MISS STONE'S RANSOM.

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 November 1901, Page 1

MISS STONE'S RANSOM.

RAISING THE MONEY.

BOSTON, October.'?. 1 he.fund for the ransom ot Miss Stone, ihe American missionary, reached ±JIU,I)UU cms afternoon. Money is being received every hour. It was hoped that the lull *;J&5,000 would be raised to-night, although it is now extremely doubtful. The efforts to raise the ransom have .u-oused intense interest all over the United States, subscriptions being received by rhe Didder Peabody Company,., a Boston firm of bankers, who have a. large force ot clerks busy to-day receiving money \Vhich is poured in by every post. Subscriptions came from people of every class, ranging from 2s to £20. Several churches contributed £100 each. Large numbers ol\ children sent all their savings. The Bulgarian brigands recently declared that unless the money were delivered by noon, on Tuesday Miss Stone would be killed. Several cables were sent to Bulgaria to-da.y, begging for an extension of time. , The Boston bankers have arranged to cable the ransom to their European agents, so that the money will., ultimately be delivered to the brigands at the appointed rendezvous, providing Miss Stone is produced and unharmed*

The State Department at Washington has confessed its utter inability to effect her release through diplomatic means. Mr Roosevelt has -strongly advised the payment .of the ransom, but it is believed - that the money will eventually be repaid by the Turkish or Ithe Bulgarian Government. There is a strong feeling here that Turkey or Bulgaria should be held responsible for Miss Stone's safety, and an energetic demand for redress will certainly be presented to one or other before the incident is closed. "^ The United States Government is holding aloof from the affair. Apart from notifying their diplomatic ,i»ents to watch the case carefully, the negotiations for ransom are in charge of the Missionary Society. Its representatives here profess ignorance as to the progress of negotiations, and say that the matter is iif the hands of their Constantinople agentIn a letter Miss Stone begs her friends to desist from their efforts to rescue her, and says that she cannot stand the fatigue of'the constant shifting- about in the mountain recesses. If she is murdered the Government's probable course-will be to demand a big indemnity. There is no I possibility of the Government paying the ransom. !; ; ; CONSTANTINOPLE, Oct. 8. Confirmation h.aa been received of the report that Miss Stone, with her captors, is onGul Tepe, a wooded hill near Dubnitza, whose inhabitants supply the bn-o-ands with provisions. "< A <:oncei-ted movement by .Bulgarian 'and Turkish troops upon the robbers retreat has commenced, and important de- , velopments may now 'be expected at any moment-Router. ym^A Q^ L . | It is announced from Sofia that M. Boris Sarapoff, the former President-.of the Kdonkn. Committee, is forming and Imiiiig bands for invading Macedonia Hia residence is kept a secret. It has now Ef ascertained that the brigands who captured Miss Stone and demand a ransom of £25,000 are acting under £widpofi's orders.