The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-10-15
Yuma, Ari!, Oct. Z.


Dearest Mother:
Eve left .El Centre and It's beautiful
hotel this morning. 1t took US eight
hours to make sixty-seyen miles Of
our trip. This desert country In Art
iona is much worse than Nevada.
Imagine all the West Virginia hills
turned to sand. void of AL vegetation.
and animal life and you have cor.
rect picture of this treacherous coun-
try. Twenty miles out on the desert
] drove the car slightly out OF the
tracks and Il stuck. Everett worked
with it for two hours but 1t refused to
go forward or back. Debated the
tires, wrapped ropes around all the
wheels, and tried to jack up the wheels
SO as to put the car in the road but
nothing was effective. The jack could
not raise the wheels but sank into the
soft sand when the weight Of the car
got on 1t. At last two Mexicans VINO
could not speak English came along.
They were very accommodating but
could not understand Everett's sug-
gestions. The big black one climbed
under the back Of the car and when I
saw the gun sticking out of his hip
pocket ] did not care much whether
they stayed around us but with the
three men pushing and with me at
the wheel We finally got enough Of the
car on the road to give 1t start. Then,
Everett took the wheel and we stuck
again only a few yards from the first
place. The Mexicans, though, helped
US again and Everett paid them well.
We drove on first most of the way
occasionally on second. The car TOOK
twelve gallons Of water on the entire
days trip.
we should have taken the Mexicans
on the running board with US but it,
was little too dangerous. A few of
the impossible parts of the road were
planked. That is, ties were laid Just
asfor' railroad track and three
planks were laid lengthwise on the
right hand side and three on the left.
u the car wheels slip Oh the planks
You are goner for there is no way
10 lit the car up again out OF the heavy
sand. The water bags carry but six
gallons and we ran out of water five
miles from an Indian well (the only.
place on the entire trip to get water)
but we went straight ahead with the
radiator sizzling like a tea kettle.
Everett says tits part OF the country
should be classed with Sherman,s fam
Gus remark about war.
The Thermometer registers 125 de-
grees here in the summer and eyery-
one now is dressed in white shoes and
white clothes. The electric fans are
running in the dining rooms and the
guests can sleep out doors here II
they wish to. Yuma is chock full of
Indians and Mexicsrs. The Mexicans
are as black as negroes and will do
anything IL they are hungry. This
being on the border makes you feel a
little uneasy all the time. Uncle sam
has a reservation here for the In
dams. They are uncivilized and AL
ways will be so. Education does mt
improve them nor their mode Of living
and 1t is only the overwhelming mum.
Der of white people that makes them
behave.
You must read Harold Bell Wright,s
story of Barbara Worth. The scene of
the story is laid just few miles from
here. You know he wrote The Call
ing of Dan Matthew'S
We hope to reach Phoenix in two
days. Salton Sea where, those tour
lists died on the desert this summer, is
Just short distance from this town.
Both OF us are perfectly we'll and
expect to get home by. the end OF, the
month, Hoping everything is all o. K.
l am,
With love from both .. Us to both