanded. expired a week ago no
one has appeared at Samakoff 10 claim
the money or to announce the fate Of
the captive. IL is now feared that the
band has dissolved, but Miss Stone Is
kept under surveillance al some dis
lance from the frontier. This is due to
snow and cold weather rendering the
mountains uninhabitable, The efforts
of the police 10 arrest Sarakoff, former
ly president OF the Macedonian COM
mittee. who Is suspected OF completely
in the kidnapping, are still unavailing.
The failure Is due to the sympathy OF
the inhabitants and local authorities.
LETTER FROM MISS STONE.
New York. oct. l5.--According to a
dispatch 10 the Journal and Advertiser
from sofia. further word has come from
MISS Stone. IN the following letter writ
ten 10 w. w. Piet. president OF the
Turkish mission. In Constantinople:
MY Honored Friend--I write to in
form you that on the Srd Of September
| was captured by a great number OF
armed men-some forty-as | travelled
from Bansko TO Diamaala. with about
twelve teachers, students and others.
They took with me for my compan-
ion Mrs. Catherine Tsilka, The reason
why they captured US Is for a ransom.
The price which they demand for US Is
q. 900 pounds, Turkish. which sum must
be paid IN gold. and this entirely with.
out the knowledge OF the Turkish and
Bulgarian governments. within tho
term OF eighteen days from today.
THE condition OF Mrs. Tsilka de-
cided the limit as she il TO give birth
TO child In three months.
we are pursued by Turkish army.
beg Dr. Haskell himself to go to Con-
stantinople and exert himself for the
payment OF the ransom at Samakon,
where men viii receive II on present.
Ing an order from me.
The men who captured us az first
showed courtesy and consideration TO-
ward us but now since Turkish soldiers
and bashi bazouks have begun to pur-
sue us and the ransom Is delayed our
condition is altogether changed.
Therefore ! beg you 20 hasten send
ing the ransom demanded and that az
energetlcaily as possible YOU viii pre-.
cent to the Turkish government that II
stop pursuit Of vs. b. soldiers and bashI
hazouks. otherwise We shall be killed
by the people IN whose hands we are.
pray you 10 communicate without de-
lay the contents OF this letter 90 the
REPRESENTATIVES, ~ the United States AZ
the porte and request his most serious
cooperation.
pray for us, We are al peace with
God.
with hearty salu,ations, your friend,
ELLEN NJ. STONE"