The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-07-18
OUR SOLDIER BOYS
8. M. Huntley

>. M. Huntioy
Mrs. ]. c. Huntley, Sr., of Ruby
has received the following letter from
her son, S. M. Huntley:
Somewhere on the Ocean"
Dear Mama:.
Today will finish three days and
nights at sea for US. AS yet only a
few have been sea sick. Pm glad to
say that / haven't been among the
number, but then the ocean has been
comparatively calm until this after
noon. There is a pretty stiff breeze
blowing now and by morning sus-
pect that even tht big shir will -
rocking abont enough tn make us
land-lovers wish we were ashore.
told you on the card l sent about
us having a piano very near our
berths. There are quite few musi
Clans an board, including two excel
! lent violinists. Someone brought a
number of pieces of sheet music, in
Guiding one of Lexie's favorites, "Just
Baby's Prayer at Twilight"
Although we are not in the danger
zone we are, and have been since
leaving port, required to wear life
preservers and carry our canteens
full of fresh water, except when near
our berths. Then, too, we have drills
to enable us to get to certain places
assigned to us as quickly as possible
in case of fire or any like danger.
We are assured that there is plenty
Of time for everyone on board to get
off before the ship could possibly sink
There are lot of life boats and RATS
on board or rather attached to the
side of the ship.
Saturday Morning.
The sunset last evening was par
ticularly beautiful. Soon after l
stopped writing l went up on the
hurricane deck" to wait for the sun
to set. There were more clouds last
night than tonight, but even then the
sight was beautiful.
They had target practice day be-
fore yesterday. They threw
something over board and then cir
cled around so that the big six-inch
guns on either end of the boat could
get crack at it. Some noise those
guns made too! They hit the target
several times.
In connection with that target prac-
Ice an amusing thing-that is, is was
amusing to all except one or possibly
two parties-happened. A fellow in
this compartment was doing "bunk
fatigue" so industriously that he went
to sleep and so didn't hear us when
we left for the upper decks. The
irst thing he knew the guns were
,oing off good fashioned. The poor
fellow thought, no doubt, that the
runs were from the enemies vessels.
Anyway, he jumped out of his berth
and rushed up deck knocking down
guard on the way.
Sunday Morning
suppose that you all must be get
ing ready for Sunday School by now
| don't know whether we shall have
services today or not don't much
hink there will be any as no an
'ouncements have been made. We
have been in the danger zone quite
while now. Last night after supper
We had drill with more specific di-
'ections; and too, we were all ordered
rot to remove our clothing when we
retired. Nevertheless, l slept as
ound as log, and this morning am
ceiling even better than yesterday
nough so to eat every bit Of my
'reakfast.
Yesterday afternoon one of the
Z. M. c. A. men brought around
'hamphlets with the songs in them
md new Testaments. Both were free
nd there were quite lot Of each dis
ributed. Some of the boys got to.
,ether and had "sing."
This afternoon at 7:10 will COM
,lete our fifth day of sailing. 1t is
:ool enough for one to feel very com
Portable in both his blouse and over
coat while on deck. The fellows have
bout quit starting when one sudden
y yells at them, "Oh! say, there's a
,hone message for you; Morning
nail' and "crows in the corn patch"
are old jokes too. We really did see
'ome sea gulls yesterday afternoon.
Wonder where they came from.
The crew assures us that we are
cheerful bunch-natural, not liquid
you please you'd think so if yor
:ould have heard the follows in our
sleeping quarters the other night jus
,fter lights went out at nine o'clock.
t reminded one of school days, or,
possibly more of the barnyard The
5ob-whites, turkey gobblers, guineas,
horses and yes-the bearded animal
famous in history and poetry, the
,oat-could all be distinguished. Any
body can mock the bob-white, but il