An unverified story is current in the Budapest press concerning Arthur Schrieber’s grandfather, Samuel Schrieber, who emigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1880.
According to the newspaper accounts, relatives of Arthur state that Samuel Schrieber ran away from his parents’ home at Miskolcs and wandered afoot to Hamburg where he embarked as a stowaway on a steamer which took him to the United States.
Among the many letters of criticism directed against Arthur Schrieber an interesting letter appeared in the June 20th issue of the “New York Evening Post,” signed by Jack B. Goldsmith of Brooklyn, New York.
“I have read so much condemning the stowaway on the ‘Yellow Bird’ that I feel it time to say a good word in his behalf,” wrote Mr. Goldsmith. “I cannot understand why newspaper editors should devote so much space in leveling such caustic criticism against this daredevil, unless it is because of his boastful attitude of capitalizing his experience. If this is his attitude then I would merely characterize him as frank and outspoken. He is not so hypocritical as not to admit that his interpid feat was actuated by motives of glory only. His bravery merits, if not adulation, at least the admiration accorded to others who made our blood tingle. The harsh newspaper comments are unwarranted. If other brave spirits that have preceded him have borne their glory with decorum and modesty, they have done so in the secure knowledge that they would inevitably reap financial rewards. Without mincing words, only martyrs are not merchants of glory.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
