TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEVADA COUNTY PICAYUNE JANUARY 24, 1919 P. 1
Commonwealth Pier. Boston, Mass., Jan. 15, 1918.
To The Readers of The Picayune:
If you will allow me a little space in your columns, I want to say a few words to you.
I have been in service for Uncle Sam for nearly seven months: have seen some fine country and some sorry, but that is true any place you go.
I have been from one end to the other of the great Lake Michigan. I thought I had seen lots of water, but when I cast my weary eyes upon the blue deep I soon saw that I had only been in a mere pond before.
I stayed in the fleet six weeks. We took a trip out from the shore not very far, about twelve hundred miles out. We were near the coast of Cuba and Key West, Fla.. in the gulf streams. We were in a storm that lasted three days, lost two or three men, waves washed them off the top deck. We did not care very much if the boat had sunk, we were all so sick, but I am glad now that it did not.
We have a fine place to stay now. We have a concrete house to stay in. There are about three thousand of sailors here now and we are fixing for about three thousand more. It looks like we have enough men here to whip Germany.
The weather is cold here now. Have some snow, been snowing all day, but the wind blows it in drifts. This is the coldest weather that the Boston people have ever saw. It has been twelve below zero. Last month the Boston harbor has been frozen over so that ships could not come in nor out. Salty water frozen.
Business is fine in this part of the world, markets are fine. Every thing looks bright for a world wide peace plan. So don't worry, it will not take us long. If your friends, brothers or sons are in the Navy, don't worry about them for they are all O.K.
If you have room in your columns will write again. With best wishes to all I go, hoping to see you again some day.
T. O. Atkins.
NOTES: Thearon Ottis Atkins was born in Arkansas on October 16, 1893 and died on April 8, 1964. He is buried in the Mount Olive Cemetery in Waterloo, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Eng. 2 US Navy during World War I. he enlisted on June 30, 1917 and was discharged on January 20, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Commonwealth Pier. Boston, Mass., Jan. 15, 1918.
To The Readers of The Picayune:
If you will allow me a little space in your columns, I want to say a few words to you.
I have been in service for Uncle Sam for nearly seven months: have seen some fine country and some sorry, but that is true any place you go.
I have been from one end to the other of the great Lake Michigan. I thought I had seen lots of water, but when I cast my weary eyes upon the blue deep I soon saw that I had only been in a mere pond before.
I stayed in the fleet six weeks. We took a trip out from the shore not very far, about twelve hundred miles out. We were near the coast of Cuba and Key West, Fla.. in the gulf streams. We were in a storm that lasted three days, lost two or three men, waves washed them off the top deck. We did not care very much if the boat had sunk, we were all so sick, but I am glad now that it did not.
We have a fine place to stay now. We have a concrete house to stay in. There are about three thousand of sailors here now and we are fixing for about three thousand more. It looks like we have enough men here to whip Germany.
The weather is cold here now. Have some snow, been snowing all day, but the wind blows it in drifts. This is the coldest weather that the Boston people have ever saw. It has been twelve below zero. Last month the Boston harbor has been frozen over so that ships could not come in nor out. Salty water frozen.
Business is fine in this part of the world, markets are fine. Every thing looks bright for a world wide peace plan. So don't worry, it will not take us long. If your friends, brothers or sons are in the Navy, don't worry about them for they are all O.K.
If you have room in your columns will write again. With best wishes to all I go, hoping to see you again some day.
T. O. Atkins.
NOTES: Thearon Ottis Atkins was born in Arkansas on October 16, 1893 and died on April 8, 1964. He is buried in the Mount Olive Cemetery in Waterloo, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Eng. 2 US Navy during World War I. he enlisted on June 30, 1917 and was discharged on January 20, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD