The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-01-04
LETTER FROM MISS JENNIE GUTHRIE
TO Her FATHER, Mr.. ].
D. GUTHRIE.
LIMOGES, FRANCE, Nov. oath.
,Ten.as aasette, st. Joseph, La

write anything we WISH to-""y' :"
I am going to tell you some ot the
things | have seen and done.
After to months stay on Ellis Is
land. one morning February lG) |
we packed bag and baggage and
were put into a little boat. Tins
was done as quietly as possible, no
display whatever. We landed at
closed Jersey City pier and boarded
the English steamer Carmanla. All
day we were kept inside and at
5 O'Clock that same afternoon we
sailed out o. New York harbor. No
one was allowei on deck until we
were far enough from land that we
could not be distinguished, but
watched the Statute of Liberty iade
from view through a crack in the
door.
The next morning ] got mp ircl-
ing fine, spent all day on deck;
land was sighted and we drew INTO
Halifax harbor the same afternoon.
From the ship we could see some
of the wreckage of the city OF Hal
flax and the Belgium Relief snip
and several others sunken IN The
harbor, for the great explosion HAD
been only short time before.
After three days in Halifax we
again started out, this time the
battle ship Santiago leading the
way. There were nine vessels. The
nine arrows here show our relative
positions: the circle indicates our
ship, b shows battle ships, the 9TH
ers were troop ships. 1.-THE Gazette
regrets being unable to produce fac
smile of diagram. Editor. The
one we were on carried several hun
dred nurses, all of our officers and
enlisted men, "a number OF aviators,
some civilians and a number OF
troops-about three thousand IN all
Every one on board was under the
most rigid discipline Every one
was compelled to attend the llf'
boat drill once and some times
twice a day; we even bad drills a
night in the dark and got to wher
we could get into position within
five minutes. No one was allowed
out on deck after a certain hour a
night. There were no lights what
ever on deck and very few inside
Everything was closed at night, N
mort holes allowed open, only door
n 1T were absolutely necessary am
fp.s, were closely guarded. lnsid
AIg.re was music and dancing, con
ty;rts, lectures, picture shows an
Y games; there was always music d
dinner and lunch. The quarter PAL
OF each day was spent on deck
walking or lounging in chairs, br
we were kept at all times in read
ness for any emergency, wearln
our life belts and remaining ut lea:
partly dressed at all times and til
last three days we were fully dressed
even while in bed at night.
Three days out of England Il
battle ship Santiago left us and r.
turned To America. That night "
were met by a convoy OF submarir
chasers. Some described them
fox-terriers, others as Fords. !
any rate they were the busiest lit
I'm. boats! How they could run, dar
ing Nin and out among the boat
making great circles around the e1
tire feet, some going far ahea'
others dropping behind.
On the 4th of March we land'
in Liverpool. When | got up tn
morning and went on deck | &
my first sight of land for MAJ
days. The city was enveloped
typical English fog, which pr
vented our seeing very much OF
The ship was already being unloa
/ ed and every one was in a hurr
We had breakfast early and eve
thing was packed, ready to leaV
and we assembled in the saloon.
seemed as if we would not disel
bark soon and | was feeling we
for | had been sick since the fl
morning after we left Halifax, SO
went down TO my state. room, pull
off my shoes (my feet we're SC
from wearing them so CONSTANT
and laid down and fell asleep.
mans voice awoke me: he was sa
ing that he had orders to take
nurses off Immediately, that t
ship was going to pull out into
harbor. / jumped up, put Oh l
shoes and rushed up to the pl'
where | had left the others. 1t "
deserted of officers and as also W.
all decks. The only ones met W,
workmen doing repairs here a
there, but they knew nothing a
looked at me as if / was crazy.
went to every place could thi
of. The office was closed, not
officer, steward or stewardess cot
be found. So | decided to leave
ship. / had enough English mon
TO meet my immediate wants a
a- enough American express cheq'
to last me until could locate
unit or at least keep me for so
time, so | wasn't Il bit worri
Just about that time one OF