Box 1

Excerpt from letter: "Mr. Weickum wrote to my sister. He said that you were all quite well and enjoying your visit to Cherbourg. Do you like it better than Queenstown? I dare say our poor little town is not compared to it...". "... when you have your photos convenient will you give me one. I should like very much to have some views of our friends on the "ST. MARY'S"

Excerpt from letter: "... everything is going on just the same here in New London. We have had a circus and the Yale and Harvard boat races have since you left but I was on Guard both times."

Excerpt from letter: "T'was sad to think you had to leave Ireland so soon, and as you liked it so much too...". "I think you promised to send me a photo of yourself; didn't you? I hope you'll keep to it for I should like to have one of you to remind me of that pleasant little chat on Blarney Castle"

Excerpt from letter: "We were 137 days a nice passage and got in Hong Kong on St. Patrick's Day. We were one month going through some islands. We had to work ship just the same way we worked the Mary off Funchal, and just as hot". "Hong Kong is a fine harbor and is full of steamers of all nationalities. It is a nice place to go ashore (?) there is plenty of English people here so you will always have friends"

Excerpt from letter: “... so I do not know where we are going next. I would like to see her load here and go to the States, then we would have a nice light cargo and not ship any water over our Decks". "While you are getting fat I am getting thin. I believe I lost about five pounds. How can a fellow get fat on flour and water warmed up in a little grizzle, that’s about all we get to eat"

Excerpt from letter: "We are having a fine time playing ball every afternoon... & every night we have some kind of entertainment you know. Fred each ship of the fleet takes turns giving entertainments..."

Excerpt from letter: "Fort Trumbull is not what it was when you were here. We do not live as good and our old 1st sergeant is now firing on the railroad here, and you have to toe the mark pretty strict under the new one ..."

Excerpt from letter: "I received your letter yesterday and was very glad to hear from you for our letters are few and far between, but I shall try to do better in the future."

Excerpt from letter: "... I am sorry that you could not come over again, to see me, before the ship leaves for the West Indies". "We expect to leave the 28th for Hampton Roads, and from there to Guantanano, Cuba ..."

Excerpt from letter: "... we came in the yard yesterday from the North River. If you come down Sunday I have lots of news to tell you, more than I can write"