Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1902-03-27
BANDITS OF BULGARIA,
Conditions Of Miss Stones Caps
tivity Told by w. E. Curtis.
POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE CASE

Threatened War Between turkey
and Bulgaria Maybe fastened by
the Kidnapping Incident - Similar
Atrocities Caused Turko-Russian
Wharf.-The Macedonian Problem.
The Chicago Record-Hera1d prints a
special cable from it's well known staff
correspondent, William e. Curtis, now
in Bulgaria, which clearly and most
admirably sets forth all the complicat-
ed conditions underlying the remarka-
BILE case of Miss Stone, the American
missionary now I'll the hands Of Bull
garian or Macedonian b~rigands. Mr..
Curtis statement, written from Sofia,
Is as follows:
The war which is threatened be-
tween Bulgaria and Turkey. may be
FASTENED by the Stone incident. Mace
donia, or Roumelia, now a Turkish
province, formerly was a part Of Bull
garia. Its Inhabitants, who are Chris
tians, are descended from the same
stock and have largely i~ntermarried
with the Bulgarians. They, + o
suffering from the prosecutions ofethe
Turks.
Similar Bulgarian atrocities caused
the Turko-Russiah war of 1877. By
peace~treaty- the sultan granted to the
Macedonians independence similar to
that enjoyed by the. Bulgarians, but a.
conference Of European powers held
at Berlin restored the province to Tur-
key upon guarantees of b appoint
ment. of a Christian governor and re-
lief from persecution and excessive
taxation.
AS usual the su1tan's promises remain
unfulf11led. The prosecutions are grow
ing worse, and murder, robbery and ra-
pine are continual. The exasperated
Christians are preparing fer retaliation,
and a revolution will take place as soon
as conditions are favorable.
The so called Macedonian committee
of Bulgaria "a organized for the pur-
pose of providing money and arms and
assisting in the preparations for an out
break.
The Macedonians are now well organ-
lied. The peasants nave guns conceal
ed and drill at night in the forests I'M
der Bulgarian officers. Almost every
citizen of Bulgaria belongs to the or
RdIILdllOA- dAO COAII1OuLCS AUOIdAy ~
b aus
The government Of Bulgaria encour-
ages the movement and has organized
a large army to assist the Macedonians
when the revolution begins. Indirect en-
enlargement and sympathy are extend
ed by Russia, which practically con
trolls the Bulgarian government.
Any unusual provocation Is likely to
cause an outbreak. The Macedonian
committee is anxious to involve Turkey
and the United States by means Of the
Stone incident. It needs the ransom
money to buy ammunition.
, The Macedonian committee is a part
Of the national existence. Both support
ers and opponents Of the government
unite in the movement, hence the gov
eminent is poWerless to control or pun
ish the bandits. The Turks are equally
powerless, as the captorS are Bulga-
rians. The payment of the ransom,
therefore, is absolutely necessary.
; The former officers of the committee
were deposed last summer because of
r~ascality. The president, Boris Saraof,
disappeared two days after the kidnap-
ing Of the missionary. His whereabouts
- AOL hAOWA, jul Tx 46 OGA4CfSo ~ 0C
with Miss Stone.
Saraof is a notorious desperado. He
was recently acquitted of murder, al
though undoubtedly guilty, and has
been engaged in a general system #
blackmai1 to raise funds for the pro-
posed revolution.
He has extorted money from high
government officials and wealthy citi.
zens by means of anonymous letters
threatening to abduct their children.
The government Is afraid to arrest him
because the common people consider
him a great patriot.
The present officials Of the Macedo-
MAN revolutionary committee, who are
honorable men, abhor the kidnapping OF
Miss Stone and publicly disayow sym
] pathy with the brigands.
Slogan Mikhailovsky, the new presi
dent, is a highly respected literary mar
and poet. He recently published 81
article denouncing the act and express
Ing regret lest it prejudice the Europe
an public against the movement fol
Macedonian independence.
ALI the communications that haV'
been received from Miss Stone hav'
been written in the Bulgarian Ian
! guage, which proves that her captor1
are Bulgarians. If the latter were or
binary bandits, they would be satisfies
with a small ransom, but the revolu
tionary committee is in need of a con
siderable sum Of money.
The last ase of the kidnapping Of
foreigner occurred near the same place
The victim was an agent of the Brit
ish Bible society, and no politics wa
involved in the affair. He was detain
ed for three months and then ransom
ed for $4,000.
The Macedonian sympathizers believ
| that If the full amount is paid they ca
communicate with the captors easil.
The local organ Of the Macedonian con
mittee published the news Of the cal