TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BRINKLEY ARGUS JUNE 6, 1919 P. 1
President's Ship, May 21, 1919
Mr. Wm. B. Folsom.
Brinkley, Arkansas.
Dear Sir:
Ofttimes I think of you and the people I once knew in Brinkley, and resolve to write immediately, but always I would put if off until now I realize that it is either "now or never." It doesn't seem so long until I begin to figure it up. I've been very busy and the time under such circumstances more than flies.
After leaving Brinkley I did very well and was in Kansas City at the outbreak of the war. I enlisted in the Navy on the day war was declared and am now a first class petty officer.
The voyage just completed is my 29th across the Atlantic, most of which were during the "submarine season."
I know what it is to be adrift in an open boat lost in mid-ocean, and have been called out of bed after midnight by submarine alarm, been in a number of "brushes" with "subs" and saw the Covington get hit. I have been on "the President's Ship" during all of his trips to Europe, and of course saw him many times.
We are now in the harbor at Brest, France. It is expected that we leave here the first of the week for Antwerp, where, it is said, we are to pick up the President.
While in Antwerp, I am hoping to get another leave to Paris or maybe London. I fell in love with Paris at once. One is entranced with the beauty of everything. It is more beautiful than I expected. But the battlefields are so sombre. I was in Rheims, Chateau-Theiry, etc. and I think those who have only read of it can not realize the extent of the destruction or picture, either descriptive or painted, takes in so little. One must think of a region half as large as one of the states and populated with many million, being shot to pieces, shell holes every few feet, if not running together and trenches, entanglements and destruction everywhere. This is all one can see from a car window in a half days ride by rail.
And, to our boys, belong the credit for ending the war, although several of the allied governments are trying to minimize United States part in it.
I hope to receive a note announcing your receipt of this, and that you are prosperous, happy and in good health. I am
Most respectfully yours,
W. I. Abbott
NOTES: This letter was written by W. I. Abbott, who formerly worked at the newspaper. He is serving on the George Washington, the ship assigned to transport President Wilson.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
President's Ship, May 21, 1919
Mr. Wm. B. Folsom.
Brinkley, Arkansas.
Dear Sir:
Ofttimes I think of you and the people I once knew in Brinkley, and resolve to write immediately, but always I would put if off until now I realize that it is either "now or never." It doesn't seem so long until I begin to figure it up. I've been very busy and the time under such circumstances more than flies.
After leaving Brinkley I did very well and was in Kansas City at the outbreak of the war. I enlisted in the Navy on the day war was declared and am now a first class petty officer.
The voyage just completed is my 29th across the Atlantic, most of which were during the "submarine season."
I know what it is to be adrift in an open boat lost in mid-ocean, and have been called out of bed after midnight by submarine alarm, been in a number of "brushes" with "subs" and saw the Covington get hit. I have been on "the President's Ship" during all of his trips to Europe, and of course saw him many times.
We are now in the harbor at Brest, France. It is expected that we leave here the first of the week for Antwerp, where, it is said, we are to pick up the President.
While in Antwerp, I am hoping to get another leave to Paris or maybe London. I fell in love with Paris at once. One is entranced with the beauty of everything. It is more beautiful than I expected. But the battlefields are so sombre. I was in Rheims, Chateau-Theiry, etc. and I think those who have only read of it can not realize the extent of the destruction or picture, either descriptive or painted, takes in so little. One must think of a region half as large as one of the states and populated with many million, being shot to pieces, shell holes every few feet, if not running together and trenches, entanglements and destruction everywhere. This is all one can see from a car window in a half days ride by rail.
And, to our boys, belong the credit for ending the war, although several of the allied governments are trying to minimize United States part in it.
I hope to receive a note announcing your receipt of this, and that you are prosperous, happy and in good health. I am
Most respectfully yours,
W. I. Abbott
NOTES: This letter was written by W. I. Abbott, who formerly worked at the newspaper. He is serving on the George Washington, the ship assigned to transport President Wilson.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD