New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-04-27
'AFRIDI Held GIRL
in MOUNTAIN FORT
Ellis Child Tells Of Her SuHerinsS
While Captive

Simla. British India, April 27. =
(By Associated Press) 1.-THE story 0
the sufferings OF Molly Ellis. youthful
daughter of the British commando
ut Kohat, while In the hands of Arid
tribesmen after she had seen then
kill her mother In the early morning
OF April IA, Is told In dispatches
from Peshawar where she is resting
under the care of her father and Mrs
Starr. the woman physician who
played large part in her rescue.
After their murderous raid, The
kidnappers fed to the hills above
Kohat, half driving. half carrying
their captive up the steep rocky paths
Throughout the following day she
could see the searchers passing In nu'
tomobiles below her. Her only pro.
lection from the severe cold of the
hills was coat belonging to brutal
Afridi, named Shahazada the mar
who killed her mother
The next four days were night
mare of alternating travelling and hid
ing, with the girl in an ever growing
state of exhaustion from her physical
efforts and the apparently hopeless
outlook. Her feet were lacerated
from tramping over the stony tracks
and once in the course of the terrible
journey she fell fainting at the top
OF a snow covered mountain pass,
upon which Shahazada lost patience
and drew his dagger to kill her, be-
ing restrained only by his companions.
After six days OF travelling they
reached her captors' home in the
Tirah country. Meanwhile a search
by friendly tribesmen was in progress
under the direction of Kuli Kahn, a
native official. who on April 20,
reached Kanki Bazaar, the home of a
famous and influential Mullah. or
Mohammedan religious leader, named
J Mahmud Akhundzeda. where after
much pressure, he ascertained that
the captive was held in mountain
fortress eight miles away. Kuli Kahn
managed to have conveyed to the girl
parcel of comforts and letter Of
! encouragement. and In return learned
that she was being reasonably treat
ed by the women of the tribesmen.
Mrs. Starr at this time was near
Kanki Bazaar under a native escort.
having arrived after adventures
which seemed to threaten her mis-
sion with failure, and the Mullah,
apparently fearing trouble. sent a
letter to her party ordering them to
turn back. This letter was ignored,
and the party reached Kanki
Shortly afterward Kuli Khan in
ducod the Mulah to bring about the
transfer of the captive girl to the
Mullah's house, where she was event
ually taken, being carried over the
shoulder of one of the tribesmen. The
meeting between the girl and Mrs
ger was not ended, for while they
talked the abductors stood around
menacingly, insisting that Molly was
still their captive.
Presently the captors learned that
party of Afridi friendly to the Brit
ish had arrived at their village and
wero attacking it whereupon Shaha-
zada seized Mrs. Starr and hustled
her from the room threatening both
her and Miss Ellis. The Mulluh be-
came enraged at this insult to the sa-
cred rights of hospitality under his
roof and publicly cursed Shahazada
and his fellows.
In this dramatic fashion the bal
ance tilted to the side of the rescuers
and the surrender of the captive was
speedily arranged, The tribesmen's
demands for ransom and pardon
were abandoned and on Tuesday Of
this week Kui Khan and the other
rescuers started with the girl on the
journey to Peshawar, where there
was joyous reunion between Molly
and her father.