New York City from which he will soon take passage for France, with several other University students, who had already enlisted in the service.
For the past two years Byrl has been employed in the Plainview State Bank and has made a most efficient clerk in that institution. By entering the service of our country at this time, Byrl is living up to the traditions of his family by doing his part in the present conflict, for his grandfather served through the Civil War.
Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Sylvester and Mrs. J. D Bateman motored to Wabasha Wednesday to say farewell to Byrl Sylvester who with 32 University students were going to France, having entered on the Red Cross Ambulance Corps. They will reach New York on Friday evening and sail on Saturday.
Those who left High School for Agricultural work since last week are… Edwin Sylvester.
Letter from Byrl Sylvester
May 20, 1917
S. S. Chicago
(NOTE: - An edited version of this letter appeared in June 22 issue of PLAINVIEW NEWS.
Dear Folks,
Sell it certainly does seem strange to be writing home from somewhere out in the old Atlantic. Have decided to write one of these double pages home once a day while on the water. Will now start my May 20 letter from the time we left Minneapolis.

We arrived in Chicago Thursday morning. Had about a 40 minute wait to take our Balt. & Ohio train. The Balt. & Ohio road takes one East by way of Pittsburgh thence south to Washington, then on through Philadelphia to New York.

We arrived at Pittsburgh about 10:40 Thursday evening. The great steel mills were going full blast and it was a very pretty sight. Next morning I got up at 6:30 to take a look at Harper’s Ferry- Edwin Jr. will remember Old John Brown’s battle at Harper’s Ferry- The Shenandoah and Monongahela (NOTE: actually Potomac) Rivers unite here and it is very beautiful. We arrived at Washington at 8:30 – too late to catch our train to New York so we had 1 ˝ hours in which time we went up Penn. Avenue and took pictures in front of the Capitol. Leaving Washington we arrived in Philadelphia a few hours later at 3:30. We were ready to ferry across from Jersey City to New York. Let me say right here- New York is wonderful. I just stood with my mouth wide open for almost an hour until one of the men asked me what I was gaping at- of all the people, traffic, and confusion. Am sure Ma would go right on a "rampage" at once. After arriving at New York we worked continually to get our passports finally passed on and to receive our tickets. We have been on the water two days now. Tomorrow I will write about the first day out.
Love, Byrl.
Letter
May 21, 1917
(NOTE: An edited version of this letter appeared in the June 22 issue of the PLAINVIEW NEWS).
Dear Folks,
Just before sailing Saturday at 3:00 P. M. I sent a wire home. Hope you received it O. K. We sailed a little after 3:00 Saturday. It was a wonderful sight. The French Line Dock was packed with fathers, mothers, sisters, and sweethearts, as the old "Chicago" let go.
One after another the different units lined up and gave their college yells- California- Washington- Illinois- Chicago- Old Minnesota could be heard right with the rest. We have about 26 Minnesota men on the boat.
The Chicago has an entirely French crew on board and we are all beginning to understand a little French. Sunday morning a Frenchman woke me up to take my bath. A little later a French barber called to cut my hair. They are very polite and think the world of the American Boys.
Our state rooms are divided into four bunks. There are three men in my

Previous: Page 84.
Next: Page 86.
Initial: Table of Contents