To Edith Gaddis
Cortaro, Arizona
[19 February 1942]
Dear Mother—
Everything out here is fine as per usual and after receiving your letter and request for a picture I got my roll developed and here’s one of me on “Johnny”—the wildest jumpiest horse here; I ride him daily and he’s slowly getting broken in—but today he ran off with me and I came through still on top this time but a slight rip on my head from a passing tree limb. However he’s a good horse and we’re getting along better all the time. It is a poor picture but at least shows I’m still alive and able to get around.
And say—about those pictures I sent of my West Portal trip—was the negative roll with them? I don’t know what happened—the manila envelop they were in must have broken.
I don’t know about registering—but some time if you see George (Castor) or Arvid you might ask them.
We made a trip to Nogales (Mexico) Saturday and had a fine time. They had buckskin jackets there for $10—one of the fellows got one—but I’m in too deep all ready—and what with the rodeo coming up. I do want to get started and work and pretty soon am going to give this edima an ultimatum. I’ve got an offer of a job down near Elgin near the border where a fellow’s running cattle and sort of needs a helper. Would only be for board and I’d have to bring bed-roll and perhaps saddle—but experience is the thing and I guess I’d get it there.
Well we’ll see I suppose—but I do want to get going—
Love
Bill
West Portal: the name of the ship WG took through the Panama Canal.
George (Castor) or Arvid: Castor, like Arvid Friberg, was a Farmingdale High School friend. edima: i.e., edema, an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in a body cavity.
WG in Arizona, 1942
To Edith Gaddis
Cortaro, Arizona
[23 March 1942]
Dear Mom—
Things are still in a sort of state of waiting; I was going to Yuma about the middle of last week but Mrs. Adams talked me out of it—but a couple of days ago I got a letter from Ross in Yuma asking me to drop down and see him.
And so here’s how it stands: you see the old gal who runs this place—Mrs Adams—is a little—well—eccentric—putting it mildly. At any rate there haven’t been any guests here for a while, and no wrangler, so I’ve been doing part time work—taking care of horses—for $1 a day off my board. Now she’s starting things rolling again (she says) and there’s a possibility of my getting a job—I don’t know. If it’s not working the horses I won’t take it. She’s made me propositions now and again but she seems to be given to—well—fabricating etc etc. and I can’t keep up with her. And so if I should get a job here I’ll stay for a while—until I clear up the albumin in the urine. Otherwise down to Yuma to see Ross, and then I’d like to go out to L.A. just to see how things are looking. You see the edima is about gone—the doctor thinks it is negligible; I haven’t had swelling in the ankles for the last month or two as the boots are tight and keep it out—just the upper legs—but the doc thinks that’s cleared up. He says I can work but doesn’t advise the sea until I clear up this albumin condition.
And then just to complicate things an old seaman is working here—gardening—and we get together and he really can tell me the stories. He says he doesn’t think that there is so much danger—he thinks one has a good chance. Then for further complication a pretty brunette is staying over at the “Picture Rocks” Ranch a little ways away. Her name is Petrillo—you know the Petrillos in the song writing and A.S.C.A.P etc—that’s her—I ride over and see her every so often—gee not like that Ford—this saddle only seats one!
I finally did get a very handsome silver ring—it is solid silver and in the form of a little saddle—as if your finger were the horse’s back you put the saddle on it—like this. [drawing] The silver is all engraved and right in the top of the horse is a little blue turquoise; it is handsome.
Well that’s about the size of it now—have been reading H.M. Stanley’s auto biography—it’s wonderful (at present he is going to sea!)
Love
Bill
the Petrillos: James Petrillo (1892–1984) was president of the American Federation of Musicians (1940–58) and would have dealt with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.
H.M. Stanley’s auto biography: Sir Henry Morton Stanley (1841–1904), explorer in Africa; his Autobiography was posthumously published in 1909.
To Edith Gaddis
Rancho de los Caballos
Yuma Valley, Arizona
Tuesday [31 March 1942]
Dear Mom—
Well I got started at last—hitch hiked over here yesterday in six hours and am seeing Ross who sends his best.
It is certainly hot here out on the desert, and I think I’ll get started for L.A. soon—perhaps this afternoon—for I think I can get a ride as far as El Centro. I just want to go out to the coast to see how things are.
For the last two or three or four weeks I’d been working at S—V—Ranch for Mrs Adams with horses and dudes—$1 off per day—and so when paid up $28 to leave on. That will be plenty to get me to the coast and back—and I’ll be back in Tucson soon I’m sure—unless something good should turn up in L.A.
Love
Bill
To Edith Gaddis
The Rosslyn Hotels
111 West Fifth Street
Los Angeles, California
[early April 1942]
Dear Mom—
Well it took me over 500 miles of hitch hiking—but now you may set your mind completely at rest; I went down to San Pedro today—and the U.S. Maritime Commission—and the sea seems at least post poned for a while—next summer perhaps. But I had to come out and settle it for myself. I got out to San Diego and on the ride up from there saw miles of the Pacific, so I guess I’m cured for a while.
I have been here since last evening,
