Before Miss Stone’s kidnapping, another foreigner, Gerasim Kirias, was kidnapped. He was an Albanian Protestant preacher who had become a British citizen. He also worked as an agent for the British Bible Society. Kirias was captured under similar circumstances to Miss Stone. He was taken into the mountains and held for three months while negotiations were conducted by the British consul-general. Eventually, he was released after paying a ransom of 500 Turkish pounds (about $2,000). Unfortunately, the harsh conditions during his captivity led to his illness, and he never recovered. He suffered from rheumatism and died as a result of the exposure and suffering he endured while in the hands of the kidnappers The Fund for Miss Stone’s Ransom.
The Kidnapping of Mr. Landler
Another person who was kidnapped in a similar situation was Mr. Landler, the chief engineer of the railroad that connects Bulgaria to Constantinople. He was captured by brigands and taken into the mountains several years ago. In his case, the Austrian government, supported by Italy and Germany, tried to pressure Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria to secure his release. However, like with Miss Stone, the Bulgarian government made no attempt to capture the brigands or rescue the prisoner, even though it was never shown that the Macedonian Committee or any other political group was involved.
Eventually, Austria paid $15,000 in ransom, and Mr. Landler was released. The Bulgarian government was later forced to refund the money and also paid a compensation. This event, like others, highlighted the inability of the Bulgarian government to handle such situations. Since the retirement of Stambouloff, the former prime minister, it seems that no brigands have been punished for their crimes.
Mr. Dickinson’s Efforts
Mr. Dickinson, the American consul, believed that the Bulgarian government was responsible for the safety of foreigners and for ensuring that citizens behaved properly. He tried to force the Bulgarian authorities to take action, by pressuring the Macedonian Committee to intervene. He wanted them to call in the brigands and ensure the release of Miss Stone. Unfortunately, his efforts were unsuccessful. The Macedonian Committee was determined to avoid the blame for the kidnapping. In fact, the Macedonian Committee was much more powerful than the Bulgarian government and was able to prevent any meaningful action from being taken Sofia Day Tour.
The Role of the Macedonian Committee
At the time, it was not believed that the current leaders of the Macedonian movement had any involvement in the kidnapping. However, there was significant evidence suggesting that the plot was organized and carried out by the former leaders of the Macedonian Committee, often called “the old committee.” One of the main figures in this group was Boris Sarafoff, a desperate adventurer.
Sarafoff had been removed from the central committee after being charged with murder, misusing the funds of the committee, and being involved in blackmail. Despite his criminal actions, Sarafoff remained extremely popular in Bulgaria. He had more influence with the people than even the government officials or other respected figures. This made it difficult for the government to take any real action against him or the committee.
The kidnapping of foreigners in the Turkish provinces was a serious issue, and Miss Stone’s case was just one of many. While the Bulgarian government struggled to manage these situations, foreign powers like Austria and Britain had to intervene, paying large sums of money to secure the release of the victims. The influence of the Macedonian Committee, particularly figures like Boris Sarafoff, made it difficult for the Bulgarian government to take effective action. As a result, kidnappings and ransom demands remained a significant threat to foreigners and the stability of the region.
