The Captured Lady.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 265, 18 November 1901, Page 4

The Captured Lady.

The detention of Miss Elieu M. atone, of Boston, Mass., a missionary of the American Board, with headquarters at Salonica, who was kidnapped by Turkish brigands and taken to an almost iuaccossiblc mountain region of Bulgaria, is attracting great attention in church, lay and state circles of Europe, and there is much speculation as to whether she will be rescued alive or beforo she is subjected to a forced marriage with some member of the gang of ruffians. The decision of the American Board of Missions to pay at the first opportunity whatovor ransom is demanded makes it appear that the captured woman will soon be released, but the negotiations may be frustrated by the activity of the Turkish and Bulgarian troops in pursuit of the brigands. The troops are spurred on by stern orders from the Sultan to find the missionary, set her free and see that she I has every care and comfort, and they arcmaking a hot chase through the rocky passes of the mountains, keeping the bandits in constant migration to less dangerous localities. I Stml!. 0 ; Ca “'° . } ' estcrda y that Miss i.one anu is oeing kindly treatod. it was the first word direct from the ladv and was received with joy bv all classes, especially church circles. There was disappointment that her message to the Bcv. Mr Haskell, at h’ainakov, Bulgaria, contained no hint as to her whereabouts. It is supposed that if a correspondent of tbe Baris Figaro actually did, as be asserts, penetrate tbe fastnesses in which she is a captive, he has given to the Bulgarian and Turkish authorities much needed information. I In her letter to Mr Hsskell, Miss Stone wrote to say that she was being treated I u-£ di. but that owing to the hot pursuit by soldiers she necessarily was forced to suffer privations. It is not known whether this letter was written beforo or after her interview with the Pans newspaper man, who wrote that Miss Stone toll him she was not only being treated with the greatest courtesy, but that her every whim was gratified except the desire to bo free, the brigand chief once sending a man on a mule-back journey of a week to Con. stantinople in order that she might have some kodak films.

The declaration of the leader of the outlaws that, unless the big ransom was forthcoming within thirty days, Miss Stone would be put to death or made to become the wife of one of bis brigands, has filled her friends with alarm.