The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1919-01-24
Soldiers S Letters
San Francisco, Cal, Jan.

San IduCIScO, Sdl., Jan. =.
Dear Mother and Father:
Arrived at Frisco today at 2.3l
after a five day trip across the States
and / never had such a fine one il
my life; the scenery was beautiful
after we struck California;: some
thing new to see all the way. Viii
start from New York and tell You
few Of the places at which W,
stopped. We left New York at G. 81
| Thursday and arrived at Albany a
] 10 p. m, and there were some Rec
| Cross workers there, waiting for the
! train, with hot coffee and cake, anC
we were glad to get something tC
eat once in a while, and after that we
looked forward to every Red Gross
| station. I did not know how much
they did for enlisted men until
started on this trip. They certainly
were a big help to us, and 1 think
they met US at a dozen cities, some
time with coffee and sandwiches,
fruit, candy and other eats. We were
to change trains at Buffalo for Chi
cagO, and We got scattered, and l
was the only. one who caught the
train. l thought all the others were
on until the conductor asked for tick
cts, and 1 went to find the man in
charge of the tickets, and who also
had the money for my meals, and
was worried for a while. l tele-
graphed to Buffalo, but could not To-
cate them, so I thought l had lost
them for good. The railroad au-
thorities would not carry me any
further than Cleveland without my
fare, and 1 spent about the worst ten
hours l ever spent. l was lost from
the other fourteen, and | was nearly
financially embarrassed, and the Red
Cross canteen certainly did come in
handy. l met the next train, six
hours later, and expected to find the
boys on there, but was told they were
not; they got of at Erie to wait for
the next train. so we all got togeth-
er at Cleveland. and l felt some
good. / was sorry did not miss the
over to Niagara Falls and had some
time at Erie while waiting for the
next train.
We arrived at Chicago carly Sat
urday morning, and had about three
hours there; we left at 1890, and
never had to change any more dur
ng the trip. The trip through the
Rocky Mountains was fine; some
peaks were covered with snow and
ce, and looked pretty in the dis
ance. But the Sierra Nevada Noun |
aims had the best scenery; some |
places snow, some pretty green grass, |
md all kinds OF trees and shrubbery. |
We had snow on the ground most all |
he way, until we reached Califor-
lia took thirty some pictures com
if they are good I am now stati0h-
ed at Goat Island, just little island
out in the bay, about seven OF, eight
hundred feet high, and 1t is some
walk to the top. 1 had to so up this
evening, and about all in when got
to the top. We are in Frisco to-
night to stay, ,s we have not receiv-
ed our hammocKs yet. The Flu is
awful here. like it was in baltimore
some time ago. and people wear
masks tied over their faces. 1t will
be compulsory after Friday, but we
have to wear hem now; they gave
them to'us on the island, and we
have 10 wear them up town. they
do not feel a pit comfortable over
your face. VIII send picture with
one on. | will tell you how l like
it out here when l write again. with
love to all, l remain, as ever, your
loving son. Lee Rue Vickers,
Army e Navy Y. NJ. c. A. 22S En-
baricader St, San Francisco, Cal.