TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COURIER INDEX NOVEMBER 2, 1917 P. 6
No doubt you will be surprized to hear from me at this time and place, but to make a long story short, we did not reach our destination. A submarine got us 75 miles this side of Havre, France, and I am here in the hospital getting patched up. Only five out of fourteen came back. The captain and one other were killed and five drowned; two died of exposure. We abandoned the ship at 5 a.m. Sept. 27. We were three days in an open boat before rescued by a Spanish ship and brought to New York, and I went straight to the hospital. I am not writing particulars, as we were supposed to keep our mouths shut, but will say that what pity and friendliness I have had for the German people in the past has changed, for when we were captured there were things done to us that that I thought were beyond a human being, and now I don’t believe the devil could teach them anything. But I got back after all, and I cannot say when I shall be ready to leave here. I may try to cross again.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Ed McFarland to his sister Mrs. Paul Sloan. He was a second mate on a merchant ship that was sunk.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
No doubt you will be surprized to hear from me at this time and place, but to make a long story short, we did not reach our destination. A submarine got us 75 miles this side of Havre, France, and I am here in the hospital getting patched up. Only five out of fourteen came back. The captain and one other were killed and five drowned; two died of exposure. We abandoned the ship at 5 a.m. Sept. 27. We were three days in an open boat before rescued by a Spanish ship and brought to New York, and I went straight to the hospital. I am not writing particulars, as we were supposed to keep our mouths shut, but will say that what pity and friendliness I have had for the German people in the past has changed, for when we were captured there were things done to us that that I thought were beyond a human being, and now I don’t believe the devil could teach them anything. But I got back after all, and I cannot say when I shall be ready to leave here. I may try to cross again.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Ed McFarland to his sister Mrs. Paul Sloan. He was a second mate on a merchant ship that was sunk.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON