The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-30
CURTIS On BR|GANDS
Tells of the Release Of Miss
Stone.
BULGARIA IS WANING
Other Topics of the Bulgarian
Government.

Herald:
Long before this letter appears in print
yeu viii have received by cable the good
news that Miss Stone has been released
by the bandits who have held her since
The beginning OF September. demanding
"a ransom of $50 900, which VAS delivered
10 the leader 81 the brigands in advance
by committee consisting of Mr.. Gar
giulof chief dragoman and Interpreter Of
the United States legation at CONSTANT
nopie; Rev John Henry House, d. D..
formerly of PainsvilIe Ohio. and for
twenty-five years in charge of the mis-
sion work Of the American board at Mac
ldonia with headquarters at Salonica and
W. W PeeJ. treasurer Of the Bible So
ciety and missionary board at CONSTANT
nople. These gentlemen managed the bus
mess with great skill and tact under
the direction OF Mr. I,eishman. United
States minister at Constantinople.
IT Mr Leishman had been at his post
Of duty at the time Miss Stone was cap
iured she would have been released sew
eral months ago but he was spending
pleasant days in Paris and London. and
even made "A visit TO the United States.
leaving the business OF The embassy in
charge of Spencer Eddy. his secretary Of
legation. and Consul General Dickinson.
Mr.. Dickinson is a gentleman of ability
and Integrity. and has the entire conf
dence OF the American colony in Constan-
tinople. but from the beginning of the
negotiations in behalf OF Miss Stone he
adopted the policy which was calculated
10 prevent instead of secure her release.
He seems to have imagined that diplom-
acy could solve the problem, and instead
OF dealing with the brigands he endeavor-
ed to compel the Bulgarian government
to interfere, when he should have known
that it was absolutely powerless to do
so. MIR. Dickinson claims to have been
acting under Instructions from the De
nartment of State at Washington but if
so, the Department was ignorant Of the
situation and circumstances and Mr. Die
knson was the only man upon whom
II could rely for informa ton.
In November last, having fully demon
strated his inability to deal with the case,
Mr.. Dickinson was recalled from Bull
garia and Nj Leishman was ordered back
30 his post Of duty He arrived al Con-
stantinople about the first of January.
and. after informing himself as 10 the
situation. proceeded to undertake Miss
Stones release by the application of bus
mess methods and common sense He
abandoned his diplomatic controversy and
recognizing that the officials of the Bull
garian government was impotent. endeav-
ored to open communication directly with
the brigands MT Leishman has had long
experience with large business affairs.
company. and being at one time its gen
eraI manager at Pittsblrg. He adopted
in this ease the same methods that he
would use in the iron business.
DIR. Peet. treasurer Of the American
Bible Society. was the custodian of the
fund contributed by citizens Of the United
States for the ransom of Miss Stone and
it amounted TO $4,000 Rev. DR.. House.
10 whom I have already alluded com
mands the confidence Of the people Of
Macedonia to a degree beyond that of
any other American. and for that reason
Mr. Leishman selected him To negotiate
with the hrigands. Mr.. Garglulo has
been chief drag CONAN Of the United States
legation at Constantinople for nearly thir-
~ wears. and is more familiar with the
methods and habits of the natives Of
Turkey than and other man whose duties
could be obtained. He is also upon fami-
liar terms with the officials and knows
how 20 handle both classes.
Mr. Leishman invited those three gen
ticmen 10 take charge OF the case. and
they went directly to the scene OF Miss
stones capture Mr. Dickinson should
have gone last September to conduct ne
gotiations Instead Of trying 10 DO so at
. distance of two days travel.
on the 18th az January Dr. House sue
ceeded ip opening communications with
Miss Stone from town called Raziog
She wrote that she was well and kindly
treated and that the alarming reports
about Mrs Tsfka and herself We're mn
founded But the hriga nds would not re-
lease her except upon the payment Of
So on which they were aware had been
raised for fine ransom. and was I'm the
hands OF the missiouaries at CONSTANT
nople They knew 20 81 dollar the extent
If the funds raised and would nos listen
e. any proposition except the payment nj
the amount They had been I'm constant
communication with friends at Sofa and
elsewhere. who kept them advised OF all
Che movements of oar government and
af Nr. Dickinson. and were familiar with
The newspaper publications concerning
the case iu tire United States They de-
-i0eG to surrender Miss Stone in advance
IF payment and insisted that the money
should oe paid 1rst
ar Leishman investigated the proce-
aents and found that this had always