Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-01-24
{. M. HAYS WRITES
FROM SOUTH AMERICA
Has Been Very Ill With Pneumonia
Following InfIuenza--5O of His
Shipmates Died of Disease

Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Hayes have
received letter from their son, Ern-
est NJ, who enlisted in the navy and
is with the U. S. S. Pittsburg. The
letter was dated December IL, and
reads as follows:
My Dear Parents; As mail is
leaving tomorrow, which will not
have to be censored, | am going to
try TO write you a real letter for
once. ! suppose that Ives Ia broth
err thinks that | have forgotten him,
but have received back four letters
which | mailed to him. He has been
moving SO much that it seems the
letters could not keep up with him.
| suppose you have received my
last letter. telling of my illness. |
had the Spanish influenza for two
weeks on board ship and was sent to
hospital in Rio de Janiero, Brazil,
to recuperate. At first, while there,
| was only weak from the influenza,
but | developed an attack of pneu-
monia. | tell you l thought that I'd
never see the old PaIouse country
again. But | made up my mind to
pull through and | did. For three
days / could not breath at all with
my left lung. l was in the hospital
for two months and when | came
aboard ship again / was sure skinny
and weak. At one time nearly the
whole crew were sick with the FLU"
and 80 died. | am still on the sick
list, but the doctor let's me go on the
beach with the ball team, but not to
play. 1t is better than staying on
the ship.
l have been in South America ever
since war was declared but have
seen some pretty cold weather right
here in Monte Video Uruguay.
When a good storm comes up and
the waves sweep over the forecastle
and even over the boat decks, you
know that you are in a storm. But
| can tell you it's great to go through
these experiences. People may think
that it gets tiresome, but to me the
ocean is wonderful. Some of our
superiors who were taxicab drivers
on the outside, make it miserable for
the sailors, but | would like to go
clear around the world and see all
the different countries.
don't think this ship will leave
for the States until July. I won't
know how to act when I get back
to the u. s. I've been with these
South Americans so long I'm like one
of them. | suppose you people are
having lots of cold weather, but
down here it is spring time. The
grass is getting green and the trees
are leafing out
The candy you sent me was great.
It came while l was in the hospital,
but the doctor did not give it to me
until | was we'll Also received the
tobacco, but you will be surprised
and pleased to hear that I don't
smoke much any more, nothing but
pipe and cigars. My heart is still
weak from the pneumonia and the
doctor said it would take me year
or more TO get over it, but don't
agree, for / am getting we'll fast and
weigh ZAP pounds. which is more
than ] weighed before.
Will write letter from every port
we stop at. We may go to Buenos
Aires, Argentina, for Christmas. |
hope we do, but it takes money there,
although our money is worth two
and half times as much as theirs.
| would like to spend Christmas there
because | know an English family,
who treated me fine the last time |
was there and asked me to eat
Christmas dinner with them.
Give my best regards to all my
friends With love to all,
e. NJ. HAYES.