The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-03
Interesting Incidents of Soldier
Life in Mexico.
men WASH own CLOTHES
Crap Games FavOrite Sport of
the Negro Troopers.
All Men Guard Against Typhus
TOting Bugs.
BY DAMON RUNYoN.

Il
where YOU find it. Let us tell you the
sforv Of Dutch" the teamster with
the headquarters wagon train of the
punitive expedition.
He has another name, no doubt. but
no one ever hears it. To all who know
him he is 'Dutch"-a short, handy
legged fellow, with an engaging smile
which is Just at present somewhat
concealed by a black, brigandish stub
BILE of beard. This beard looks IKE
section of the state of Chihuahua after
the American soldiers have burned OH
some of the sacaton grass to make
room for their camp.
Dutch" has his head closely crop
ped which is the tonsoral fashion of
the expedition. There is good rea-
son for the convict hair cut. 1t is to
prevent the acquisition of the typhus
toting bugs. The typhus is said to be
prevalent in some parts of Mexico and
while it has not been encountered by
the soldiers, they are taking no
gr6hances.
q 'Dutch" swings a black snake over
athe backs of four as sorrowful looking
fnules as you could find in the United
Estates army, or in the state OF MIS-
F@souri To the casual aye, they look
livery much like any other mules, but
Eto Dutch they are wholly different.
81 seems that each or "Dutchs" mules
sfhas an individual personality. Each
Hmule is "Dutch's' friend and pal As
t'Dutch's'' mules look like other
iFTnules, so, too, does Dutch" look ike
other army teamsters when he is
-.rhounted at the forefront of his wagon,
speaking in the singular language of
the man who knows mules. This Ian
guage can be expressed only in blank
Spaces, and Interrogation points. Yet
within the bosom OF Dutch" burns
1Nv-fv,
Kip, Nell Paddy and Mach, which are
his mules. through this trip safe and
sound. 1t is a larger task than may
appear. Mules are but flesh and
Sbood. Heat and dust and the exertion
of dragging a load of 4,50O pounds
over the dry stretches of Mexico is
Mighty wearying work. But Dutch is
determined to return his long cared
70 rim hand the United States just
as he took Their out.
Nurses EN- When Sick.
He has succeeded SO far He has
- nursed them over a hundred miles of
Mexican territory and they are as hale
and hearty as ever and can bite into
a bale of hay or mans leg, with
amazing vigor. On the last jump,
however, one of them-maybe it was
Nell and maybe it was Mack, they all
look alike-seemed to be falling some
what. Big tears were in "Dutch's"
eyes as he nursed her along slowly
q, tsuts and so safe into camp.
- Look at them now!" he said,
proudly. I'll give you 10 dollars if
you find pimple on their backs. I'll
get 'em through all right, you can bet
on that"
He denies now that he felt bad
about the ailing mule; he SCOTS the
idea of a man having any sympathy
for a mule, but those who watched
him coming down the long white road
saw the tears and saw, too, when he
swabbed the black muzzles of the
mournful looking creatures with wa
ter from his own canteen.
The American flag is flying over the
- camp where this is written probably
for the first time since the columns
entered Mexico. Nearly all the regi-
ments brought their colors and regi-
mental standards, but they were car
ried cased on the march. Some of
the cavalry outfits had their guidons
fluttering as they marched, but the
stars and stripes were not displayed
until they were unfurled to the winds
from the mountains of Mexico in this
o. camp. They are flying over the camps
s'of several organizations and over the
hospital tent, side by side with the
crimson barred flag of the Red Cross.
1t is a gracious bit of coloring against
the dusty sky line.
$50 Buy. From NIexicans.
- Today parties of Mexicans came into
@camp on commercial bent Some of
= them carried patches of .squawking
= chickenSs and others brought eggs. A
r@number of Cinnamon who have lived
In this section for years, have made
L arrangements to open a store near
Hthe camp. These Cinnamon wear
4 American garb, with wide brimmed
NstoclImen hats set on their heads and
n they talk both English and Mexican
@fluently and with innumerable ges-
e lures.
Eggs are selling at 25 cents and Sc
Gents a dozen; it depending largely
upon the seller The soldiers dc
mighty little bartering. They ask q
4 price and pay it without much bag
1.-The goods. The Mexican tobacco an6
II cigarettes are in big demand There
II seems to be plenty of money among
II The troops. The people here accept
81 American money eagerly. but few OF
u Them have any change.
ffs This was wash day in camp, and for
several miles along the banks of the
river there fluttered from every busf
and tree the lingerie of the American
Soldier His is a simple garb below
the surface of his o. D.'s-which i:
to say. olive drab, and his method O.
Z laundrying is simple. He takes off hi:
underwear and socks, soaking eacf
item well with the medicated soap is
sued by the government and theI
soshing them in the river.
IA. After slapping the garments around
in the water for some time. he wring
them out, spreads them on a bit o
sShrubbery to dry and calmly immerse
himself in the bitter cold water of thu
mountain stream while he waits TO
the clothing to dry.
Negroes Battle Often.
s. The black soldiers who began bath
ing about as soon as they crossed the