The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31

by individual subscription in the
United States. Seven years later Pres-
dent Roosevelt asked Congress to re-
imlurse those who subscribed to this
fund.
Miss Stones capture by the Turkish
hrigands created a great sensation and
it was feared that as a result trouble
might ensue between the Governments
at Washington and Constantinople.
The brigands held Miss Stone and a
Nine. Tsilka, wife of an Albanian
missionary. in custody for six months
and demanded at first Sl25O0 for
their release. Failing to obtain this
sum they threatened to take her life.
The Government was asked to inter.
vene, but as there was no authority
to eXpend funds of the Federal Treas
ury for such a purpose, an appeal
was made to the people of the country.
Promptly came the response and the
amount mentioned above was COL
lected. The bandits obligingly 40
cepted this sum.
Turkey Responsible.
Miss Stone herself declared that
Turkey was responsible for her plight
and urged that the Sultan he made to
refund this money. In response that
ruler claimed that the brigands who
kidnapped her We're Bulgarians over
whom he had no control. This eN-
PLANTATION was accepted by Secretary
Hay and later by Secretary Root The
bill was passed favorably by Congress
and the $4,000 contributors, provided
they made application with evidence
of having donated to the fund within
two years, shared in the money which
the Secretary Of the Treasury was
authorized to disburse.
After her return to her native coun-
try Miss Stone went about telling her
experience. 1t was a thrilling recital
In the afternoon of September 3, 1901,
she was with a party going from
Bansko to Diumaa. There were about
eighteen members of the party. men
and women. The brigands, forty in
number and wearing the Turkish
dress, suddenly confronted them in
narrow valley and compelled them to
wade a river and ascend a wooded
mountain, threatening them with guns
whenever they halted. At sunset
the brigands stopped the troop Of Bible
women, students and missionaries, re-
heved them of money. watches and
other valuables and, setting a guard
of about half their number. compelled
them to lie out on the mountain al
night The rest of the band separated
Miss Stone, whom they evidently
knew, and Nine Tsilkl from the
others and carried them further into
the mountain fastness. Al sunrise me
prisoners were released and permitted
other to return to Bansllo.
Captive six Months.
Six months later Miss stone Nine
Tsilka and her child We're turned over
to their rescuers at Suumi,zl Mace
donia, i'll good spirits and good phys
zeal condition. The American ms
sionarv said that she had been wei
treated and never hHd suffered from aI
health. She was told constantly 10
write in the communications sho "ns
permitted to make with the ou.s.'e
world that her captOrS would iin5
her life If the ransom wa- NOT paid
The people of Macedonia Were IN
sympathy with the lIidnappinE ana
after all the evidence had been siii'd
il was generally believed That '.'e -
was done as a poiitiCa, movement ana
the bandits wanted the money 10 -
in their contest with the Turks Ih
other words, it was needed TO aid -
Macedonian patriots in treoIuE iNs'
land from Turkish rule. For this fe4-
SON Miss Stone was the victim SEA-
lected, for, as am American, the hhnhI's
believed that she would be proteeleu
by the United States and the ransom
paid. As it turned out then 6eh'i
was justified.