The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-03-11
Life at a Frontier Post.
BY Marie Grace Kendall.
IN the New Mexican highlands. 1000

IN the New Mexican highlands. 1000
feet above the sea, lies Fort Wingate,
the border post of which we write.
Seventeen miles east of us the crest Of
the Rocky mountains divides the Allan
lie and the Pacific slopes of the CON
tinent. Up the eastern incline we have
1raversed the sand wastes, the lava-beds
and the pinon groves of New Mexico;
down the western, we look out upon the
wide and desolate sweep of Arizona.
The fort sno; strong place of defense.
with moat and rampant and bastion; it
consists essentially of low adobe build
ings which inclose quadrangular
parade-ground. On three sides OF the
square are houses for officers and their
families. and on the fourth are bar
racks for eight troops of cavalry. Out
side the central quadrangle are the
storehouses, the hospital, the magazine.
the laundrcsses' quarters or "Soap-suds
Row" and the stables. The angular
architecture of the fort seems drawn
up at attention against the dazzling
blue sky of New Mexico. Nature, how
ever. relieves the sGuareness and gray
ness of the earth-colored houses by
drapery of wild clematis and woodbine
in summer. and of softening snow in
winter. The parade-ground is brown
and dusty except for few sparse
blades OF grass and fringe of strug-
Cling cottonwood-tree which border
the irrigating ditch. Near one corner
of the square is the guard-house. and
always pacing in front of il a sentinel.
IL me his most welcome duty is his
sonorous call OF the hours at night.
"Twelve o'clock and all is WELL" is a
cheering word in our mountain soil
fude. At the center OF the parade We
look up TO the Stars and Stripes. which
hang high above us from the flagstaff
there. The flag is our reason for being.
and rs often as we see its bold swir!s
on breezy day or its mute folds on
still one. we rejoice that TO Us is in
trusted this symbol of our country.
Divider Of daybreak you. cutting the air.
touched by the sun. measuring the sky.
So loved-O you banner leading the day
with stars brought from the night!
The soldiers day begins at sunrise.
AS the light breaks through the pines
on the eastern horizon. the deep yibra-
tiors of the morning gun are followed
by the lively march OF reveille. That
half-heard, ghostiy music always siirs
me with awe at thought OF another day
begun. and with pleasure in the linger-
ing dream that keeps back the actuali
ties of day. In the barracks. however,
the soldier is astir at once, though not
without n struggle on the part OF the
trumpetcr. if we may believe the
prosaic words he has set to the strains
OF reveille:
can't git 'em up. can't git 'em up.
can't Kit EN- up in the morning.
can't git EN- up to-day!
Yet. when the relentless march ends,
The men have turned out" and "fallen
IN" and are ready to answer TO roll call.
Throughout the day food, medicine
and work are administered at the call of
the trumpets. Three times sounds the
hum-drum, see-saw music OF mess-call.
as interpreted in the soldiers rhymes:
Perky. porky, pork. pork; pork without
any lean.
soupy. soupy. soup. soup; soup with nary
bean
Coffee. coffee. coff. con- weakest ever seen.
Soon after breakfast the quick, in
cisive sick-call summons the i'll and the
aling to the hospital. There COM
paints are sifted by the surgeon. the
sick are put TO bed, the half-sick ex-
cused from duty. and the wouldbe sick |
set to work. Work in the frontier post |
includes all the trades. from saving Of |
logs 10 mending of shoes; for the SOL |
der is no specialist. but an all-round |
character. who must dig md plant. |
cook and scrub, as well as ride. shoot |
and saber.
The most picturesque moments of the
day at Fort Wingate are
Cuard-mounting and retreat. Guard |
mounting takes place at nine O'Clock in
me morning. Then, with helm and |
b'ade. and plumes in the gay wind |
dancing" the cavalry wheels on to the
battle-ground. The men assigned 10 |
guard duty for the next "a hours are
Vigorously inspected, the column
marches in review, while the band plays
mcrrily. The curves of moving horses,
,he swaying of FURNISHED brasses, and |
'ne stirring music, are all In accord
win the futtering leaves of the aspens
ana the nimblc air of morning $50
0iety looks on from verandas and /