Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-04-01
Life at a Frontier Post.
Bv Marie Grace Kendall.

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 Attain
tic and the Pacific slopes Of the con-
tinent. Up the eastern incline we have
traversed 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 is not a 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 iaundresses' 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 squareness and gray
ness of the earth-colored houses by a
tlrapery of wild c1enatis and woodbine
in summer. and of softening snow in
winter The parade-ground is brown
ard dusty except for a few sparse
blades of grass and fringe of strug-
Cling cottonwcod-trees which border
the irriga ting ditch. Near one corner
of the square is the guard-house. and
always pacing in front of it sentinel.
II me his most welcome duty is his
scnorous call of the hours at night.
'Twelve o'clock and all is WELL" is a
cheering word iii our mountain soil
tude. 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 as often as we see its bold sWlrls
on breezy day or its mute folds on
still one we rejoice that to us is in
trusted this symbol OF our country.
Diyider of daybreak you, cutting the air.
touched by the sun, me asuring 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 vibra-
tons of the morning gun are followed
by the lively march Of reveille. That
half-heard, ghostly music always stirs
me with awe at thought of another day
begun, ard with pleasure in the linger-
ing dream that keeps back the actuali-
ties Of day. In the barra cks, however,
the soldier is astir at once, though not
without a struggle on the part of the
hoiI q
prosaic words he has set to the strains
of reveille:
I can't git 'em up can't git 'em up,
I can't git em up in the morning,
I can't git EN- up to-day!
Yet. when the relentless march ends,
the men have turned OUT and fallen
ill., and are ready to answer to roll call.
Throughout the day food, medicine
and work are administered at the call OF
the tru1npets 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, con. coff; weakest ever seen.
Soon after breakfast the quick, in
clSlve S1ck-Cail summons the III anu the
ai.ing to the hospital. There COM
plants are sifted by the surgeon, the
sick are put to bed, the half-sicll ex-
cused from duty, and the would-be sick
set to work. Work in the frontier post
includes all the trades. from saving of
logs TO mending of shoes; for the sol
der is no specialist, but an all-round
character, who must dig and plant,
cook and scrub, as well as ride, shoot
and saber.
The most picturesque moments of the
soldiers day at Fort Wingate are
guard amounting and retreat. Guard
mounting takes place at nine o'clock in
the morning. Then. with helm and
blade, and plumes in the gay wind
dancing" the cavalry wheels on to the
parade-ground. The men assigned to
guard duty for the Eext "a hours are
vigorously inspected. the column
marches in review, while the band plays
merriIy. The curves Of moving horses,
the swaying of FURNISHED brasses, and
the stirring music, are all in accord
with the futtering leaves of the aspens
and the nimble air of morning $50
ciety" looks on from verandas and