The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-02-06
FRANK GREENSLET
AND DR.. POTTER
IN TEXAS
Dr.. Potter Writes Letter From
Crystal City
ARE ONION FAR M N G
Have Their Crop Of Bermuda Onions
Set Out, to Harvest in the
EARLY Spring
ARE ONION FARMIN C

Editor of The Banner, and our
many Friends in Bennington:-We
have been requested, by several in
terested correspondents of ours, to
write few lines in regard to our ex-
periences here in the land OF perpetu-
al sunshine, which might be publish
ed in The Banner as OF possible inter
est TO those lett behind in the cold
! 1Orth winter OF Vermont.
Our party consisting OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Greenslet, Mrs. Potter,
and myself, left Bennington October
II, 1911, on the afternoon train for
New York City, from which place we
took the steamship San Marcus OF
the Mallory S. 5. line bound for Gal
weston, Texas AT p. III. October
Is, 1911, we were out OF sight OF land
until early the following Sunday,
when at sunrise, the coast oil Florida
was sighted, and all day long we
were within sight OF the Florida coast
and about one o'clock Monday morn
ing we made our first stop at Key
West, and glad enough we were tor
the few hours given US to once more
leel the real ola earth under our Ieet.
But what a place! Hot was no
name for 1t, not breath OF air STIR
.lng, and nothing but negroes, hun.
Ireds OF them, all sizes and ages,
waiting to unload the freight. About
dozen little urchins amused the pas
sengers by diving from the boat after
me nlckels anu dimes which they
threw overheard, TO watch them
scrabble to see which should get 1t
lrst, and as far as was able to see,
not a piece OF money escaped them.
At six o'clock we pulled anchor,
and were on our way again. AS we
passed through the Keys and into the
cuff OF Mexico, we were treated to a
sight, rare even TO the officers. The
captain who had been on the water
70 years, had never seen such a sight
before. For about two hours the sea
was as smooth as glass, not a ripple,
clear as crystal and although by
the sounding line we were in fifty
feet OF water we could see the bot
tom OF white coral as distinctly as
though we were looking into a vast
aquarium; all kinds, and sizes OF
hsh,-iiying fish, star fish, porpoises
and millions OF sponges OF AL sizes.
This condition lasted for about two
hOurs-but IL was a weather breeder
and was followed by a storm OF
twenty-four hours duration which
compelled many OF the passengers to
keep their state rooms, from sea sick
ness. None OF our party was atliict-
ed, but time began 10 drag and glad
enough were we all when on the
morning OF the eighth day out from
New York, they told us We would
reach dock at Galveston before noon,
and promptly at 1l;45 the gang plank
dropped into place and We were once
more on dry land. A stay over night
IN this city by the sea, which ten
years ago sent out her cry OF dis
tress, having been buried beneath the
terrible tidal wave which completely
destroyed the main part OF the city
A visit to the celebrated sea wall,
built as a guard OF safety against an
other calamity and some OF the prin'
clpal points OF interest, then We
pushed on toward our destination and
made our next stopping place at san
Antonio, one OF the most beautiful,
as well as historic cities OF the south
and stop over Sunday gave us am
pie time to visit the old missions, eX'
lensive irrigated farms, government
military stations and many other
points OF interest, too numerous 10
mention, but Monday morning
bright and early, found us all ready
bag and baggage, TO start on the last
lap OF our 2oUO mile journey, and To
say the least, to us, who were anxious
10 reach our winter home, this last
80 miles was the most tedious OF the
whole Journey, but at last, like AL
good things, the end came and we
rolled into the Crystal City station to
find our tents, bedding, etc, which
we're shipped from two weeks before
we lett, mad not arrived. But one
good friend, Mr.. w. /. Best, had fore
seen the possibility OF such con
diuon OF auairs and kindly provided
Tor the emergency. so we all boarded
/ MI - NtNtn lbooAhtNA RNNN ''e
with eyes and ears open Tor every
little thing OF interest, started Tor q
SIX mile ride to our little farm on
Section l2O. Cross $ ranch, reaching
there IN time TO eat hearty supper
and then to our tents, Tor the hrsl
night In our new home. Not until
the next mornmg did We have time u
investigate our new surroundings OF
have any chance to judge II We would
or would not like 1t. The result was
that bright and early, almost with the
sun, We were all up, impatient t.
take in every nook and corner OF oui
new life.
We found that Mr. Best had attend
ed to clearing one and onehalt acres
OF land, which he had sowed with oui
onion seed and they were Just trying
to show their green tops. This bee
of onion sets was near our arteslai
well Tor convenience in irrigatlng
one acre OF sets, prepared in thl'
fashion, under ordinary climatic con
ditions. will set 10 acres, so We hat
to clear up about 10 acres ana get j
ready for our sets when they shoul'
be OF sufficient size to be transplant
ed. This land the Mcxicans were o.
work on (an labor here Is done b.
Mexicans). the clearing and gruoolnl
ia usually contract work. ours wal
..H nINuun