stateroom- a St. Louis man, one from Yonkers, and another from Penn State- all fine men.
Last night we had a good old Deke meeting. There are fourteen Dekes on board (four from Chicago). All day long we have been running into a rough sea but as yet I have not "fed the fish." Our meals are very good, there being about eight courses to every one (all French).
This afternoon at 3:00 we sighted a ship in the distance. There was wild excitement but it only proved to be a freighter.
Every day at four we have life boat drill. We have a large gun mounted on our bow and a small machine gun on the stern. As near as we can find out we are heading to Northern Africa. Then we will crawl along the coast north to Bordeaux. It is very difficult to write as the boat is almost up side down. Will write again tomorrow.
Love, Byrl.
Letter
May 23, 1917
(NOTE: An edited version of this letter appeared in the June 22 issue of the PLAINVIEW NEWS.)
Dear Folks,
The past two days have been a corker. We have been in a fierce storm, very rough water. Our life boats are on the third or top deck and we were pitching so this P. M. that water washed into them. We are just about in the middle of the old Ocean now and very often you can hear the boys say that they wish they were safe on land. One good thing though, the subs will not be so liable to see us during rough weather. We are not allowed to have a single light on the decks after dark. All port holes are covered and every precaution taken.
Letter
May 24, 1917
(NOTE: An edited version of this letter appeared in the June 22 issue of the PLAINVIEW NEWS.)
I cut my yesterday’s letter short because I felt so rotten. Well we have good news today. Two American War ships are coming out to meet us soon and convoy us the rest of the way. It is reported that we have five million in gold in the hold. That reminds me, before leaving Minneapolis I went down town to the First & Security and had a talk with cashier Lyon. By so doing, I saved about fifteen dollars and a half by cashing in my travelers checks for a draft from the First & Security direct on a Paris bank which I now have with me. You see the value of a franc has diminished about 2 cents for the same amount in our money. My travelers checks would have been good on their face value. That is all.
Well suppose you are having regular warm weather back at home. There is always a cold wind blowing on the ocean, so guess I will not get warmed up until I get to sunny France.
Love, Byrl.
Letter
May 27, 1917
(NOTE: An edited version of this letter appeared in the June 22 issue of the PLAINVIEW NEWS.)
Dear Folks,
Here is Sunday again and we are about eight hundred miles from land, everything is going nicely. We have been eight days on the water now. This day is fine outside bright and clear. Once can see for miles around. We just passed two boats. When ever we see a boat in the distance everybody hikes out on deck with much

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