Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-04-05
With Brigand Csptors.

Miss Ellen NJ. Stone. the American
missionary. until recently held captive
by brigands~is now in Constantlnople.
Miss ste ne and Nine. Tslika, her COM
paniOn, are In excellent health.
A. A. Gargiulo, the First Dragoman
of the United States Legation, says the
brlgands called Nine. Tsilka's baby
.Kismetcha. or Luck Child" alleging
that she brought them luck.
The following account Of the eaptiv-
ity Of Miss Stone has been obtained.
some of the information having been
secured from accomplices of the bri-
gands.
After the capture Of the missionaries
near BauskO September last, the bril-
gands fastened across the boundary
and established themselves on the
mountain of Gueltepe. in the Elledere
district, Bulgaria, where the whole
population were in sympathy with the
enterprise, this fact enabling the band
to live comfortably and safely and to
keep in touch with the outside world.
While awaiting the result Of their eff
forts to secure the ransom the brigands
drew their supplies from the adjacent
village of Ledjuma. Feeling perfectly
secure the members of the band used
to show themselves openly in neighbor-
ing villages until they were warned by
their local adherents to be more care
full. The prisoners. however, were jeal.
ously secluded.
When G. NJ. Dickinson, United States
Consul General at Constantinople, ar
rived in Sofia early in October last and
disclosed to the authorities the where
abouts of Miss Stones captOrs the re-
suit was nearly disastrous to the pris-
Oners. The Bulgarian Government, ILL
advised. pushed troops to the vicinity
of Gueltepe, forcing the brigands to
break off negotiations, and the band
changed Its quarters to Kilo.
The cold weather male travel in the
mountains a dreadful ordeal for Miss
Stone and Nine. TsilRa, encountered
as they We're with the latter's infant.
Every change Of camp occurred at
night. The mountain roads frequently
were almost impossible, often being
deep in snow. The brigands treated
their capcives as kindly as the circum.
stances permitted but the food supply
was precariOus, though the ladies re-
ceived the best the inhospitable region
afforded. ,,. ..
The strain and suspense equaled the
Physical hardships. The captives at
70 time knew their whereabouts, the
brigands always telling them that they
were not in Bulgaria, and they We're In
constant fear Of an attack by the
troops. who at times were close upon
the trail of the band. An equal cause
of anxiety was the baby, which it was
feared would die from exposure.
Not until November 2 did the Amer
lean emissaries come in touch with the
band, which then was established In
cave near Dubnitza, but fear of the
troops forced the brigands to another
fight. This was made In a binding
snowstOrm, which covered the tracks
Of the outlaws, but caused bitter suf-
ferings to the captives. ...
After this the brigands succeeded in
completely eluding the authorities, and
toward the end of November, by long
circuit, they succeeded in returning to
their old haunts in the Eledere dis
trict. They then caused to be circu-
lated q report that the captives were
dead, and from that time managed to
keep Miss Stone and Nine. Tsilka safe
ly under cover until the actual release
of the captives took place.