Items of Interest February 13, 1902 Issue

Items of Interest

A despatch was received from Sofia, Bulgaria, January 27, to the effect that the money for the release of Miss Ellen M. Stone and her companion, Mine. Tsilka, had been paid to the brigands and it was expected the captives would be speedily released.

September 3, 1901, a party of eighteen missionaries were captured by Bulgarian brigands while traveling in the mountainous country between Turkey and Bulgaria. Only Miss Stone, who first went out as a missionary of the American Board in 1878, and Mine. Tsilka, the wife of a minister, were held captives. Since that time the brigands have spent the time haggling over the ransom. They demanded more money than was raised. The first demand was $110,000, but they finally consented to take less.

Later reports are to the effect that the brigands had become frightened and tied with their captives. The ransom money has not been paid as was reported, and it is exected that negotiations with the brigands will be resumed in the near future. It is reported that Secretary Hay purposes to fix the responsibility for the failure of the negotiations to secure the release of the captives.

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