The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-04

THE ATTENTION.
Devoted Much Time to Compan-
ion in Captivity.
Had but Little to Say About
Herself.

Miss Ellen NJ stone, the American
missionary to whose capture by Bull
garian brigands was devoted so much
newspaper space a year ago, lectured
al the First Methodist church last night
taking as her subject the story of her
captivity in the Balkan mountains in
Bulgaria. Considering the bad weather
the audience was large one. The
floor and balcony of the church were
filed with people who were curious to
see Miss Stone and hear her lecture.
The Introductory speech was made by
Mrs. Cornelia L. Adams of Topeka In
introducing Miss Stone Mrs. Adams said
that it gave her great pleasure TO intro
duce to a Topeka audience a woman
who was worth her weight in gold. She
referred to the large ransom that was
paid to the brigands by the United
States government for the release of
Miss Stone.
Miss stones powers as a lecturer and
her ability to please an audience are
remarka Bile. She talks duently and at
great length going into the remotest
details of her subject and describing
things with such realism that her audi
ence is transferred to the place of ac-
ton. Her faculty for details IS remark
able and It is not often that she does
not hold the absolute attention of her
audience. This fact was we'll illustrated
last night by an incident that was not
on the programme.
MIS- Jennie SOutnWOfIH OIL Gd1ldS-
Texas, was in the audience, accom-
panied by her husband. She was sud
denly taken with a fainting spell in the
midst of Miss Stones lecture and had
to be carried from the church to the
entrance where she was revived by the
aid of a flask of liquor and physician
who was summoned Immediately Il
was at first thought by some that Miss
Stones vivid description Of the horrors
Of her captivity had something to DO
T4-ff faiTfirlpr
but it was afterWaFd explained that
Mrs. Southworth was subject to such
spells.
When Mrs. Southworth tainted much
excitement was created among the pe0-
pie in the audience but it did not
trouble Miss Stone.
She had become warmed to her sub
ject and nothing could stop her. Sine
proceeded with the lecture and it was
not long before she had the undivided
attention of the audience, which listened
with bated breath to her story Of how
While travelling from one town to an
other on horseback she and a party OF
friends were surrounded and captured
by a band Of Bulgarian brigands, how
a man was killed in cold blood before
their very eyes. how she and Mrs Tsllka
We're chosen as the persons to be held
for ransom. and the rest of the party
were liberated. how they We're dragged
uD hill and down dale through thickets
and strea ms to the place in the noun
tains where they We're imprisoned, how
they suffered untold agony While there.
expecting death at almost any time. and
how they We're finally released after the
ransom had been paid. All this was very
thrilling, and on account of Miss stones
ability to readily suit her voice and
action to the subject of which she was
speaking it made story which will be
remembered for long time by those
who heard it told last night
Miss Stone should have been an
actress A time d11r51p who'll.