The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-07
Abduction of Miss Ellen Stone and
the Amount Of Ransom De-
manded Brought toAttention Of
Church People
POPULAR SUBSCRIPTION
is THE ONLY MEANS
The United States Government is
Not Able to Pay the Money De-
manded but Will Likely REIN
burSe Contributors and Settle
With Turkey Later

The case of Miss Ellen Stone, the
missionary Of the American Board who
has been abducted by brigands in the
Balkan Mountains, was brought to the
attention of Worcester Congregational
lists at the church services last night.
Worcester is urged to do it's part in
raising the $4,000 ransom, in default
of the receipts of which by tomorrow
the brigands threaten to kill Miss
Stone The prudential committee of
the American Board, of which G.
Henry Whitcomb of this city is a
member, has the matter in charge,
The following telegram was received
by Mr. Whitcomb about 6 o'clock last
night:
Boston-"Per interview with
President Roosevelt shows payment of
ransom necessary-to save Miss Stones
life. Committee a unit in urging a popu-
lar subscription. Churches here at work
Notify Worcester churches of differ
ent denominations Immediately. Send
to Kidder, Peabody & Company, Bos-
ton. President Samuel b. Capen and
secretaries"
In the short time that was remain
ing Mir. Whitconb notified all the
churches he could.
AT PIEDMONT OHuICi, lheN. III VIII
ard Scott explained the circumstances
at some length and urged his congre-
cation to do it's share in raising the
ransom
Rev DR.. A. 2. Conrad did the same
from the pulpit of Old South Church.
Rev. DR.. Samuel H. Virgin stated the
situation, at plymouth Church. and
Rev. DR.. Arthur w. Alderman at
Union Church.
No collections were taken for the
purpose but it was left to individuals
to give what they would.
Kinnicutt & Dewitt will receive con-
tributions here until noon today or
they may be sent directly to Kidder,
Peabody & Company Boston.
Miss Stone is well known in Worces-
ter Mrs Walter Clissold, IL Dread
Street, is her own cousin and Alfred
j. Cumming, with the Ware, Pratt Co.
is an intimate friend. Many other per-
sons in the city are acquainted with
her.
The case is a very peculiar one.
There is no surety that Miss Stone will
be given up on the payment of the
ransom or that she will be murdered if
the ransom is not paid promptly.
There is some doubt as to whether the
abductors are brigands pure and sim
pie or emissaries of the Sultan of Tur-
key.
Some years ago the American College
of the A. B. c. F. NJ. at Harpoot, Tur-
KEY was destroyed by Turks The
United States government took a hand
in tbe game and recently the Turkish
government was compelled to settle to
the amount of some $4,000 or 100000
If was suggested last night by Rev
DR.. Scott that perhaps the Sultan was
about to recover the amount of the
damage out of Miss Stones ransom
DIR Scott said however, that he
thought it was necessary to raise the
ransom now and talk it over with the
Turkish government afterward.
II is the general impression that the
contributors will eventually be reim-
bursed though the United States gov
eminent, either by claim ON turkey
or by special Appropriation from Con
gress. As the matter stands now the
burden rests entirely upon individuals.
The constitution prevents the govern
ment from paying the ransom and the
charter of the American Board would
hardly allow it to apply so large a part
of its funds for this purpose.
DR.. Scott said that he knew OF one
check for $3.50 contributed and there
were several other large contributors
IRON, piedmont and Old South and
other churches. These gifts were near
Nv all made before the special appeal
last night.
from the committee it is doubtful
whether the matter would have been
presented in any of the churches. Most
Of the pastors thought that the re-
sponsibility rested upon individuals
rather than upon the churches and did
not intend to mention the case at all.
The response to the appeal from the
committee, however, was prompt and
hearty.