The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-06-10

covered with sage brush, alkali and
sand Mile after mile and repetition
after repetition of mountain peaks
and mounta peaks, now and then
the flashing appearance of an incision
into an abrupt hillside, marking the
scene Of many an abandoned specula-
tion and bitter disappointment, and
left now for the insiduous sage brush
to encroach upon and the dismal
coyote TO howl over Again mine
being still worked, and save this and
the rumbling of our own train, no
sign of human habitation.
AS soon as we struck California, we
were buried in cherries and flowers
and oranges and sandwiches, and
there was an immense crowd at every
station. AT Sacramento, when the
train pulled into the sheds, we found
ourselves surrounded by an enormous
surging crowd, whose loud huzzas
actually drowned out the patriotic
airs which the brass bands were play
ing. Women and young girls We'd
with each other in seeking to reach
the car windows first, and as we ex-
tended our hands before the train
came to a stop, they caught them in
their fervor and shook them violent.
ly, almost HISTORICALLY, loosing their
hold only as the train swept us from
their grasp. When the train stopped
we were supplied to repletio on with
fruit, flowers and cake. The guard
at each door, with gun and bayonet,
had orders to allow no passing in or
out, but it was not three seconds after
the train stopped until he was abso-
lutely overpowered by the rush and
the car was full of girls and the SOL
diers were mixing with the crowd.
And thus it was all through Califor-
mia. After crossing, on ferry boat,
an arm of San Francisco Bay at Benz
cha and another at Oakland, from
which we alighted in San Francisco,
we were led into waiting room % of
the depot where the boat landed, and
| treated to bounteous feast by the
ladies of the Red Cross Society. BY
the time we were through with our
meal it was after dark. 1t had been
planned for us to arrive some six
hours earlier than we did and it was
Intended that we should go into the
government barracks at Preside,
right down on the shore Of the ocean.
] lttf rrf. AT
insofar that our train was delayed by
a wreck and by the engine on our
section breaking the cylinder twice
and having to wait for repairs. You
know we had very long train in
our section (the secondl alone, there
being IL coaches in it, and pulling up
steep hills was quite strain. Arriv-
ing late, we found that the Idaho
troops had come in ahead of us and
were already quartered in the bar
racks. Therefore we had to make
about three miles march after dark
down into the southwestern part of
town, at what is called popularity the
Bay District, and more lately, Camp
Richmond. 1t turned out to be
good and lucky thing for us, however,
for the barracks are located right
down among the mud and it Is as cold
as the dickens there, while our place
is down in sort of a valley, 1t was
once the bed of II lake, but the water
was all drained OFF and the top of an
nd iananf GanH hill nj IA
going to fill up the vacancy. The
sand always remains dry and it is
fine. We have had one pretty good
rain since we came here and the rain
absorbed every bit of the water.
We can see the ocean in between
the hills from our camp. There is
fine sea breeze all the time and the
weather is cool and comfortable. 1t
is most too cool at night. A about in
the afternoon 1t begins to come in
very cool and by II grows cold, so
cold that our blankets and sibley
stoves come mighty good. 1t remains.
so until after daylight i'm the morning
and it is a shivering crowd that turns
out to rOll-call every morning. There
are advantages and disadvantages
about this sand. | have related the
advantages. One thing bad about it
is that it blows into PERSONS eyes
nearly binding him, and into his
food making in gritty. Then too, the
plagued stuff wont hold tent stake,
it is so loose that they are continually
pulling out and have to be reset. It.
is hard to walk in also, one sinks 80
} deep. 1t lie almost as bad as plowed
: ground, prefer it to mud, though.
Oranges are five cents oozen here
that is, the small variety. Nice large.
choice oranges, as large as any to be
obtained in Kansas and IA great deal