TRANSCRIBED FROM THE GRAND PRAIRIE NEWS NOVEMBER 21, 1918 P. 3
September 24, 1918.
On the Pacific.
Dear Folks:
As there is nothing much to do but watch the waves roll by, I will spend some of my time in writing a few lines every once in a while, but I cannot mail this until next Wednesday, at Yokohoma, China that is our next stop. I must tell you about our swell time in Honolulu. We got there Friday evening, about 4 p.m., and the Red Cross met us there with a band, and they played several pieces while we were landing. They also, had their cars along. There was one lady on the ship, that lived in Honolulu, and she was a member of the Red Cross. She sent a wireless message ahead, that is how they knew we were coming.
From there we went out to the Waikiki beach, where we could all go in bathing if we wanted to, and of course, we all did. Then they gave us all the ice cream and cake we could eat, and after that we had a dance; then we went to the Y. M. C. A. and stayed all night. The next morning a man came along and took four other boys and myself out in his auto and showed us the scenery, and I never saw such a beautiful city in my life. We saw big banana groves and pineapple fields, and we also, got some cocoanuts down from the trees. Bananas are 2 ½ cents a dozen; pineapples, 5 and 10 cents each, and some of the boys certainly did stock up too, because on this ship, one little old apple costs 10 cents, and orange, 15 cents, and that would break a millionaire to buy them.
Well, we left Honolulu about 11 a.m.. Saturday morning, and the Red Cross loaded about 500 pineapples, 50 bunches of bananas and a lot of apples on our ship, before we left, and after we got started we were each given a comfort kit that was put on board for us by the Red Cross.
I never did realize how much to appreciate the Red Cross until now. They sure did treat us grand.
Well, I suppose I must stop for today, will finish this some time before we land again.
September 28, 1918
Saturday Morning
I will now try and finish my letter. We have only four more days now until we land again. That will be in Yokohama, China, next Tuesday. After we make our next stop I’ll write again. May be I’ll have something else of interest to tell about. Now I will stop. I think I have told all I can think of. Hoping this finds you all well and happy.
Your loving son and brother,
Ernest Franz
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
September 24, 1918.
On the Pacific.
Dear Folks:
As there is nothing much to do but watch the waves roll by, I will spend some of my time in writing a few lines every once in a while, but I cannot mail this until next Wednesday, at Yokohoma, China that is our next stop. I must tell you about our swell time in Honolulu. We got there Friday evening, about 4 p.m., and the Red Cross met us there with a band, and they played several pieces while we were landing. They also, had their cars along. There was one lady on the ship, that lived in Honolulu, and she was a member of the Red Cross. She sent a wireless message ahead, that is how they knew we were coming.
From there we went out to the Waikiki beach, where we could all go in bathing if we wanted to, and of course, we all did. Then they gave us all the ice cream and cake we could eat, and after that we had a dance; then we went to the Y. M. C. A. and stayed all night. The next morning a man came along and took four other boys and myself out in his auto and showed us the scenery, and I never saw such a beautiful city in my life. We saw big banana groves and pineapple fields, and we also, got some cocoanuts down from the trees. Bananas are 2 ½ cents a dozen; pineapples, 5 and 10 cents each, and some of the boys certainly did stock up too, because on this ship, one little old apple costs 10 cents, and orange, 15 cents, and that would break a millionaire to buy them.
Well, we left Honolulu about 11 a.m.. Saturday morning, and the Red Cross loaded about 500 pineapples, 50 bunches of bananas and a lot of apples on our ship, before we left, and after we got started we were each given a comfort kit that was put on board for us by the Red Cross.
I never did realize how much to appreciate the Red Cross until now. They sure did treat us grand.
Well, I suppose I must stop for today, will finish this some time before we land again.
September 28, 1918
Saturday Morning
I will now try and finish my letter. We have only four more days now until we land again. That will be in Yokohama, China, next Tuesday. After we make our next stop I’ll write again. May be I’ll have something else of interest to tell about. Now I will stop. I think I have told all I can think of. Hoping this finds you all well and happy.
Your loving son and brother,
Ernest Franz
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD