New-York tribune., 1902-04-29

THE MISSIONARY TELLS IN BROADWAY
TABERNACLE ABOUT HER CAPTURE
= AND RANSOM.

Miss Ellen NJ. Stone the American missionary
who was held for ransom by band of Bul-
earfan briEands for almost six months, deliV-
cred an interesting account Of her experiences
while in the hands Of The bandits at the Broad
way Tabernacle. Thrty-fourth-st.. last night
Nearly one thousand persons listened TO her and
5rterrupted her at several points with applause.
Miss Stone WAS self-contained throughout, and
smoke clearly and earnestly. The acoustics Of
the Tabernacle are poor however, and some OF
those in the back part Of the room missed some
Of her remarks She showed a number Of in
4erestine lantern slides of life in Bulgaria and
Turkey.
Miss stone told Of the capture Of herself and
marty Of young teachers. and how they were
compelled 10 ford mountain stream TO ne lea
10 a secluded spot in the mountains. In the
evening Miss stone and Nine. Tsilka who re-
1nained with her throughout her captivity were
led away from their friends. In the night the
l,rirands left the young teachers and Mr.. Tsilka
one t,y one until all had gone and in the morn
ing the partv found themselves free to so as
they pleased.
.aThe hriganGs busted themselves about our
trunks she said. and noticed that they
passed over the valuables and were locking Tor
food. They helped themselves 70 our chicken
and bread for they had had nothing 10 eat for
two days They had been following us during
that time more is the pity; they might have
been engaged in better work. All that night
we travelled. our friends notified the Turkish
Government as soon as they had gained thelr
freedom. hut the brigands had twenty-four
hours start In the morning we stopped at
wild place TO rest. and they gave US a woollen
rug that they must have stolen from one of our
teachers. We remained only for few moments,
and they started again.
This was kept UP throughout our captivity,
we resting Only at long intervals. Mrs. Tsilka
told me that she had taken her husbands money
and jerery. and that she had them in her
cheek believing that tce hrigands would search
The men and not the women. We had not yet
OWNED the reason for our capture. hut the
leader of the brigands came TO us and said:
. you have been taken for money. We shall hold
Won for a ransom What is the amount you
viii demand for US? I inquired. Never mind
shat he replied: we viii tell You in few
days We had time 10 notice the men about
us. They were fully armed with guns two rows
Of cartridges about their belts. daggers and
revolvers We were thrust into a little room
and three Of the brigands seated themselves be-
fore us. Then one took a piece of paper and
wrote something on ii and passed it 10 the sec
ond, who scrubbed a little and passed it to the
third, and returned il to the first. he said: We
have decided to ask for you $4,000 pounds
Turkish
THAT meant $4,000 We thought of the
rule Of the Missionary Society. that ransom
should be paid for any member taken into
captivity. and felt that. although the principle
was a good one case WAS almost hopeless
I said: If YOU think You c get money for us
you mistaken You should have taken d
lnillionaire's daughter. am daughter of the
people The leader came to Us later, command
ing that ] write q letter to the Turkish Gov
trnment asking that troops be withdrawn. be
Causa they endangered our lives. Then We
moved less frequently. and they told US our let
ter had had the desired effect. Twenty days
was the limit set, but extensions of time were
granted and latterly they became anxious and
worried considerably They fed well, be
cause, they said: You Were well when we took
YOU. and il is To our interest to keep you well
] believe that is the rule with brigdnds. because
money is deducted if the CaptiYes health IS
broken down. and if she dies there is no money
Tor them. I said You have taken US, and
the responsibility is yours and we ate spar
ingly.
.'Cn October % they acted strangely-were ex-
tremelv quiet. They gathered about US and
one took a revolver and 'hen cartridge ana
tested il. Another. who looked uglier than the
rest. said; why not use d dagger? We knew
moi whether the enQ would come al noon OF
sundoWn, hut for some reason our lives were
Shared believe that they began to fear for
themselves. and that they We're thankful men.
first when they accepted the money. and
und- when they got rid OF US on January 4
zTrc -Tc5llza-c lirrla daughter arrived and those
were anxious moments for the hTigandS. The
little baby almost worshipped by the bri-
r-ands and she could co with them what she
7,leased The night after she was born her
,nothar held a sort Of reception. and the bri-
seands came To pay their respects, and con
Tzratulate the mother. one fellow who had
family of children somewhere IN turkey took
the baby in his arms and fondled it Another
terrible looking Turk. more repulsiVe than the
yaet whose face was so black that it struck
,arror 10 our hearts when first il, asked
r1ermission to hold the baby, and would you
hnlieVe that he took il in his arms and rocked
himself 10 and fro. cooling the WhlleZ Then
he cautioned Us 70 take good care OF il and with
dew we were in captivity six months lacking
eight days"
TO REBTFLD SOUTH BEACH At ONCE