The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-19
BOYS saw
TURKS UPRISING
An Interesting Letter From keo-
kuk Boy on Board the U. S.
s.Montana Which Was
in Turkey
DON'T WEAR ANY SHOES
A Short Story In Letter Of Several
Thousand Miles Travel In For.
eian Lands Aboard
BattIeship.

Letters from Keokuk boys who are
in the U IS. navy or army always
prove very interesting to friends in
this city and especially SO when the
travels and little incidents in the
every day life of the sailor boy are
depicted in the letters received at
home.
There are quite a number Of Keokuk
boys in the navy, all OF whom are do
ing well and say they would not
change places with landsman for
anything.
Following is a letter received in this
city by Nelson Burris who corresponds
regularly with his friend, Virgil
Smith, of the U. S. s. Montana. His
experience among the Turks during
the recent uprising of the young
lbloods of the land are told in an In
teresting manner:
| u. S. Montana, Alexandrette. Turkey,
May 10. 1909.
This ship has been travelling some
for the past three months We left
Norfolk. Va. March 26th for Guantana-
mo, Cuba We we're there couple
of days and went to the Island OF Con
dolope. Was there to watch President
Castro. When his hip left, we left
about half mile, in the rear. We
went to Port OF France, then to Port
of Spain, Trinidad. After a short stay
4 there we left for Gontonanla.
Playing Ball.
eve were having good time, swim
mig and playing ball when we got
orders to go to Turkey. We took on
4 stores and coaled like the deuce On
4 April 26th. we left Cuba for Gibralter
in company with the North Carolina
That is 3,S75 miles. 1t took eleven
days. ] guess that Is some without
stop.
! MAY 5th we arrived at the Rock q
Gibralter. Some of the guys were
looking for the Prudential sign. Say
: hut that was grand sight. That rock
4 is honey-combed and there are guns
\ all over the place. 1t is the strongest
Y fort in the world.
At Messlna.~
1--WE coaled and went on our way to
Messina. short distance of 1000
i miles. There were about ten ships OF
4 different nations in there. It is III
i tie burg. about the size Of Warsaw
we left the Caroline and came up here
i To Alexandrette. There was an en-
i gagement here between Turkish and
4 an English gunboat. The French send
landing party ashore every day to
& patrol the town.
1--WE have got an all summer job
i here II looks like. The Turks have
heen killing everybody that they could
almost and almost every town In Tur'
j kew has been burned. The Turks are
in the hills here but the warboats
have them bluffed.
"say / would like to drop in for
counla of cool ones. The weather In
this place is fine.
Doesn't Wear Shoes.
: .T havn't had shoes on for week
After 11..30 a. m. we have nothing to
do hut eat and sleep. We get ste"
every meal it seems like. ! am get
ting to be short timer now. only Two
wears and a "but'' to do. Say was
aboard the. u. S. S. Louisiana and saw
Dick Lowering there. You know him
y. Faber and Wells were ashore. Coyie
Howe and myself were over tneie
when she was lying along side OF us IN
Norfolk All Of those fellows are paio
off this fall.
Will close for this time hoping &c
hear from you again soon,
i' VIRGIL SMITH.