The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-03-04
HISS STONES CAPTIVITY.
Her Experience in the Hands OF the
Brigands.

Sonstantinople. March Miss Ellen
Al. Stone, the American missionary, in
til recently held captive by briganLs,
arrived today from Salonica, and pro-
seeded to the United States legislation.
The following account of the captIvi-
~ of Miss Stone has been obtained by
the Associated Press from reliable
sources, some of the information hav-
ing been secured from accompIices Of
the brigands.
After the capture of the missionaries
near Bansko, September 3rd last, the
brigands fastened across the boundary
and established themselves on the
mountain of Gueltepe in the Elledere
district where the whole population
were in sympathy with the enterprise,
this fact enabling the band to live COM
fortably and safely and keep in touch
with the outside world. While await
ing the result of their efforts 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 Kamentca ard
neighboring villages until they were
warned by their local adherents to be
more careful. The prisoners, however.
we're jealousy secluded.
When c. NJ. Dickinson, United States
consul general at ConstantlnopIe, 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
advise6ly pushed troops to the vicinity
Of Gueltepe. forcing ihe brlgands to
break off negotiations, and the band
changed iits quarters 20 kilo. The cold
weather made travel in the mountains
a dreadful ordeal for Miss Stone and
Madame Tsilka, er.umbered as thew
were with the 1atter's infant. Every
change of camp occurred at night. The
mountain roads were frequently almost
npassable, being often deep in snow.
The brigands treated their caDtives
as kindly as the circumstances per-
mitted, but the food supply was neces-
sarily precarious, though the ladies
were given the best the fnhospitable
region afforded. The strain and sus-
pense eQualled the physical hardsh1ps.
The captives at no time knew their
whereabouts, the brigands always tell
ing them that they were not III Bull
garia and they were IN constant 1eal
Of an attack by the troops whom the
friendship of the natives was not always
able to prevent coming close upon the
trail Of the band. An equal case OF
anxiety was the baby. which 1t was
frequently feared would die from eA
posure. Not till November End did ths
American emissaries came in touch witt
the band which was then established
near Dubnitza: but fear of the troop:
forced the brigands 10 another flight
This was made in a binding snow
storm which covered the tracks Of thu
outlaws. but caused bitter suffering tt
the captives.
After this the brigands succeeded il
completely eluding the authorities. anC
toward the end of November by lonj
circuit. they succeeded in returning II
their old haunts in the Elledere dis
trict. They then caused to be circulate
report that the capt1ves We're dea'
and from that time manaSed TO kee
Miss Stone and Madame Tsilka safel.
under cover. until the actual release o
the cantiveS took place.