Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-08-12

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Camp Schafer.
Western Kansas World
II WaKeeney, Kansas.
Dear Friends: s
Since leaving home for services
on the border, we have recei we'd many
requests to write, despite our present
life and enyironment,so here is where
the World force gets a chance t<
work over time.
Our regiment left TT. Riley in five
sections scheduled one hour apart.
Each section was made up of muni.
tlon cars, tourist sleepers and two
Kitchen cars. We were on the road
three days and two nights-had
plenty of we'll cooked food and travel
ed all the way in safety and comfort.
Ihls is more than the tooops from
some states who travelled as long as
five days in day coaches without suf-
tlcient food, some say.
We travelled on the M. X. g. t.
through Parsons and Burlington,
Kansas, across Oklahoma at night,
awakening in Texas 1t is difficult
to realize that we travelled two days
and a night in Texas. We stopped
occasionally for exercise which con-
sisted of walking through the streets
of different cities. Dennison, Dallas,
| Waco and San Antonio were the
most important places at which we
stopped.
Arriving at Eagle Pass we were
greeted by the End regimental band
which. proceeded US here a week be-
fore.
We marched to our camp sight
without delay and proceeded to clear
the ground of cactus, stones and
mesquit brush, not to mention a few
centipedes and other insects.
Our camp is situated on a stretch
of low sandy ground surrounded on
three sides by high rocky bluffs, on
the other side lies Eagle Pass and the
Rio Grande river.
The Ist day in camp introduced us
to some of the hottest weather L
have ever experienced. Each day we
enjoy ~ sand storm which is due
TO arrive at 4:50 p. m. but like the
train service at home, it is some
tines delayed, often catching us at
mess, covering our beans. with
grit and other appetite reducers.
This is the rainy season for this part
OF Texas and the daily dust storm is
generally followed by shower that
is appreciated to the fullest ext ent
The intense heat, dust storm and
insects of different kinds, including
reptiles of various sorts, give one an
inclination to become homesick
Only this morning just before reveille
l killed a small snake without NOV
ing from my cot. This, however is
not a common -occurrance. All these
things together with the daily rou-
tine of army life, serve to harden us
for whatever we may be called upon
to do, especially for campaign if |
Mexico should become menacing.
Notwithstanding the hardships we
enjoy many privileges. A large
regimental Y NJ G. A. tent has
been erected for our recreation, where |
we may read and write, everything
furnished free of charge. Shower |
baths add to our comfort and we also |
have electric lights and running
water, an allowance of ice each day |
gives us ice water at all times and |
such delicacies as ice tea, lemonade |
and even Ice cream.
The city of Eagle Pass is one mile
from camp. 1t is a place of about I
II, 900 Inhabitants, fifty percent of
whom are Mexicans and Spanish, the
other half refugees. The most prom
lnent building in town is a hotel
three stories in height
Just accross the river from Eagle
Pass is the Mexican town Pedras3
Negras- for black rock
q place of of about 1900 inhabitants
Of which we know little about
A large garrison efCarranza soldiers
are stationed there and the report
is that they have several six inch
guns trained on this camp. How
ever our own artillery isn't here for
nothing and the greasers have moth
ing on us so '.we should worry"
Accfoss the Rio Grande and con-
Meeting the two cities is the inter
nation bridge. This bridge is con-
guarded and all persons
are searched before allowed
TO pass.
1t was my good fortune to be on a
guard detailed to watch the bridge