The Washington herald., 1912-02-26
'BANDITTI SWAYED
BY NEWBORN BABE
ellen N. Stone Describes Her
Captivity Among the Mace.
dOnian Brigands.

That Nine. Bakhmeteff, wife OF the
present Russian Ambassador to the
United States. was the first person TO get
into communication with Ellen NJ. Stone
IN the latter's captivity with the Mace
aonian bandits In 1901. was told by Miss
stoAe before 100 persons who listened
ittentively to her for two hours yester-
day afternoon at Wesley NJ. z. Chapel.
Fifth and F streets northwest. Miss
Stones capture and imprisonment in the
Macedonian mountain Businesses COM
prise one Of the most remarkable adven-
tures which ever befelI an American
woman. The congregation which heard
Miss Stone yesterday was composed
principally of members of the W. c. 7.
u, and was presided over by Mrs. Emma
Sanford Shelton, president of the Dis
trict w. c. T. Z. Of the District Of Co.
lumbia. Mrs. Margaret Dye Ellis.
national superintendent of legislation,
conducted the scriptural service.
That Miss Stones life was saved from
harm is due partly to the birth of a girl,
whose mother, Mrs. Zilka, was captured
with Miss Stone. The Macedonian super
stition, which prohibits any one from
hsrming a baby or its mother, was in
great measure responsible for many ac-
otherwise would not have received.
The message from Nine. Bakhmeteff
reached Miss Stone after the bandits hSd
driven them for weeks into. the noun
tain, and was unsigned, but told of the
great efforts being made to find the
bandits and ransom the captiyes. Nine
Bakhmeteff's husband was then repre-
senting Russia at Sofia in Bulgaria
Miss Stone told how her little caravan
proceeding from a newly established
mission school at Macedonia. was on its
way back to a town in Albania, when
they were surrounded by brigands, who
sprung on them while the caravan was
crossing wide and stony stream.
I'VE had no chance Of escape, no
chance to strike a blow in our defense,"
said Miss Stone. "A revolver shot
woud have meant a massacre We
were captured without a struggle. Later
/ knew IL was /. an American woman,
the brigands wanted. for they took Mrs
Zilka and me with them up a steep path,
not giving us time to breathe or rest.
For hours they pushed and pulled US in
to the dens Of those lonesome mountains,
the other persons in the caravan being
left far behind. I knew II was American
money they wanted, but did not imag-
Inc they would get any, so set myself
down for dead. That first day saw
other brigsnds pounding a captive with
the butt OF rife, saw them take him
into a thicket, and heard the awful
sound as they stabbed him to death with
bayonets-I cannot forget it"
Miss Stone told of the days OF waiting
without hearing a word from the outer
world, how the brigands kept ever on
the move, disgusting the two women in
largs cloaks and hoods. rleepfng on the
ground at night, and rarely getting de-
cent food. She also told OF the birth of
the little Zilka girl.
"At nights-and I remember the awful
nights especially-the chief OF the brig
ands would come to us and warn every
one not to speak. This night, three days
after the haby had been born, the chief
passed along the line and warned US not
TO cough. The mother was being carried
in a sort of box. and 1 had the child
on my arm. I trembled for the child's
life, despite the Macedonian superstition
regarding babies, and when at length
she did cry, she threw the whole brigand
outfit into spasms Of fear"
Miss Stone recounted the details of her
stay Of 172 days in the mountains.