The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-03-28
BEAVER COUNTY
LAND OWNER ON ILL.
FATED TUSCANIA

1
The following letter from Ferd
Denner. sent The Herald for publica-
Ition, will be read with interest by
residents Of Minnelo district. In the
east half OF the county, the writer
being a land owner in that section.
His parents live at Enid. The letter
follows:
Somewhere in Ireland.
February 8, 1918.
DEAR FOLKS:
| suppose you were waiting very
anxiously for an answer from me,
for I have had no opportunity for
three weeks to write to you. and II
may he month before you gel
this letter. ! suppose you received
my letter which left to be sent from
New York saying that arrived
safely.
We left New York and were four
teen days on the water and believe
me, / was some seasick. The first
day felt queer and the next two
days I was afraid would die, but
the next two days l was afraid
wouldn't die. for ! was simply miser-
able.
| III tt'N uit 'VOhtu NY bttdnI
I didn't want very much OF II when
I was we'll therefore I didn't try to
eat anything for the first week but
lived on apples and crackers which !
bought on the ship. | believe I must
have lost 20 pounds, which brings
me back to normal, after losing
what gained at Camp Travis. After
the fifth day fel. better all of
| sudden and from then on II was a
pleasure to travel. But ! made up
my mind II ever came back to the
U. S. A. the Statue of Liberty would
have to turn around II she ever would
see me again. for I'd never leave
again II I had to cross the ocean
Since then have changed my mind
and would like to come back to this
country and live here for 1t is the
prettiest country l ever saw. and the
people are willing to do most any
thing for the Americans.
cannot tell you where I am for
the censor would not pass 1t. But
we are out in the country and every
thing is so different from home, espe-
cially the money. ] changed most of
mine and when l buy anything l
just take handful of coins and let
the people take what they want. |
have found out what few things
cost Shaving costs O cents but we
only get the "once over" and have
TO wash off the lather ourselves.
Candy costs about as much as at
home but there Is no great variety.
Tobacco Is dear and the kind they
have here would make a fellow want
to quit smoking because 1t is no
good. Beer costs s or 9 cents pint
and is sold in camp but II IL not as
good as Schlitz or Budweiser but
fellow lives in hopes OF getting used
to II.
The board. and treatment in gen
eral on the ship was good. Every
body had life belt in his bunk
which we always had to carry after
we got in the danger zone. We had
daily boat drills. so everybody knew
exactly what to do II we should be
torpedOed. You know that we were
torpedoed but there were plenty of
life boats for everybody. Censor
grasses full page here from letter,
probably description of this acci-
dent.) Last Tuesday between day
light and dark we were hit by a sub
marine. was just through eating
supper when It happened. We came
on deck without any confusion and
went into lifeboats. Later we were
picked up by chaser and taken to
where we are now. lost everything
! except my clothes which | had on
What I hated the worst was the loss
OF my clothes. when we have to wash
them ourselves. and mine were all
clean
SO many people are talking around
me hardly know what I am writing.
You will therefore excuse this letter
until | get into a permanent camp
where ! can get something to write
with and where II il quiet.
You must not worry about me for
| am safe now and having a good
time and seeing such a pretty coun-
TRY. I will sure be glad when can
hear from you for II Is over a month
since got letter from you. Love
to all. FERD.
A later letter tells OF Mr.. Denner's
safe arrival in France and he speaks
Of the good work OF the Red Cross
and Y. NJ. c. A., over there. II you
will notice. few soldiers fail to men
tion the good work OF these organ
izations and how they appreciate
what the Red Cross and Y. NJ. C. A..
are doing for them. What do you
think the boys" will think OF the
folks at home who are now doing
all in their power to provide these
comforts for them? The home work
Stacker Is gonig to feel about as little