El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-12-09

90 18Th cavalry, adjoining the cement
plant. Not only nave IheSe troopers
all the camp fixtures proVloeo ny
Cncle Sam for their comfort DuI lheIL
tents are electric lighted and ceLle!ll
floored. and there is running water IN
the camp. These lights, floors, ana
water, being more than the Inel Illl.S-s
Of other border patrol troops enjoy
members of troop Il are staggering
in consequence
TROOP ~ patrols the shores Of the
alternately muddy or dusty Rio Crande
from the smelter plant TO Anapra-
There is also an outpost, extended TO
the powder magazine across the New
Mexican border
The camp site. has some sIraIesi y
Importance, as IT guards the Z. r g
8 W bridge, the Southern PaclIlc
bridge and the Santa Fe tracks
Officers Quarters Snug.
Officers Row" tents nave a WOODEN
frame work with wooden floors ano
three feet high walls, covered with the
khaki tent roofs. They have built1n
desks not as ornate as the MODERN
bungalow, but perhaps more serYlCS-
able and the tents are p1cTur esquely
hung with polo mallets, sabres, brides
snrTs. and other military parap heTnalla
The 'Officers Row tents are dOuDle
affairs, with the sleeping quarters IN
The back Every tent throughout the
camp is electric lighted and has a
stove 20 keep the atmosphere comfort
able when the weather man slips FL
Paso some northern weather by mis-
Has Champion Shots.
In the commanding officer, Capt W
H. CIopton, this bay horse troop has
the champion rifle shot or tne army ny
cavalry team that won the nauonaI
rifle match this year at Camp Perry
Ohio. ,,4
of the troop. is an expert pistol shot
and a member Of the Championship
0oIo team of the 18th cavalry. Lieut.. Z.
a. Coyles has just Joined the troop
coming from Fort LeaVenWoTtn-
The tents for the men are Dig roomy
affairs accommodating three or four
troopers. The cement floors Keeping
out the sand. the tents are much more
comfortable than the average camp
and the troopers have them decorated
with pennants and pictures
In the troop office, QuarIermasper
sergeant VIII E HOseH and first ser
geant John Biles have Jnelr quIatIees LS
and manage the business and cIerlca1
work of the troop The tent IS equipped
with typewriters and desks
BARBER shop and GrHphaphOne.
Adding to the complete Independence
Of the troop to be conlIorl aoi9
wherever il may be, is the troop barber
shop. the only equipment missing IN
this feature is the tricolored striped
The mess tent, which IS also the
amusement room Of the troop is IS
feet long and has wooden framework
and side walls. Troop L has very
good graphaphOne for its entertain
ment when the troopers are off duty.
A model concrete foundation for the
field range IN the kitchen IS another
feature of which the troop IS rather
proud When this concrete apparatus
becomes thoroughly heated, II retains
the heat for a very long time and Is
great aid to the troop chefs AdJoln-
Ing the kitchen is the chefs quarters,
which rival the average college boys
den for the pennants, pictures ana
souvenir hung walls.
Adjoining the mess hall, at the other
end, is the troop exchange, where the
men can buy everything they need
from a paper Of pins to theater tickets
To lay out the stables and model the
rest of the camp, about four feet OF
earth had to be scraped away In level
ing the ground The stables are 10
Gated on natural shelf Of the hill IN
der the Southern Pacific bridge. Ac-
Communications for "A horses, q on a
side are here, with the managers eI-
tending through the center Eacn morse
has his own particular place and iced
box at this long supper table, where
they are blanketed and tied every
night The side Of the hill and the
fences Of the cement plant, with an ad-
ditional fence, built by the troop, forms
a triangular corral, where the officers
private horses, the troop mounts and
the very important troop mules can
Ready for instant use, the saddles
and brides are on racks at one end or
Q the stable. Through the Kindness OF
s. C. McCurdy Of the cement plant,
water pipe has been run to the stables,
with big galvanized iron watering
tank for the horses. At the entrance
to the corral is the stable sergeants
and stable guards quarters, and the
Troopers Have Their Own Chickens.
Eggs may rise to any height in the
price line, but that does not bother
troop l. There are about 80 troop
chickens who periodically supply
about 20 fresh eggs a day for the
troop To insure the same liberal sup
ply for the future, there is flock OF
miniature rockies to the hen troop
that viii be on the egg supply duty IN
about eight months.
Has Six Pet Cats.
Soldiers are noted for their fond
ness for pets Troop L is no excep-
ton. but in addition to being fond OF
dogs, the troop has six pet cats, that
the soldiers wouldn't part with for
any price. Every time the troop Dreaks
camp and moves the cats are carefully
packed in a grain sack and carried
along with the rest Of the troop equip
ment.
Athletics have always been popular
IN the troop and during the military
tournament at the last Os-Aple cele-
bration L troop won the largest num-
Der Of events Of any troop in the con-
test.
While at Fort Sill, Okla, troop L
held the regimental baseball cham
pionship and they have always led
in every kind of athletics.
Stars at WigwaEgfng.
Wigwagging is another star stunt Of
Us troopers. With the exception Of
the II recruits who Joined the troop
Just before they left NOria, every man
in the troop can talk as easily with
signal flag as gOssips can talk at a
pink tea
The 18th cavalry is one Of the new
e. regiments of cavalry. having been
organized at Fort Meade in 1901 Troop
7 with the regiment has served two
tours in the Philippine islands the first
time at camp Stotsenberg, and on their
return a few years later, at camp Nc
Grath Batabgas. In the states il has
been stationed at Fort Sill. Okla; at
Fort LeavenwOrth, and at Fort Riley,
Kans-, before being sent here for Dor
der duty.
Troop ct" is getting to be a veteran
at camp duty, having been under can