On August 7th, news arrived in Istanbul that the Mefkure, carrying more than 300 passengers, had been attacked and had sank on the Black Sea.  Five passengers–including a young woman who was eight months pregnant–and the ship’s crew had survived.  These hastily scrawled notes were written by Earl Packer of the embassy’s staff, as the WRB staff and the American embassy made plans to send food and assistance to the surviving Mefkure passengers, who were now with the passengers of the Bulbul, and were docked by Port Igneada, Turkey.  The Black Sea was clearly too dangerous for the boat to continue.   While the Morena had arrived in Istanbul, the Bulbul and surviving Mefkure passengers, would have to come by land.