TRANSCRIBED FROM THE GREEN FOREST TRIBUNE JULY 12, 1918 P. 2
Camp Merrit, N., J., June, 24th 1918.
Dear Sister:
How’s all to day? Sum bonus. I sure would like to be back home now, but you see how it is.
Yesterday I was eighteen to the dot. I will tell you how I celebrated it. Of course you know we are not under quarantine, and so get passes. I had thought the last few days of celebrating my 18th year in N. Y. city, but lost hope when the sergeant told me they hadn’t enough blanks for the names they already had. But by luck and the help of a lieutenant, I received a 12 hour pass. By waiting I could have ten 24 hours, but you see I wanted to celebrate my birthday. Well, now I’ll begin my trip. It is 7 p. m. I went first up to the Y. M. C. A. No. 1, and there took a motor-bus to the trolly at Fenably. I then went to the ferry by street car. I had by now caught several pals, including Arlis Grim. We crossed the Hudson river into N. Y. city, and then took the sub-way to Broadway. I will tell you something of the subway.
To begin with it is only an under ground railway. It extends all under New York, including the business part. It is practically an underground town, stores, etc. are there. So you see a train can be running in one direction, another train coming over it a different direction, and an elevated train, high above the tallest buildings, can be coming over them. Anything can be seen in N. Y. I saw several buildings 20 stories high and went into a first-class cafe. Tiring of Broadway, we boarded a taxi and went to Cony Island. I think it can be seen upon the map.
Of course you don’t know what a city is. I hope you get to visit N. Y. sometime: I won’t have time to describe all this to you, but will tell you a little about it. We went to several shooting galleries, rode scenic railways, went thru dark tunnels and had a good time in general. So in all our excitement and we became separated until finally I was left by myself. Of course this didn’t worry me a bit, so after a few hours enjoyment in spite of the large number of sailors, I started for camp and was almost to the ferry before meeting anyone I knew.
I had only $7.00 to start with and got back with only 3, besides some of the boys paid all my expenses at the cafes, and on the merry-go-rounds and we sure had a fine time.
We will get paid before we leave here, but expect to leave in a few days.
Hope to see you soon.
Your brother,
Fred.
NOTES: Fred Edward Davis was born in Carroll County, Arkansas on September 8, 1885 and died on July 18, 1966 in Carroll County. He is buried in the IOOF Cemetery in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Davis served with the 42nd Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Camp Merrit, N., J., June, 24th 1918.
Dear Sister:
How’s all to day? Sum bonus. I sure would like to be back home now, but you see how it is.
Yesterday I was eighteen to the dot. I will tell you how I celebrated it. Of course you know we are not under quarantine, and so get passes. I had thought the last few days of celebrating my 18th year in N. Y. city, but lost hope when the sergeant told me they hadn’t enough blanks for the names they already had. But by luck and the help of a lieutenant, I received a 12 hour pass. By waiting I could have ten 24 hours, but you see I wanted to celebrate my birthday. Well, now I’ll begin my trip. It is 7 p. m. I went first up to the Y. M. C. A. No. 1, and there took a motor-bus to the trolly at Fenably. I then went to the ferry by street car. I had by now caught several pals, including Arlis Grim. We crossed the Hudson river into N. Y. city, and then took the sub-way to Broadway. I will tell you something of the subway.
To begin with it is only an under ground railway. It extends all under New York, including the business part. It is practically an underground town, stores, etc. are there. So you see a train can be running in one direction, another train coming over it a different direction, and an elevated train, high above the tallest buildings, can be coming over them. Anything can be seen in N. Y. I saw several buildings 20 stories high and went into a first-class cafe. Tiring of Broadway, we boarded a taxi and went to Cony Island. I think it can be seen upon the map.
Of course you don’t know what a city is. I hope you get to visit N. Y. sometime: I won’t have time to describe all this to you, but will tell you a little about it. We went to several shooting galleries, rode scenic railways, went thru dark tunnels and had a good time in general. So in all our excitement and we became separated until finally I was left by myself. Of course this didn’t worry me a bit, so after a few hours enjoyment in spite of the large number of sailors, I started for camp and was almost to the ferry before meeting anyone I knew.
I had only $7.00 to start with and got back with only 3, besides some of the boys paid all my expenses at the cafes, and on the merry-go-rounds and we sure had a fine time.
We will get paid before we leave here, but expect to leave in a few days.
Hope to see you soon.
Your brother,
Fred.
NOTES: Fred Edward Davis was born in Carroll County, Arkansas on September 8, 1885 and died on July 18, 1966 in Carroll County. He is buried in the IOOF Cemetery in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Davis served with the 42nd Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS