The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-05
fpetroit News-Trlbune.l

gands. in whose power the American
missionary. Miss Stone. and her COL
league. Nine. Tsilka, are held captives
The letter was delivered in Sofia on
Nov. Is last:
The American lady ought 70 thank
the God in whom she believes that she
IS with Balkan Tschelebis; this is,
the Mobiles of the Mountains.
The mountain noble is no common
murderer; he never soils his hands
with ordinary theft His mission is
TO fight the enemies Of freedom. SOL
dlers and gendarmes, also to avenge
treachery and punish refusal to obey
commands for ransom.
II the ransom isn't paid and Miss
Stone is killed, her friends may rest
assured that she viii die by the hand
OF gentleman. either by the leader Of
the noble band or by a person depu-
tiled by the chief TO carry out the
bands decision.
The Mobiles of the Mountains
wouldn't think of leaving the strange
lady, abandoned by her friends. to the
mercies Of the canaille. She will die
in a style BETTING the noble sentiments
OF her captors. No torture; no undue
violence. The Balkan schelebis pre-
Ter to dispatch their victim-really the
victim of parsimonious or treacherous
trlends-in his or her sleep, or by poi
son; but such msrciful intention cannot
always be carried out, the parties be-
ing too nervous or suspicious to per-
nit same. When open execution is re-
sorted to, a bullet or a dextrous knife
thrust usually is made TO forestall fur
Their sufferings.
But as the big chief Panzoi
Hilow-may his soul rest easily in
paradiSe-used to say: There are a
! hundred and one reasons why a ran
som cannot always be paid prompt
~" If that be so-and Panazoi HIow
certainly knew his business-why not
give the captive a chance to live and
the captor time to earn the money he
promised himself?
6 8 8
Our organization is on a military
footing. There are twelve of US. not
counting the guards and our servants,
OF course The latter are now used for
foraglng, horse tending and similar
work only. They must not steal any,
thlng aside from food, nor offer vio-
lence TO anybody. Of our heyducs.
several serve as spies and keep up
communication with Sofia; the rest
80 AAANS AAN OAA population IN SUD-
lection that might interfere with orr
plans. If it should be found necessary
10 take extreme measures, our heyducs
VIII prove very useful Most of them
are discharged soldiers and all are
devil. N --O'
Inc guard is under harambascha
Sehe) and bajraktor (paymaster).
Tie latter could teach a LAWYER 81
! smart is he. If the Americans think
tney can buy US in bad coin. the bal
raktor viii quickly undeceive them
i he IS also our commissary general
and the American woman will testify
when released, that he always tried
| 10 procure for her the best the noun
! tains afford.
A0ong the Mobiles of the Mountains
| the American woman's honor is safe
! as they regard her like their owr
mother. When the Balkan TscheIebis
| Is on the road, he drops all thoughts
/ OF love-making. AS our song saws.
we know neither father nor mother
nor the wife. the dear one. The stilet,
wife" 0N'
Up TO now the chief prevented Al
! misdeeds on the part of the hevduc.
and kokoschars chicken thieves(: but
! whether he will be able TO keen the
band so well in hand if the ransom i.
much longer delayed is a question.
and. unlike those lowly fellows tn,
1ui6s, we always know exactly OF
Whom TO lay hands. No prisoner OF
! chance for US; they wouldn't be worth
the trouble and the expense, for thu
kind of war the Mobiles of the Noun.
talnS wage costs money and agar
money. Our chief read several book,
ana many reports before he decided OF
MISS Stone. He knew beforehand tina
the lady and her immediate friend,
are poor; but what of that when Mis-
Stone represents the weaIthiest clasi
OF the United States, the churchgoers
| They cannot allow her to die.
Investigations preliminary to tn,
capture of Miss Stone occupied man,
; months-the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. doe
nothing by halves-and, despite thu
many delays, We are sure of gettin,
the ransom. AS to the political o.
other consequences. on which some O.
the gazettes are harping, the MOBILES
After securing the American woman
and her companion-we didn't wan
the latter, but had to take her along
we placed them on pack horses in sad
dies SO constructed as to proven
either mishap or escape. The horse
hadn't worked for several DAVIS. anc
were especially well fed. II wo1Idn'
co TO mount the women on tired O.
otherWlse unfit beasts liable 10 stumbI.
or throw them. And accident 70 tn,
prisoners would spell disaster to OIL
hopes, and il they We're killed we would
De charged with their murder. for mel
Ike US are never credited with observ
ing the ordinary decencies of life. or 70
common sense either.
Naturally our first care was to OH
as much space between the prisoner
and the inhabited regions as possible
After the taking Of Miss Stone an
friend, we didn't draw rein for sever
hours, though the road necessitate,
the hardest kind of climbing. The pro
cession was headed by the haram
bascha. who kept his eye on the chick
en- thieves ordered TO give warning o
breaks in the road and other danger
threatening US. These outrunner
were unarmed. as is customary. /
either Of them had il in his heart Z
betray us he would have paid Wit
MS AAAC 4D4 SGt44 LD44tGS
signs to the enemy, leaving marks O,
the rocks. etc.
After the chief marched q detach
ment Of heyducs. followed By the paw
master. The chief came next, an
after him the American women, ridin
single file most OF the time. BY thei
sides walked two of the most truste
mobiles 10 guide the horses and guar
against surprises of any sort If III
band had been attacked. the chic
would have placed Miss Stone on hi
own horse. seating her before hin
while a second mounted noble woul
have taken care Of the ether woman
Behind the latter rode and walked tn
rest OF the Balkan schelebis. heyduc
bringing up the rear. This order Q
march is invariably observed.
II has this advantage. In case tn