TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOT SPRINGS NEW ERA JULY 30, 1918 P. 2
Dear Mama and Papa
Just got in from the beach. I finished two days work by 9 o’clock and went down for a swim.
Was out at sea all day yesterday on a line between Cape Cod and Cape Ann and within twenty miles of the point, Orleans, on Cape Cod just off of which a U-boat sunk a barge and several tugs in an effort to sink a big collier. Yesterday here was a dense fog. The vessels were not equipped with wireless and gave out no call for help. We were out off from the scene by a part of Cape Cod and know nothing of the battle until about 2 p. m. We saw one of our hydroplanes pass over which engaged the submarine. A big camouflaged tramp came up to our submarine patrol boat. “Malay” and said that another patrol boat further out ordered her to put back into Boston and not continue it to Norfolk on account of hostile submarines. Soon after that the big collier came into view but by that time we had finished our work and having no orders to pursue. We put back into our base. Gee, but we fellows hated in miss being in the scene and hoped to get orders to put to sea today but none came.
An eight foot shark came up within ten feet of our ship yesterday and the skipper took about eight shots at him. By the time he got his rifle the fish was 150 yards away, but he made some pretty close shots.
Our choices for a commission will continue to grow as soon as we can get men and apparatus “over there” and deliver the goods. All that you are able to learn about naval actions is paper talk. I am on the “inside” and you would be pleasantly surprised to learn of our successes.
With love,
EARL
NOTES: Earl H. Burrough is writing to his parents Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Burrough of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Earl was serving in the US Navy.
TRANSCRIBED BY CHLOE SMITH
Dear Mama and Papa
Just got in from the beach. I finished two days work by 9 o’clock and went down for a swim.
Was out at sea all day yesterday on a line between Cape Cod and Cape Ann and within twenty miles of the point, Orleans, on Cape Cod just off of which a U-boat sunk a barge and several tugs in an effort to sink a big collier. Yesterday here was a dense fog. The vessels were not equipped with wireless and gave out no call for help. We were out off from the scene by a part of Cape Cod and know nothing of the battle until about 2 p. m. We saw one of our hydroplanes pass over which engaged the submarine. A big camouflaged tramp came up to our submarine patrol boat. “Malay” and said that another patrol boat further out ordered her to put back into Boston and not continue it to Norfolk on account of hostile submarines. Soon after that the big collier came into view but by that time we had finished our work and having no orders to pursue. We put back into our base. Gee, but we fellows hated in miss being in the scene and hoped to get orders to put to sea today but none came.
An eight foot shark came up within ten feet of our ship yesterday and the skipper took about eight shots at him. By the time he got his rifle the fish was 150 yards away, but he made some pretty close shots.
Our choices for a commission will continue to grow as soon as we can get men and apparatus “over there” and deliver the goods. All that you are able to learn about naval actions is paper talk. I am on the “inside” and you would be pleasantly surprised to learn of our successes.
With love,
EARL
NOTES: Earl H. Burrough is writing to his parents Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Burrough of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Earl was serving in the US Navy.
TRANSCRIBED BY CHLOE SMITH