Lewis war diary, August 1917-March 1919 / James Ray Lewis - Page 23
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[Page 23]
But many of the relatives were not to be denied, for they rowed & shot around the ship all day long in boats and skiffs. Mothers and sweethearts were crying and yelling at the top of their voices, in fact it was quite a cheerful scene. At four oclock the Euripides set sail, or rather used steam, and steamed out through the heads, sailing East. By 6 oclock Australia was lost to our sight.
At teatime it was lovely, men were rushing to the side leaning over and saying, "Eur'ope Eur'ope", though they were too ill to think of Europe, or anywhere except Australia which they had just left, and wishing they were back on a little less terror and a little more firmer.
I was one of the sick ones. Oh, how I wished to be able to drown the mug who gloryfied in verse of a life on the ocean wave. When I was a boy of about 6 years old I thought how grand it would be, to be a sailor. "Oh! glorious", Europe.
On Friday I feel much better and am able to enjoy things a bit. On board are two pianos, & some mandolins & violins, and "Home in Tennesee", and a few other populars are torn to pieces
Our ship is heading due east