TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPECTATOR JUNE 3, 1919 P. 1
Editor of Spectator:
With pleasure, I write you these few lines this am for it is nearly 1:30 now, but I can sleep all the forenoon. I must write to you now before I get too much news.
I left Altus the 12th, was in Ft. Smith a week, and was entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Dempsy who formerly lived at Clarksville, Ark. And on Monday morning went to the recruiting office about 10:30 and left 11:45, mother met my train for one more farewell kiss and brought me a box of cherries that V. T. Hale, J. B. Hale’s baby girl gathered for me.
I saw many farms that were under water, and many more in which the weeds were getting very bad, on account of the rain.
I arrived safely in Little Rock, stayed there two nights and one day. My baggage was lost between Ft. Smith and Little Rock, but was assured it would be found and forwarded to me.
After leaving Little Rock I saw nothing but swamps all the way to Nashville, was in Nashville one hour, they were celebrating Nashville’s 100th birthday. The streets were beautifully decorated but it was raining and they postponed a parade they were intending to have that night. I left there about 8:30 for Birmingham, Alabama, in Birmingham only 85 minutes. Left there 6:45 for Atlanta, Georgia, arrived there at 11:59, stayed there until 7:45 that night. Caught a train on the Southern R. R. for Charleston, S.C., arrived there the next morning at 7:55 Had a fine trip. The government furnishes me with a pullman fare and my expenses all the way from Ft. Smith. I reported at the receiving ship, Charleston navy yards about 11:30, was fixed up as soon as possible and am permanently detailed there. I arrived there Fridad morning the 23rd at 2:15. I was granted a thirty day furlough to New York. I left there at 11:45 that night and arrived in New York at ten thirty the next night.
The farms in Tennessee and Georgia are looking fine, also in New York state.
I could tell you where I was at 6:30 tonight or last night for it is 2:15 now but that is a personal affair of mine, and it would not be of much interest to the readers of this letter.
I want you to send me the Spectator for three weeks to this address and then to Charleston to rec ship S. C. for the remainder of the subscription. And don’t forget to notify me when my subscription expires for I want my “Home town paper.”
R. R. Rummage
U.S. Navy.
NOTES: Robert Roy Rummage was born on May 30, 1894 in Ozark, Arkansas and died on May 12, 1953. He is buried in the Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Oklahoma BM1 Navy serving in World War 1. He was writing to the editor of the Spectator, Reuben H. Burrow.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Editor of Spectator:
With pleasure, I write you these few lines this am for it is nearly 1:30 now, but I can sleep all the forenoon. I must write to you now before I get too much news.
I left Altus the 12th, was in Ft. Smith a week, and was entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Dempsy who formerly lived at Clarksville, Ark. And on Monday morning went to the recruiting office about 10:30 and left 11:45, mother met my train for one more farewell kiss and brought me a box of cherries that V. T. Hale, J. B. Hale’s baby girl gathered for me.
I saw many farms that were under water, and many more in which the weeds were getting very bad, on account of the rain.
I arrived safely in Little Rock, stayed there two nights and one day. My baggage was lost between Ft. Smith and Little Rock, but was assured it would be found and forwarded to me.
After leaving Little Rock I saw nothing but swamps all the way to Nashville, was in Nashville one hour, they were celebrating Nashville’s 100th birthday. The streets were beautifully decorated but it was raining and they postponed a parade they were intending to have that night. I left there about 8:30 for Birmingham, Alabama, in Birmingham only 85 minutes. Left there 6:45 for Atlanta, Georgia, arrived there at 11:59, stayed there until 7:45 that night. Caught a train on the Southern R. R. for Charleston, S.C., arrived there the next morning at 7:55 Had a fine trip. The government furnishes me with a pullman fare and my expenses all the way from Ft. Smith. I reported at the receiving ship, Charleston navy yards about 11:30, was fixed up as soon as possible and am permanently detailed there. I arrived there Fridad morning the 23rd at 2:15. I was granted a thirty day furlough to New York. I left there at 11:45 that night and arrived in New York at ten thirty the next night.
The farms in Tennessee and Georgia are looking fine, also in New York state.
I could tell you where I was at 6:30 tonight or last night for it is 2:15 now but that is a personal affair of mine, and it would not be of much interest to the readers of this letter.
I want you to send me the Spectator for three weeks to this address and then to Charleston to rec ship S. C. for the remainder of the subscription. And don’t forget to notify me when my subscription expires for I want my “Home town paper.”
R. R. Rummage
U.S. Navy.
NOTES: Robert Roy Rummage was born on May 30, 1894 in Ozark, Arkansas and died on May 12, 1953. He is buried in the Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Oklahoma BM1 Navy serving in World War 1. He was writing to the editor of the Spectator, Reuben H. Burrow.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON