TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MOUNTAIN WAVE MAY 31, 1918 P. 2
New York, May 12, 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Gates, Atlas, Ark.
Dear Folks and All:
Well, we finally got to our destination. We are in Camp Mills, New York. We are across the river from the main part of New York City, but it is city all the way from here to Wall Street. We came through the city yesterday. We sure had a fine time on our trip out here.
We left Camp Doniphan Tuesday afternoon and got here last night (Sunday). We had sleeping cars all the way, lived right on the train. All we got off for was a little exercise about once a day. We took the Rock Island Railroad to Kansas City and took the Wabash to Huntington, Indiana, and the Erie Railroad from there to Jersey City, New Jersey, and then a boat from Jersey City to New York, and then took a little dinky line out here. We are on Long Island just across from New York City.
I sure have seen some fine country. This is some camp here, too. I never had so much fun and a lot of us are going over to the big city tonight. It only costs a quarter to ride from here to the city. I aim to see all of it, too. I have already seen the Statue of Liberty. It sure looks good. I sent you a little folder of some pictures taken in the big city. I have got a lot of stuff to tell you when I get home. I can’t write and tell you all I have seen. I don’t know how long we will be here, but I don’t think we will be here long. Some say we will take a boat in about six days. We are all well, and anxious to go.
Now folks, be sure and don’t worry about me. I am having the time of my life, and write to me as often as possible.
NOTES: This letter was written by William Jennings Bryan Gates of Leslie, Arkansas. He was born at Bear Creek, Arkansas on May 20, 1898 and died on November 18, 1936. He is buried in the Blackwell Cemetery in Blackwell, Oklahoma. He left for France onboard the Louisville on May 19, 1918. He returned home onboard the Antigone, leaving St. Nazaire, France on April 14, 1919. He arrived at Newport News, Virginia on April 27, 1919. He served as a Private in Field Hospital 140, 110th Sanitary Train, 35th Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
New York, May 12, 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Gates, Atlas, Ark.
Dear Folks and All:
Well, we finally got to our destination. We are in Camp Mills, New York. We are across the river from the main part of New York City, but it is city all the way from here to Wall Street. We came through the city yesterday. We sure had a fine time on our trip out here.
We left Camp Doniphan Tuesday afternoon and got here last night (Sunday). We had sleeping cars all the way, lived right on the train. All we got off for was a little exercise about once a day. We took the Rock Island Railroad to Kansas City and took the Wabash to Huntington, Indiana, and the Erie Railroad from there to Jersey City, New Jersey, and then a boat from Jersey City to New York, and then took a little dinky line out here. We are on Long Island just across from New York City.
I sure have seen some fine country. This is some camp here, too. I never had so much fun and a lot of us are going over to the big city tonight. It only costs a quarter to ride from here to the city. I aim to see all of it, too. I have already seen the Statue of Liberty. It sure looks good. I sent you a little folder of some pictures taken in the big city. I have got a lot of stuff to tell you when I get home. I can’t write and tell you all I have seen. I don’t know how long we will be here, but I don’t think we will be here long. Some say we will take a boat in about six days. We are all well, and anxious to go.
Now folks, be sure and don’t worry about me. I am having the time of my life, and write to me as often as possible.
NOTES: This letter was written by William Jennings Bryan Gates of Leslie, Arkansas. He was born at Bear Creek, Arkansas on May 20, 1898 and died on November 18, 1936. He is buried in the Blackwell Cemetery in Blackwell, Oklahoma. He left for France onboard the Louisville on May 19, 1918. He returned home onboard the Antigone, leaving St. Nazaire, France on April 14, 1919. He arrived at Newport News, Virginia on April 27, 1919. He served as a Private in Field Hospital 140, 110th Sanitary Train, 35th Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS