Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-01-20

self for the mines when they go OIL
make a mammoth hole in the water.
IN August seth the Aroostook anu
yurself tthc ShawmuD laid mines LOT
lt:.. Admiral Chs name Is Belnap) ~
=. speed OF twenty knots and we al
-. highly commended for the same.
our ship is the only one when mas
led the feet on any mine laying en-
,eCii.ion except the San Francesca
n. fact. we have been commenced lot
everything we have done. We sure
ave a fine ship. Now on Sept. 20 on
. mine trip we had another scrap
:. IN subs. With a full load O. mines
board YOU may know by what nave
~,!a before that load OF mines Is q
very dangerous thing to play Win.
Well the sub destroyer started q
wonderful smoke service which does
credit 10 the English navy. Il was
50 rou2h that night that we were un-
able 10 pass through the sElail pass
which we have to go through 10
make the mine field and had TO cruise
around fer l. hours.
On Sept. IS on mine trip the
Saranac lost man overheard and he
was never found. On oct. We lad
{. LOAD OF mines in the rouSHes' sea
ever saw tSome Seal. The old snip
would 80 over and YOU could see the
waves way above Your head and then
they would break all over the ship
and every once in awhile YOU WoaiE
see a man washed TO the lifeline and
hang on for dear life. l thought l
sure would go overheard dozen
times but GOD was good. you know.
Nearly every one was SICK on thls
trip. BY the way l have never been
SICK but don want TO crow. tc.' even
The eminent officer was walking
around with q bucket around his
neck.
Oct. { We pulled into Newcastle,
Eng. for repairs. We stayed there .
week and believe NE il Is some town,
not as good as the states OF course
nothing is, but some place just the
same. Bar rooms all open to the
American sailors ard every on. from
the ShaWn!ul had 10 celebrate. You
would be very much surprised to see
the women. They run eTerEthAns'
stores. cars. harrooms ard cafes. II
was here we heard OF Inc w.,r being
over the 9Th cf oct. The 18TH OF oct.
We finished our mine laying IL that
Relish North SEA. and runor vas
right about the War being over. %
We pulled into Inverness, Scotland.
where we are now. Nov. ! We lost
our first man. folI from the motor
sailor and died within foot OF the
life buoy. His tody was never found
although a searching party was kept
there for some time. Our ship maCe
rp q purse for his mother Nov. IL
the .Arlnist!c, was published and be-
jioye me. the ship Went crazy. l
nave a lo. more 10 say but vii! have
to cut il short. l have been very well.
only sick once. Had the flu but set
ove~ il quickly. Have been through
q whclc lct. II may give YOU an idea
O. how the sea runs ii | say that
every once in awhile in port We nave
10 have an extra man On W2tCh at
night ana keep pulling the anchor TO
Keep from drifting around IL tEe mar
bor. The Shawmu. crew on tbs most
OF them received 4 medal tor Our dam
eerous and successful work against
Germany. myself included. and also
GOLD chevron which We wear On our
lett arm for three months service II
tie North S.a.
VIII close. wishing YOU al very
pleasant Thanksgiving ana a very
Merry Christmas. l would Ike to b.
with you very MUCH but guess Il Will
have 10 ha next year.
With lots of love.
LESTER II. CUMMINGS.
L. :. ShaWnlut.