Mexico weekly ledger., 1917-10-11

John Wallace Robinson, son of Mrs.
Ida Robinson, of this city, writes an
interesting letter to his mother re-
garding life on board n U. S. Army
transport. He was on board the
transport Sheridan crossing the Pa
cific Ocean going to Manila. The
letter follows;
Dear Mother and Folks:
PACIFIC OCEAN, on the Sheridan
Transport, Sept. IL, 7:3O p. m. -
Honolulu, Hawaii Islands: Well, l
am or have gotten to be some sea fish
since | put out to sea-. We left Fort
Mcdowell September 9Th at twelve
o'clock. The sea was rough from thu
Golden Gate out until the last two
days. There was a bunch of sick
fellows for a while. l was fortunate
enough not to get sick, but felt bet
ter than have any time since spring.
The trip from Fort Leavenworth was
a pleasant one, and l saw some rough
as well as deserted country.
There is a fascination about this
life, for / really enjoy it. The first
meal we ate on board, l ate in front OF
the carpenter shop. The carpenter
was in, and while eating he asked me
if | knew of someone that wanted
to work at the carpenters trade. I
told him l did, thinking it would be a
good chance to pass the weary hours
away. fixed things up with my su-
perior officer and the ship officer and
reported for work the next morning.
We sound the ship each morning for
the quantity of fresh water on hand.
At SEVENTEEN we go to breakfast,
at eight we start to work, and work
until eleven. At twelve we go to din
ner. At n we commence again and
work until four. Our days work is
finished. At five we go to supper.
We have access to lunch in our dining
room from seven until ten during the
evening. One could not ask for more
and better food to eat. 1t sure is a
treat to me, for the food we have been
getting u was awful.
We had me real rough night of it
the third day at sea. The big waves
would break over the boat, making one
think they would be washed away The
next time. 1t was cold and foggy the
first few days, but the last two DAYS
have been ideal summer days. In
stead Of having coal on a fire to keen
warm this winter, | will have to keep
a fan busy to keep cool.
We are at present about POO miles
from San Francisco, according to the
bulletion on board. I have Travelled
a little better than five thousand miles
since one week ago last night. Moth
lrg IKE 1t. 1t is actually making me
fat.
haven't had much time to spend
with my chum, but have managed to
slip him some good sandwiches since
he recovered from his seige of sea
sickness. | have been bothered con-
siderable with my left arm where I
was vaccinated, but / an gettinp
along fine with it now.
We expect to arrive in Honolulu to-
morrow afternoon. I may be able to
get ashore, but do not know for sure
for each n has to have a pass. II
IS going to be a long, tiresome trim.
l fear, for we will be three or four
weeks on the way after we leave Ha-
wall. The ship we are on is a steel
structure about three hundred feet
long and forty feet wide at the wild.
est part. 1t has a draught of abou.
thirty feet, and is about thirty.fiye
feet out Of the water.
Well, ] will close for this time.
trusting these few lines find all we'll,
write to me at Co. D, Bird Telegraph
Battalion, Signal Corps, Manila, p. I.
and ! will probably get 1t when I ar.
with best wishes TO all, and NAV
Iod watch over all, l am, as ever,
JOHN w. ROpINcoN