The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1918-07-12
OUR SOLDIER BOYS.
Henry Taylor.

their son, Henry, OF company L., writ |
ten aboard ship, in mid-ocean on MAY |
i2-Mo,her's Day--and he says, "as |
am writing thousands on the ship are
remembering Mother with a message.
1--WE have been on the water for sew.
eral days and there are still few more
DAYS Of the same kind ahead of US.
Since leaving the United States sew.
eral transports have joined us, and ore
cruiser that acts like an old hen over
a flock of her chickens, in leading and
protecting US, and thus far has taken
excellent care of her brood. From n.
mospheric conditions, We must be-
somewhere near the North pole, il isI
20 cold. and the air very raw and penc-
| trating; but up 20 the present II has
/ been very moderate weather.
Thus far ! have had no sea sickncsg
and do not think | will, as we have had
some very rough seas since we started
and the good ship rocked and rolled,
hut my stomach stayed quiet. There
we're many, very many, scasick, AMI
while ! became light headed, appar-
entity on light drunk. and reelcd here
and there some, | did not feed the
sharks. We soon rally from this con.
dition and then laugh about 1t.
"Our lifeboat drill is daily, and while
strenuous, IL is interesting-thisi is our
only daily call except sick call" We
are not allowed on deck without our
life belts on, and am on deck much
of my time to look out upon the great
oxpanse Of water. and see the wavcs.
reflections and other Vaccinations Of
the mighty ocean.
"Our only excitement thus far was
watching our cruiser give chase 20
tire suspicious looking vessels one
ovening-but Il soon returncd-noth.
ing doing. Friendly vessels occasion.
ally appeared, but we didn't get 4
chance % go aboard. The dreaded
shark Il occasionally seen, but ] have
not a yet gone fishing for any.
and don't intend to. | have not seen
any whale yet.
After our boat drill today, May H.,
our chaplain preached an interesting
and touching sermon on Mother"
Vocal music and the band played sac
red selections, the services being he'll
ON deck. The sermon appealed to ~
I all. The deck was crowded, many hun.
drcds standing, while u gentle rain Eel (;
no, one left. His beautiful tribute to
mother touched Us all; not sourl
could he heard anywhere on deck.
lie asked every man to remember H."
day aud mother by sending her letter
and am one of the thousands that F.
answering his appeal. Mothers Day"
is more appreciated today than ever
before.
with the exception Of the meat
served Us, our food Is excellent. but
the meat Is simply horrld. You ha, q
heard Of sailors sleeping in canva,s
hammocks swung from the ceiling
well, that IL the way slccp. In ugr
covered tables with benches. Over
these We sleep. swinging from the &c .
ing. and they AZ" ~ thick as they can
hang. side by sidc--the ceiling IL a
, mass of white hammocks. At first /,
don't work 80 nice, hut you soon gc,
used to the thing, and you sleep ~
soundly rs babe IN the crib" and you
cant fall out--yOu are there for the
night.
81 haven't undresscd since leaving
: the Y. s.. except 10 take my shoes OF,
and haven't slept under anything cS-
ccpt my coat, and ! go to sleep by be-
Ing rocked by the motion of the boat.
On the 18th, he continues his letter
by saying he was still on the water,
land Is seen occasionally, and we arc
nearing our journeys end, and have
passed through the greatest danger
zone In safety, and We were greatly re-
licved, let me tell you. rather like
the water, even though II becomes