Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-10-03
Dodging U Boats
Over War Zone
Local Boy Tells Of Sights He
Saw in Rome and Views
Spanish Bull Fight

OpdH1Sn Dull ElgnT
To the Democrat
This is just to let you know that
am feeling fine and naturally in the
best of health. Hoping of course that
it 6nds all of my Lacgdon friends the
same. Until yesterday it was long
time since last saw the United
States. we returning from our last
voyage safe and sound. 1t may not
sound as long as it seemed TO US.
When we left this side of the At.
lantic it took US seventeen days to
reach Gibraltar, anchoring there a:
two O'Clock in the morning. Quite
number of us were given shore leave
the next day and l decided to cross
over to Africa, on the other side of
the straits, matter of about eight
miles. Our stay there lasted but
few hours when we crossed over to
Gibraltar and began taking in the
sights there. For my part can say
that l climbed to the top of the rock
from which this world renowned fort
ress gets its name. To the top it is
about l, 400 feet, which seeing the
difficulties to be supmounted was some
climb. 1t took US seven days to 60
up the Mediterranean Sea. There
sure was some scenery to see in
around Genoa. The second day of our
stop there went to Rome, about
six hour ride from Genoa. One re
markable thing that l will be able
to say saw was the house in which
Christopher Columbus was born. 1t
is now quite weather beaten and di
lapitated. 1t was also my good for
tune to get glimpse Of Pope Bene-
dictine The house in which Col.
umbus was born is built of stone
which forms the construction of most
of the buildings in this part of Italy.
At Genoa we found quite num-
ber of United States troops stationed.
And we left with the reminiscence of
having been beaten by them in a
couple of base ball games that we
undertook to play. The first game
we lost by score of 10 to z and the
second went at to 6. In one anne
l was holding down first base. One
of the sights that are shown to visi :.
tors at Genoa is their grave yard.
Historically it is rich in antiquity and
the more recent additions are monu-
ments of opulence and wealth. The
rich people have private churches of
their own within the cemetery and
the members of the family as they
pass away are buried therein. Be.
fore leaving Gibraltar, Genoa and
other points at which we stopped 1
| gathered together quite a number of
souvenirs and suppose if had more
money along wo-Id have spcnt it in
the same way Leaving on the re.
turn trip we followed the Spanish
coast for two cr three days, enjoy
ing the scenery all the way. MY
short stay in Spain included a Sun.
day and part of the day was spent at
Spanish bull fight, one Of the ma
tional sports of that country and of
course quite novelty. to most of US
fellows.
We only sighted two su bmarines
during entire voyage. O:e just before
we reached Genoa, and it was two
miles away when the periscope was
first made out by the officer on watch
Two of the subm arine chasers were
ordered from the convoy in pursuit
and it is reported sunk it with a
depth charge. The other one was on
the other side of the convoy and could
not be made out from the deck of our
ship. I sure consider myself lucky
to have been transferred from the
Santiago when did as it was just q
couple of weeks after left that il
was sunk. We got the news of this
happening while in Genoa. reading
it in an American paper. If l rem
ember rightly it was the same paper
that in looking over the casualty lis
that l learned that Roy Horgan hat
been killed in action. 1t was hare
for me to believe that this was reall!
true. Lloyd Newbern
U. S. S. Canton, care of Postmas
ter New Y ork, N. Y.
Brooklynn, N. Y, Sept. 19, 1918