Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-03-14
Letter From Frank Harris


On board the steamer Furst Bis
marck. headed for Sunny Italy, with
mind and body and stomach we'll at
ease and while l know that my mind
and body will be with me when l ar
rive at Naples, yet really if this
weather keeps up 1 am just little
afraid that my stomach will be giving
short but real int resting vaudeville
entertainment TO the beneti. of the
fish. l have never been sea sick, yet
tonight feel as though it would not
tale more than seven (7l pieces of real
fat pork to put me in that delightful
condition that people tell me is nice to
get over.
We left New York Thursday. the
14th of February, and how we ever
got away do not know. The cd
ship, and she is mighty big one al
that, had to fight for about three (3)
hours through one long bed of ice. An
old ferryman told me that this was the
worst freeze" they had had in %
years, and l was just little afraid
that we wouldn't sail, but Mr.. Ferry
boat got across the river so l knew
that the steamer would make it. When
arrived at the dock found my bag
gage had not been brought over. Let
me give anybody and everybody who
is thinking of going abroad good
little piece of advice. do not let
your baggage get out of sight" If
you could have known how 1t feels to
wait and wait until about one minute
and / assure you it wasn't second
sooner-until your trunks arrived,
you would readily realize that it would
be useless for me to give that advice.
There were about Is of us waiting
there and of all the pathetic speeches,
of the hair-raising sentences, of the
ear splitting phrases you ever heard
Why, it was like "gang" of Indians
on the war path, rather than gather.
ing of ladies and gentlemen merely
waiting for their baggage. Oh, we'll
lit isn't much to think about now, but
then-well, that was surely another
story, and to make the delightful SEN
sation more pleasant made the start
ling discovery that ] had lost my
checks, but, kept my mouth shu,
about that part OF it. suppose if the
things had come over early couldn',
have got them; as it was, we'll, when 9
fellow got his eyes on his stuff, hi
made q grab, gave yell and started
with the grips, and the porter didn't
wait for any checks. They didn't have
time for anv waiting. l know thai
now when l think about it, it Seems
quite tame, but, oh we'll, !, like sbou
"a others, am real glad there was M
ono around who was real we'll &C
quainted with me. really know the,
will think more of me for not being
there. Take my advice, "freeze oDt'
your baggage" 1t will save you use
less worry. Of course, the river beinl
frozen over made oil the difference il
the world, but If you have your bag
gage with you the river can freeze 81
it wants to and you can have the salts
faction of knowing you have alread.
"froze to your goods and chattels."
j AS we came down the Bay it seemed
impossible for any boat to get througl
that field of ice, and tell you it was
good old fight the boat put up to max
; it, Once or twice it seemed as if "
would lose, surely, but we didn't; "
: are still pounding tonight
The first day out was cold. oh 8
cold. Really l can't remember Q
having spent colder day and night
next day found US in the "Gul
: stream" How strange it seemed, s
cold the first day that one could hard
, ~ keep alive, and very next, coats OF
, and weather the same as we have j
Iowa in May. The change was quit
as welcome, though, IS 1t was sndde
and from now on the weather will +
warm even IL it is rough.
Say, it's quite sight to see a COUP
hundred people with about IS or 100 {
|, them sick. OF course. know the
!. are sick, and good end sick. but the
nn anch fnnnv THINGS that one ca