TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SCOTT COUNTY ADVANCE REPORER MARCH 6, 1919 P. 3
Balboa, Panama.
Jan. 7, 1919.
Dear Mama:
We left New York January 14 on our way to western lands. We passed many islands, San Salvidor, Crooked islands and the Brahmas, saw the coast of Cuba but we did not land any place until we arrived at Colon, Panama. There we coaled the ship and came through the canal it is quite a sight, the locks working and the beautiful scenery and of topical fruits there is no end, there are all ginds, I have picked cocoanuts, bananas grape fruits and oranges from the trees.
Last Sunday a party of us hired a car and went out in the country We were gone six hours sure had a swell time and saw some great sights.
This is a real jungle, you can't walk outside of the road and trails because of the foliage, but it is certainly beautiful and the weather is like the last of May or the first of June in Oklahoma. It is an ideal place to live and I believe I will make it my home when I get out. Bolboa and Panama City connect. You see they have different post offices but they are merely separated by a canal five miles wide. Balboa being on one side and Panama City on the other. I made a lot of pictures and will send you some.
Panama City is some place, every other door a cabaret. The people are all kinds but mostly Spanish, although there are quite a few white here. We are having a dance to night and it is given us by the Balboa people of which there are some fine families. There will b about a hundred and twenty-five girls but they are not very pretty. I am going ashore to-night and send Nors a flower in this letter if I have room.
Mama I am writing this for every body. Is Mrs. Gettys getting strong again and how is L-- Cora and the baby?
I came near asking about the crops but it is winter there isn't it? We will leave here for San Diego and be there a while then to Honolulu. I guess my address will be New York for a while until we start for China.
I went out to a high mountain peak called Mount, Balboa and could see both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at once. Mama this canal is one of the greatest pieces of work the world has ever known.
Guess I will close for I am sure you will be tired. Mama, it is true I am quite a distance from home but I think of home and you just the same. With best regards and lots of love, I am your son.
Lish Barrett.
NOTES: Elisha Barrett was writing to his mother Mrs. S. E. Barrett of Okemah, Oklahoma. He was serving on the USS Minneapolis. He was born in Waldron, Arkansas on April 25, 1889 and died in Okemah on June 15, 1957. He is buried in the Highland Cemetery in Okemah.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Balboa, Panama.
Jan. 7, 1919.
Dear Mama:
We left New York January 14 on our way to western lands. We passed many islands, San Salvidor, Crooked islands and the Brahmas, saw the coast of Cuba but we did not land any place until we arrived at Colon, Panama. There we coaled the ship and came through the canal it is quite a sight, the locks working and the beautiful scenery and of topical fruits there is no end, there are all ginds, I have picked cocoanuts, bananas grape fruits and oranges from the trees.
Last Sunday a party of us hired a car and went out in the country We were gone six hours sure had a swell time and saw some great sights.
This is a real jungle, you can't walk outside of the road and trails because of the foliage, but it is certainly beautiful and the weather is like the last of May or the first of June in Oklahoma. It is an ideal place to live and I believe I will make it my home when I get out. Bolboa and Panama City connect. You see they have different post offices but they are merely separated by a canal five miles wide. Balboa being on one side and Panama City on the other. I made a lot of pictures and will send you some.
Panama City is some place, every other door a cabaret. The people are all kinds but mostly Spanish, although there are quite a few white here. We are having a dance to night and it is given us by the Balboa people of which there are some fine families. There will b about a hundred and twenty-five girls but they are not very pretty. I am going ashore to-night and send Nors a flower in this letter if I have room.
Mama I am writing this for every body. Is Mrs. Gettys getting strong again and how is L-- Cora and the baby?
I came near asking about the crops but it is winter there isn't it? We will leave here for San Diego and be there a while then to Honolulu. I guess my address will be New York for a while until we start for China.
I went out to a high mountain peak called Mount, Balboa and could see both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at once. Mama this canal is one of the greatest pieces of work the world has ever known.
Guess I will close for I am sure you will be tired. Mama, it is true I am quite a distance from home but I think of home and you just the same. With best regards and lots of love, I am your son.
Lish Barrett.
NOTES: Elisha Barrett was writing to his mother Mrs. S. E. Barrett of Okemah, Oklahoma. He was serving on the USS Minneapolis. He was born in Waldron, Arkansas on April 25, 1889 and died in Okemah on June 15, 1957. He is buried in the Highland Cemetery in Okemah.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD