Gunnison news-champion., 1918-01-25
TELLS OF sIcHrSERINc rRIP
ON ATLANTIC COAST
U. s. 8. Minnesota

Dear Folhs:
I arrived on board this ship about
= =. u. Of the seventh ard found OFion
sitting in . corner on his ditty box
reading book. One Of the boys took
me where he was sitting and called
out ~French" and Orion said, Here"
and aaid. Hello lid" He WAS sure
surprised to zee me IS I didn't let him
know was coming. The commander
took me beck and asked me II want
ed to stay aboard for two or three
days to visit Orion and Of course L
said, "yea" Orion weighs twenty
pounds more than I; he weighs l63
Jan. Is, 1918.
Well, I am hack in New York again:
got here at II p. n. last night and
sure have had . fine trip. I saw %
many things Of historical interest.
Down at Yorktown saw the monu-
ment that marks the surrender Of
Cornwallis;' it stands on the bank of
the river. From Yorktown went to
Richmond, Va, and here went thru
the old confederate capitol. Then I
went thru the State penitentiary;
there were seven hundred prisoners
in there. They have an overall factory
in Richmond and they make GOO dozen
pairs of overalls daily. The man who
showed me thru said they could make
enough clothes to clothe the U. s.
navy in six months time. Next l Wis
tied Lees old home; it is little red
house. Then visited the National
Cemetery here.
When l left Richmond went up to
Washington, ID. c., and this was the
most interesting Of all my trips. When
We came out Of the Union depot, we
could see a part of the capitol build
ings. The Senate is the first place
you pass, If you walk straight ahead
from the depot, then the Main Capitol
building, then the House Of Repres-
entatives. These are the main build
ings with few smaller ones around
the same spot. The White house,
Bureau Of Engineering and Congress
sional Library, etc. are located in 9TH
er parts of the city. ! was in the ball
room of the Pension building where all
the big balls of the President are held.
! went out to Washington's monu-
ment and went to the top in the ele-
vator as didn't feel exactly like walk
ing stair steps for 555 feet each way.
! didn't get to see Washington's old
home for it was sixteen miles down
the Potomac.
went up and saw Congressman
Edward Taylor of Colorado and he is
going to try to get Orion and me to-
gether. Believe me you want to vote
for him for he is one of the finest men
l ever met. He said he sort of felt
guardian over the boys from the
Western Slope and would do anything
in Lis power for any of them, espec-
tally the ones from Gunnison. He
talked ard joked with me the same -
he would to one he had known all his
life and told me anytime wanted to
ask him anything just to write him.
He is very busy man but told him
had been student at the Normal,
he dropped everything and gave me
his time. He said they were planning
great things for the Normal.
-. -..sss-s Jan. Is, 1918.
Well, I am here for while at least.
was transferred from the MINES
ota for signalman for armed guard
duty, which means that l shall see
the Kaiser before many months or at
least / hope SO. We left the ship yes
terday morning and came to Norfolk
and from there we went to Cape
Chatres and took the train for Phil
adelphia, arriving here about nine
this morning. l volunteered to go
into the mess hall this week. | guess
that ] shall get on transport in a
week or so and then the Kaiser wants
to watch out for I will be after him.
Our bags and hammocks are here
SO will close for this time. My ad-
dress will be ORION F. FRENCH,
Receiving Ship, Philadelphia, Pa.
Barracks 226.