B'nai B'rith Messenger (May 17, 1907)
In consequence of the recent troubles in Roumania, several Bulgarian towns which are situated on the shores of the Danube have become crowded with refugees from the first named country. In Rustchuk the number of these fugitives was so large that they had to be accommodated in the synagogues and schools.
A very trying time was passed by the Jews who fled from the Roumanian town of Torn-Margoreli [sic; Turnu Măgurele] to the little Bulgarian town of Nikopol on the opposite bank of the Danube. These poor people, only half-clad and almost starving, were retained on the river eighteen hours because at first the Prefect of Police would not allow them on Bulgarian soil. It was not until the new Prime Minister, who is noted for his humanity and appears to be very well disposed towards the Jews, had emphatically ordered all the Prefects of Police in the Danubian towns to give most hospitable welcome to the Jewish fugitives from Roumania, that the refugees from Torn-Margoreli were permitted to disembark. Heart-rendering scenes were witnessed when these sorely-tried refugees landed. They were received by all the Jewish residents in the place, but they cried bitterly for hours, and were scarcely able to utter a single word. Many Christians also received the refugees and escorted them to well-warmed rooms, where they were supplied by these kind people with food and drink. Several women who previously had been in good circumstances, were overcome with emotion when bread was handed to them.
Frau George Speyer of Frankfort has given thre[e] million marks for the promotion of scientific objects.
A committee, comprising the foremost Jewish residents, has been formed at Hamburg for the relief of the Jews in Roumania.
Fearing that the pitiable plight of many thousands of Jews in Roumania, a result of the recent agrarian disorders in that country, might result in wholesale emigration, representatives of Jewish aid associations of Berlin, Frankfort, Paris and Bucharest who are now in conference here, have decided that they could not assist emigration financially, as the funds available were not sufficient for the urgent necessities of the Jews now starving in Roumania.
Letters were sent to the Jewish associations of New York and London setting forth the foregoing decision.