Mr. Leishman to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, September 13,
1902.
No. 73.]
Sir: I beg to inclose you copy of
correspondence from the consul-general which will give you all the
information I have been able to obtain so far in regard to the abduction
of Miss Stone by brigands in the vilayet of Salonica.
Although it is about ten days since the outrage was committed, no demand
for ransom has yet been made. It is quite within the range of
probabilities that the brigands are Bulgarians, not Turks, as the place
where they were stopped is quite close to the Bulgarian frontier; but at
this writing it is impossible to make any positive statement.
Although the delay must be terrible to the family and friends of Miss
Stone, I am quite of the same opinion as the consul-general and consular
agent at Salonica that any great activity on the part of the Turkish
troops would only force the brigands deeper into the mountains, and if
pressed too closely they might kill Miss Stone rather than allow her to
be rescued. As soon as the brigands feel safe they will in all
probability send the native woman who is with Miss Stone back with a
demand for ransom, and in case I am unable to induce the Ottoman
Government to pay same, I have notified Mr. Peet, the secretary of the
Bible House Society, that he should be ready for emergencies, and that
the question of getting the money back will have to be left for future
consideration, as I could make no guaranty or take official action in
regard to ransom without first receiving instructions from the
Department. Mr. Peet assured me that he was prepared to act
promptly.
I have, etc.,
[Page 998]
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Lazzaro to
Mr. Dickinson.
United States Consular Agency,
Salonica, Turkey, September 5, 1902.
No. 556.]
Sir: Last night at 1 a.m. Dr. House, an
American missionary to the Bulgarians residing here, came to me with
a telegram from Mr. Sedloeff, his correspondent at Razlog (vilayet
of Salonica), stating that Miss Ellen Stone, also a missionary with
headquarters in Salonica, but residing for the last couple of weeks
at Razlog, had been carried off by brigands on the previous day
while on her way to Djumabala. She was at the time traveling with
three or four lady companions, Bulgarian teachers. Some of these
ladies were presumably not molested, but allowed to return to
Razlog, where they brought the news of the outrage. One, however, of
Miss Stone’s companions, named Mrs. Tsilka, was also carried off.
The place where the outrage occurred is called the great rocks, and
the brigands escaped with their prisoners to the mountains near
by.
On hearing this news I immediately wired you last night as
follows:
“Have been just informed that Miss Ellen Stone, American missionary
here, on her way from Razlog to Djumabala, September 3, was carried
off with lady companion by brigands. No details. Shall interview
vali early morning.”
This morning I obtained an interview from the vali in his private
dwelling and brought the matter before him, especially drawing his
attention to the necessity not to send troops after the brigands at
present. The fact is that in every case when troops were sent after
the brigands before the release of the prisioners the latter were
put to death. The object of the brigands is indubitably to obtain a
ransom, and if and pressed by troops before the release of the
prisoners the lives of the latter are certainly jeopardized. I
further pointed out to the vali that the calamity would be much
greater if loss of life occurred, and that the Government ought to
do everything in its power not to incur further responsibilities.
The vali promised to do everything I asked him, and wired in my
presence to the mutessarif of Serres requesting him to have troops
dispatched toward the neighborhood of the outrage, and that said
troops were not to molest the brigands, but keep a watchful eye on
their movements, and only interfere in case they could help the
prisoners without endangering their lives. In similar cases, when a
foreign subject was carried off by brigands, and these cases have
been quite frequent in our region, the Turkish Government has always
paid the ransom; but owing to the penury of the treasury the foreign
governments have generally advanced the money in order to avoid
delay. I would strongly recommend this course, and shall wire you as
soon as I hear that you come to an understanding with the Government
in Washington, so that you may be able to dispose of a certain sum
should this prove necessary. I further suggest that you also insist
with the Porte on the nonadvisability of sending at present troops
after the brigands.
I am inclined to think that the brigands have kept Mrs. Tsilka in
order to transmit through her their demands and that this lady will
be shortly released for the above purpose.
I shall wire you as soon as I have anything new to communicate.
I understand Dr. House has wired to the secretary of the Evangelical
Society in Boston, to which both he and Miss Stone belong.
I have, etc.,
P. H. Lazzaro,
United States Consular
Agent.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Baird to
Mr. Dickinson.
Samakov, September 7,
1901.
Sir: We were greatly pained yesterday at
noon to learn from a telegram from Dr. House (Salonica) that Miss
Stone and Mrs. Tsilka, the wife of the Albanian preacher, were
captured and carried off by a band of brigands on September 3, about
4 p.m., while on their way with quite a company of friends from
Banska to Djumabala. I went to the government here and informed them
so that they might be on the lookout for these outlaws should they
attempt to bring their captives into Bulgaria.
Just before sunset September 7 two of our students from Bansko
arrived. They were with Miss Stone when the brigands captured the
party. From their accounts, by the aid of questions, I got the
following:
[Page 999]
The whole party, about fifteen or eighteen, were suddenly stopped in
a narrow valley and as soon as possible all were compelled to wade a
river and ascend the wooded mountain side as fast as threats could
make them for about an hour.
Not all the captors could be seen, but twenty were counted at one
time and it was the opinion that there must have been forty of them,
dressed like Turks and talking bad Turkish. They spoke occasionally
in good Bulgarian and were glad to find among the provisions carried
by the party several okes of bacon and ham.
They knew Miss Stone, showing that they were mainly after her. She
and Mrs. Tsilka were taken on further and seen no more. The
remainder were relieved of money and watches and compelled to stay
all night under strict guard. After sunrise the brigands who watched
them went up the mountain and the remainder of the party were
free.
Our two students passed through Djumabala and on across the border to
Bulgaria; the remainder of those released returned to Bansko.
It seems that this detention of all the party kept the Turkish
Government from getting any knowledge of even the presence of
brigands till about noon of the 4th, and gave the outlaws a chance
of hurrying their captives to a place far distant from the scene of
their capture. A Turk captured just before this party was taken up
the mountain with them and beaten to death before their eyes.
I know nothing as to which direction the captives were taken. I think
it most likely that they will be brought into Bulgaria; because,
first, it is very probable that a large proportion of the brigands
make Bulgaria their headquarters; second, when the Turkish troops
get thawed out enough to chase the brigands these latter will
naturally prefer to be in Bulgaria; third, if they can get quickly
across the border into Bulgaria they can peacefully secrete their
victims and by keeping quiet live honorable (?) lives till they get
their ransom.
What those two women will suffer can be imagined. May God guard
them.
A Bulgarian officer came to-day, sent by the government, to learn
about the brigands. He said they had special instruction and that
they would guard their border very closely.
