A little family history

Dad emailed these letters to me - and I finally figured out how to post them. There are more - I will post them also.

Letters from Harry Francis Terrill

to his mother Annie Hamilton Terrill (Fell)

U. S. M. S "St. Louis"

On board Sta St Louis

May 19th, 1897

Dear Mama;-

It is now 10 o’clock of the last day of our journey by this boat. We

have been within sight of England all morning and will land at

Southampton at about 3 o’clock this afternoon.

We have had a very smooth trip but we have not made a very fast trip

on account of the steamer having to go out of her course to avoid

floating ice which at this time of year comes down from the North.

Willie has not enjoyed the trip very much as he had not felt well. He

was a little sick the first two days and has not felt real well since.

I was a little sick the first day and have felt very well since except that

I could not eat very much.

We reach Southampton England at three o’clock and leave there at 12

o’clock at night arriving in Havre France at 11 o’clock the next day.

It is then only about 4 hours run to Paris.

There was a lady came aboard sick at New York, with two little

children, and she died during the voyage, she was buried at sea.

We have made a good many friends during the trip and quite a few are

from California.

There are a great many theatrical people aboard and some of them

have made things very jollie. They gave a concert last night and took

up a subscription for the benefit of the Sailors, Widows and Orphans

homes in England and America.

I hope you are all well and having a good time.

With love to everybody from Willie and myself.

I remain

Your loving son

Harry

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