In recent years, there have been many kidnappings in the Turkish provinces, but very little has been reported about these incidents. The lack of communication and limited news coverage from that region means that the public is not aware of these events. Miss Stone’s case was different because it involved missionaries, and there was a lot of public interest in the matter. Missionary groups regularly communicated with their friends and families back home, so the American public was aware of the situation and the efforts to secure Miss Stone’s release Military Force and Its Impact on Communication.
A List of Kidnappings and Ransom Payments
Here is a partial list of kidnappings and the ransom amounts paid for the release of the victims since 1880. While there have been other cases, these are some of the most notable ones that have been documented:
1880 – Colonel Singe, $50,000 ransom paid.
1881 – Henry Suter, $60,000 ransom paid.
1884 – Richard Dussi, $6,000 ransom paid.
1885 – Mrs. Giovenov, $35,000 demanded, $2,000 paid.
1885 – Fritz Charmand, $8,000 demanded, $1,500 paid.
1887 – R. C. H. Wilkins, $30,000 demanded, $8,000 paid.
1890 – Gray Hill, $100,000 demanded, amount paid unknown.
1890 – Mr. Landler, $15,000 paid.
1891 – M. Rayneud, $5,000 paid.
1891 – M. Michele, $2,000 paid.
1894 – M. Provost, $3,000 paid.
1896 – Captain Marriott, $15,000 demanded, $120 paid.
1896 – M. Waligrski, $4,000 paid.
1896 – Mme. Branzian, $50,000 demanded, $10,000 paid.
1898 – James Whithall, $500 paid.
1899 – M. Chevalier, $15,000 paid.
1900 – Gerasim Kirias, $2,000 paid.
1901 – M. Alphonse, $5,000 demanded, $1,000 paid.
1901 – Miss Stone, $125,000 demanded, $65,000 paid.
Missionaries’ Opposition to Paying Ransom
The missionaries who worked in these regions almost always opposed paying ransom for kidnapped individuals. They had strong moral objections to paying blackmail and saw it as a dangerous precedent. They argued that paying ransom would encourage more kidnappings of missionaries and other foreigners in the future. The missionaries feared that it would lead to the rise of a new industry where bandits would kidnap missionaries for ransom Sofia Day Trips.
One missionary even argued that it would be better for Miss Stone to die in captivity than for them to give in to the kidnappers. He said, “God would prefer Miss Stone to perish of hunger in the mountains than to endanger the lives of His servants elsewhere.”
The Concerns of the Missionaries
The missionaries’ refusal to pay ransom was based on the idea that submitting to kidnappers would only encourage further criminal activity. They believed that if they gave in to blackmail, it would create a dangerous situation not just in Turkey, but in all countries where missionaries worked. This stance was controversial, as many people felt that paying ransom would be the quickest way to secure the release of the hostages.
Despite the risks, the missionaries chose to uphold their principles and moral values. Their decision remains a subject of debate, as it was clear that the situation was not just about Miss Stone’s safety, but also about the future of missionary work in these areas.
The case of Miss Stone’s kidnapping highlights the difficult moral and ethical choices that missionaries faced in situations of danger. The practice of paying ransom for hostages was common in the region, but the missionaries’ refusal to give in to these demands was driven by their commitment to integrity and the belief that submitting to kidnappers would have dangerous consequences for others in the future.
