Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1914-11-27
LETTER FROM r. V. STALEY
Former Ladysmith Resident Now
With Regulars in Arkansas

Prairie Creek, Ark, Nov. Is, 1914.
Editor News-Budget: -Just a few
lines which may be of interest to
you, letting you in on the secret
that | receive your valuable sheet
regularly and that it is a godsend
to a fellow down here in the bon
tocks.''
We have been in the "sticks" since
Nov. 7. Left Fort Sheridan, H., on
the night of Nov to take care of
a coal strike down here in the Mid
land Valley soft coal region.
AS a general rule, the soldier of
your Uncle Sam has no use for
strike duty, leaving it for the bold,
bad Militia-man to handle, but occa-
sionally-as in the Colorado trouble
the said Militia fluke out in dis
NAL failure, necessitating the call
ing of regular troops. At present,
the End Squadron of this regiment
of cavalry is on strike duty in Colo
RADIO, the 3rd Squadron is at Fort
Meyer, Virginia, and the LIST Squad
ron is here in the ridges" enjoy
ing the sunshine of a southern day
and cursing the bitterness of an
Arctic night. For such is camp life
in this neck of the woods.
I always liked the abOriginies up
in the bush in Northern Wisconsin
the Ladysmith lumberjack coming
in on the same stuff, but since mix
ing with these people down here, |
am inclined to believe that Arkan-
sas is some place.
The people are hospitable, gener-
Gus and likable. They are not the
bad people we were led to believe
they were.
They were soon convinced that we
were not here to fight them but to
make friends and settle all difficult
ties without shot being fired, and
they certainly were right there like
a duck.
It was the machine guns that in
terested them most. They had-a
great percentage of them-never
seen a soldier. My bunkie, Col5on,
and myself walked over to Hartford
the first night we were here, a dis
lance of four miles.
We found a nice little burg of
$500 coal digging devils, who work
every day, believe me.
Stopping in the middle of the street
crossing to light a rope" we were
surrounded by about fifty natives
who had never seen a soldier before
all eyes and mouths wide open.
When we discovered that we were
the object Of this Arkansas curiosity,
Colson laughed and said RED, we'd
better to get to h out of here,
and we sure got out and got under.
When not on duty of some sort
we do quite a bit of hunting. These
low mountains are thickly wooded
and furnish plenty of game in the
line of turkey, pigs, coons and pos
sum. These latter-coons and pos
sums-are hunted at night with
carbide light and the old stand by
a big "meat-hound." Said meat
hound tracks and trees the game
and-Well you know.
President Wilson sent a represen-
tative here today to learn the true
status of affairs in this strike stu
alton and it is likely that few of
us will be here after Christmas.
However, as in all unpleasant
work, it may develop into trouble.
But the soldier always wants to get
as many friends as possible and
while duty is duty and must be done
cheerfully, we would rather live and
let live. And when We leave here
the people Of this state will have
nothing but a good word and best
regards for Uncle Sans men.
Sorry to take up your valuable
time, Bell, with this, but if you can
read it, O. Kim tickled to death.
Ever your friend,
F. V. STALEY (Trumpeter),
Troop D., 9Th U. S. Cavalry.