The age-herald., 1902-02-26
Sends Message to Her Brother
 in Chelsea, Mass,
RECEIVED WARM WELCOME
Were Attired In Shepherds Clothes and Mme. Tsilka's Baby Was SwaddIed In Pieces of the
 Toughest of Material.

Boston, February 25-Ths first message frcm Mss Ellen M. StonS, the mission ary, to her family and friends was re- ceived tonight by her brother, Charles A. Stone, of Chelsea, Mass. The cablegram told of her release by the brigands and her warm welcome by Bulgarian friends in tho village of Strumitza. Prior to the receipt of this message MT. Stone re ceived a dispatch from Salonica from M. Gal giulo, first dragoman of the Ameri- can legation, as follows:
 Liberated Saturday night, village Ga- dishar, near Strumitza, where village Mayor led them o'clock Sunday Coming SaIonica tonight with House"
 Then came t7e long longed-for message from the absent daughter and sister. It read as follows:
 "Rsitovatz February 25. - Charles A. Stone, Chelsea, Mass: Freed, thank God, and well, after our captivity of nearly six months; Yesterday Mrs. Tsilka and her 7-weeks-old daughter Elena and l found ourselves left by our abductors near a village an hour distant from Strumitza"
 Warm WciCOn1c.
 For three hours we waited for dawn, then secured horses and came to this city. Kind hearted Bulgarian friends rushed from their houses as soon as they caught a glimpse of the strange appear ing travellers, took us in their arms from our horses with tears and smiles and words of welcome and led us into their house. Word was quickly sent to the friends engaged in their morning service at church and they came, old and young to greet. us. What thanksgiving to God for this proof of His faithfulness to an- swer their prayers; for all-even the little children-had never ceased to pray for us, their lost friends.
 Since that hour our time has been taken up with friends from the cities and surrounding villages who have brought us their heartfelt congratulations for our de- liverance. The Turkish government did not fail to question us as to our expe- riences The governor of the city with his suite called this morning and again this afternoon after the arrival of Dr. House and his son from Salonica, accompanied
 
 American embassy at Constantinople. The first three have come to accompany us to Salonica tom orrow where MT. Tsilka awaits his long lost wife and their baby They have brought me bundle of letters from mother and my brothers and dearest | friends. Thus with unspeakable grati- tude to God and all friends who by pray CTS and gifts have helped to free us. we begin our life of freedom. Your sister,
 (SigneO ELLEN M. STONE"
 M. Tsika Suspected.
 Strumitza, Macedonia, February 24-M Tsiika, husband of Mme Tsilka, Miss Stones companion in captivity went to the railroad station at Salonika in the hope of accompanying the party of M. Garguilo, dragoman of the American le- gation, to this place, but the Turkish au- thorities refused him permission to do so, declaring they suspected him of conniv- ing at the capture of Miss Stone.
 Miss Stone and Mime. Tsilka are quar- tered at the residence of M Kimoff. a Protestant pastor where they greeted M Garguilo and MT. House. the missionary with considerable emotion. Here they presented Mme Tsilka's baby and the man who had found them on the moun- tains at Gradachor to M. Garguilo and MT. House.
 During the last fortnight of their cap tivfty the ladies have been travelling in the mountains. They were hidden in the daytime and were hurried along at night blindfolded and on horseback. Upon one occasion Miss Stones horse fell, and she was thrown to the ground but esce ped with badly bruised knee.
 At Strumitza the ladies have been busily engaged in making dresses for themselves and for the baby. When they were found they were clad in native costumes and shepherds cloaks. The baby had no proper clothes, but was swaddled in pieces of rough material such as the mountaineers use for leggings. The baby has not suffered from the yigors of inc winter.