TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOT SPRINGS NEW ERA APRIL 10, 1919 P. 3
Dear Friend:
Since I am again in company camp having one week since I finished a 14 day grant of leave from camp and duties. I feel that I should write you and explain at least one incident of my trip, which was of great pleasure and wonderful instructions to me.
To begin, I left camp Sunday, February 2nd and rested same day and night at Bayonne and Baritg. Leaving February 3rd, 9 a.m. for Lords, passing through Pau enroute to London, changed at Lourdes to Electric Line to Perfitte, changed to Electric up Pyrenee slope, 3660 feet (925 meters) elevation inside nine (9) kilometers to Canterests our destination, and leave area for seven days time. Here and all the way up the mountain climb we encountered snow, ice and tunnels by way of numerous switch-backs and precipices and over canyon streams everywhere was wonderful scenery—bare stone and ice covered glaciers. At no time on trip of elevation was it the least monotonous. All out for Canterets, ground snow-covered, very cold, no sunshine—order, line up single file by officer presenting certificate of permission, receiving in exchange hotel privilege certificate, continue in line double column, hob-nailed shoes, ground slippery—all parties shivering—entering Hotel Du France lobby—Madame, welcome greeting. Response in chorus. Rooms, assignment, in charge, hall boy, enter rooms. Realization, removal of great coats, and satchels, rush for lobby, inducement—the bright fire, thawed out, call one and only one for sopper, good feed, French style, with Vin Rouge, (no tooth-picks), back to lobby, inquiry for Y.M.C.A. headquarters, same located, visited and discovered it was the Casino Club and Theatre and game rooms where Evelyn Nesbit played and the place where Sanford White and Harry K Thaw indulged in their first quarrel. Service here for us. Wet and dry canteens, hot coffee, chocolate, cakes, etc., and cigars, cigarettes, candies and fruit, for which we paid a nominal price. Then this routine for seven days with side issue drinks in English Hotel Café, then hikes, skeeing, sleigh rides, hot (natural sulphur) water baths, and every evening excellent shows (gratis’ also), lecture on historical surroundings, all of which I am sure you are familiar.
Leave finished, return trip, numerous land and snow slides on car line, walk to Perfitte, distance nine kilometers down mountain, entrain for Lourdes. February 11th annual anniversay date, the city reached, found closed to American (U.S.) soldiers, reason the day of celebration of a special and worthy feature. First of program, annual ceremony of Grotto and Cathedral, second the day appointed for the removal of the crepe from the Flags of Alsac and Loraine, crepe being placed on banners in 1870, when France sacrificed Alsac and Loraine to Germany and on this day of which I wrie 48 years since it was removed and the colors of France replaced. A representative of every country who were friendly to France and her allies was present except us (the U.S.A.), and my comrades and myself waiting for our train were the only U.S. soldiers in the city and we came to the station and procured permission to take us to the Ceremony as representatives of “Uncle Sam” and he prepared for us a place with seats in the close front directly opposite the Grotto and directly to our left was the French army representation and just in our rear was the English—to their left, the Italian and so on—the others all surrounded by France’s civilian population and all I can say in limited space is, the ceremony was the grandest and most impressive I ever hope to witness. The crepe had been removed and France, Alsace and Loraine were again joyfully re-united in friendship and government. My 120 comrades and I feel that we were highly honored in being presented in an event that will go down as France’s acknowledgement of her most wonderful achievement—the retaking of Alsace-Loraine, an important part of the world’s future history, in a sense, the finishing touch of a world war.
Not caring to further punish you with my scribbling, I shall hasten a close, relating briefly my return to camp. Leaving Lourdes, we arrive at Tarbes, a sister city, here I saw what I never did before—a typical French market day (Wednesday) and the city in total, from Tarbes we go to Toulouse, a fine and beautiful city 200 souls, many factories. From here we go to Cette, by error (not speaking nor understanding much French) we went to Cette not Bordeaux and here we found a typical Roman city and a wonderful commercial seaport and returning we saw all the cities and country between Crette and Bordeaux and Bordeaux to Morceaux 96 kilometers south. Arrived at camp and in my tent February 16. My old friend Criss hands me a four stanza piece of poetry describing my camp. I shall enclose and you can call it Penteaux district A.E.F., France.
Trusting that Mrs. Maurice and yourself are enjoying the best of health and that you and all the business men are enjoying the season you deserve. Trusting to see you at an early date.
I am your friend,
SGT. CYRUS N. BEATTY
25th Company, 20th Regiment Engineers, A.E.F.
NOTES: Sergeant Cyrus Newberry Beaty (THE NEWSPAPER SPELLS HIS NAME INCORRECTLY) was writing to his friend, W. G. Maurice of Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was born on December 21, 1876/7 in Arkansas. By 1910 he was living in Hot Springs with his parents. He died on September 26, 1949 and is buried in the Woodman Cemetery in McCroy, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as Arkansas, Sgt. 20 Engineers, serving in World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Dear Friend:
Since I am again in company camp having one week since I finished a 14 day grant of leave from camp and duties. I feel that I should write you and explain at least one incident of my trip, which was of great pleasure and wonderful instructions to me.
To begin, I left camp Sunday, February 2nd and rested same day and night at Bayonne and Baritg. Leaving February 3rd, 9 a.m. for Lords, passing through Pau enroute to London, changed at Lourdes to Electric Line to Perfitte, changed to Electric up Pyrenee slope, 3660 feet (925 meters) elevation inside nine (9) kilometers to Canterests our destination, and leave area for seven days time. Here and all the way up the mountain climb we encountered snow, ice and tunnels by way of numerous switch-backs and precipices and over canyon streams everywhere was wonderful scenery—bare stone and ice covered glaciers. At no time on trip of elevation was it the least monotonous. All out for Canterets, ground snow-covered, very cold, no sunshine—order, line up single file by officer presenting certificate of permission, receiving in exchange hotel privilege certificate, continue in line double column, hob-nailed shoes, ground slippery—all parties shivering—entering Hotel Du France lobby—Madame, welcome greeting. Response in chorus. Rooms, assignment, in charge, hall boy, enter rooms. Realization, removal of great coats, and satchels, rush for lobby, inducement—the bright fire, thawed out, call one and only one for sopper, good feed, French style, with Vin Rouge, (no tooth-picks), back to lobby, inquiry for Y.M.C.A. headquarters, same located, visited and discovered it was the Casino Club and Theatre and game rooms where Evelyn Nesbit played and the place where Sanford White and Harry K Thaw indulged in their first quarrel. Service here for us. Wet and dry canteens, hot coffee, chocolate, cakes, etc., and cigars, cigarettes, candies and fruit, for which we paid a nominal price. Then this routine for seven days with side issue drinks in English Hotel Café, then hikes, skeeing, sleigh rides, hot (natural sulphur) water baths, and every evening excellent shows (gratis’ also), lecture on historical surroundings, all of which I am sure you are familiar.
Leave finished, return trip, numerous land and snow slides on car line, walk to Perfitte, distance nine kilometers down mountain, entrain for Lourdes. February 11th annual anniversay date, the city reached, found closed to American (U.S.) soldiers, reason the day of celebration of a special and worthy feature. First of program, annual ceremony of Grotto and Cathedral, second the day appointed for the removal of the crepe from the Flags of Alsac and Loraine, crepe being placed on banners in 1870, when France sacrificed Alsac and Loraine to Germany and on this day of which I wrie 48 years since it was removed and the colors of France replaced. A representative of every country who were friendly to France and her allies was present except us (the U.S.A.), and my comrades and myself waiting for our train were the only U.S. soldiers in the city and we came to the station and procured permission to take us to the Ceremony as representatives of “Uncle Sam” and he prepared for us a place with seats in the close front directly opposite the Grotto and directly to our left was the French army representation and just in our rear was the English—to their left, the Italian and so on—the others all surrounded by France’s civilian population and all I can say in limited space is, the ceremony was the grandest and most impressive I ever hope to witness. The crepe had been removed and France, Alsace and Loraine were again joyfully re-united in friendship and government. My 120 comrades and I feel that we were highly honored in being presented in an event that will go down as France’s acknowledgement of her most wonderful achievement—the retaking of Alsace-Loraine, an important part of the world’s future history, in a sense, the finishing touch of a world war.
Not caring to further punish you with my scribbling, I shall hasten a close, relating briefly my return to camp. Leaving Lourdes, we arrive at Tarbes, a sister city, here I saw what I never did before—a typical French market day (Wednesday) and the city in total, from Tarbes we go to Toulouse, a fine and beautiful city 200 souls, many factories. From here we go to Cette, by error (not speaking nor understanding much French) we went to Cette not Bordeaux and here we found a typical Roman city and a wonderful commercial seaport and returning we saw all the cities and country between Crette and Bordeaux and Bordeaux to Morceaux 96 kilometers south. Arrived at camp and in my tent February 16. My old friend Criss hands me a four stanza piece of poetry describing my camp. I shall enclose and you can call it Penteaux district A.E.F., France.
Trusting that Mrs. Maurice and yourself are enjoying the best of health and that you and all the business men are enjoying the season you deserve. Trusting to see you at an early date.
I am your friend,
SGT. CYRUS N. BEATTY
25th Company, 20th Regiment Engineers, A.E.F.
NOTES: Sergeant Cyrus Newberry Beaty (THE NEWSPAPER SPELLS HIS NAME INCORRECTLY) was writing to his friend, W. G. Maurice of Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was born on December 21, 1876/7 in Arkansas. By 1910 he was living in Hot Springs with his parents. He died on September 26, 1949 and is buried in the Woodman Cemetery in McCroy, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as Arkansas, Sgt. 20 Engineers, serving in World War I.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT