The age-herald., 1902-02-24
News Received by the American
 Consul General
CABLEGRAM CONFIRMS II
Nobody Was Present to Receive Cap tlves as Brigands Had Given No Indication of Where They Pro-
 posed to Release Them.

who with Mime. Tsilka was captured by brigands in the district of Salonika, Sep sember 8 last, has been released and ar- rived at Strumitza, Macedonia. at 3 o'clock this morning. Nobody was at Strumitza to meet Miss Stone as the brigands had given no indication where they proposed to release the prisoners. Mme Tsilka and her baby were also released at the same time They are all well. Miss Stone immediately made her self known to the authorities at Strumit- ga.
 The first news of Miss Stones release was contained in a telegram received by MT. Dickinson. the American consul gen eral at Constantinople, from the Ameri- can vice consul at Salonika.
 The telegram gives no details of the re- lease. As Strumitza is near the Salonilka- Uskub Railroad, Miss Stone will proceed to Salonika without delay.
 News Confirmed.
 Moston, February 2s.-Senator Barton of the American board has received the following cablegram confirmatory of the Associated Press dispatch announcing the release of Miss Stone. It was dated Sa- lonka and is unsigned:
 Both Miss Stone and Mime. Tsilka and
  physical condition and good spirits
 Will Never DivuIge It..
 London, February A.-Cabling from Constantinople. the correspondent of the Daily Chronicle says he understands that owing to the necessity of protecting the innocent persons who assisted them, the American delegates will never divulge where and how the ransom money for the release of Miss Stone was paid. The correspondent learns however, that the ruse of filling the money in bags with lead after the ransom had been paid, with view of making it appear that the mission to pay the ransom had failed. was completely successful. It is practic ally certain that the ransom money goes to the Macedonia committee.
 Miss Stone, continues the correspondent, Is certainly innocent of any knowledge of the plot to kidnap her. but strong sus- pioions are entertained about some Bull garians who accompanied her party or remained behind.
 Why Miss Stone Was Captured. New York February 23.-Spencer Eddy. first secretary of the United States lega- tion at Constantinople, who had charge of the negotiations for the release of Miss Ellen M. Stone and Mrs. Tslka, arrived here today on the Kron Prinz Wilhelm. In an interview he said the brgands cap tured the American rather than any other missionary because they believed the Americans had the most money and would be likely to pay the ransom
 Did the brigands want the money for theHlselves?' MT. Eddy was asked
 No, they did not, and that is where the people in America do not understand this case. It is entirely a political matter and all the people in Macedonia are in sympathy with the kidnapping for they believe 1t is a step toward freeing Mace donia from Turkish rule. the same as Bulgaria has been, and the money they demanded ($100,00O was intended for the Macedonian cause.
 Wanted to Attract Attention.
 'If we had been dealing with the pro- fessional brigands who wanted money pure and simple, instead Of the political ones Miss Stone would have been re- leased long ago"
 Do the Macedorians have any feeling of enmity towards the missIonaries?" "No. They are rather friendly to them than otherwise They desired to attract the attention of the world to their cause and incidentally to get some much-needed money. l have every reason to believe they have given Miss Stone and her com panion in captivity the very best of treat ment When Mrs. Tsilkas baby was born she received the kindest of treatment from all we can learn.
 T have had five letters from Miss Stone. written in BClgarisn so her captors could read them. and they were master pieces in cleverness in diplomacy Miss Stone is a very courageous woman
 Won Turkey attempt 10 punish the ringleaders?'
 Turkey will have a problem on her hands if she does, for the Macedonians have risen up as one man in their deter animation to be freed from Turkey, and this Kidnapping of two American mission aries may be called Chapter I in their plan for liberty"
 All Are Safe.
 Boston, February 23.-Dr. Judson Smith, one of the secretaries of the American board, called at the residence of Mrs. Benjamin F. Stone, mother of Ellen M Stone the missionary, in Chelsea this aft ernoon, bringing cablegram dated Sa- lonica, February "A. containing the one word, .'Safe," signed Haskell"
 pr. Smith understands this dispatch to indicate that Miss Stone, Mime. Tsilka and the latter's baby, have been delivered into the hands of the American representatives at Seres Macedonia. The cablegram Is from Edward B. Haskell, one of the mis- sionaries of the American board stationed ct Salonica.
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