The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-06-29
CANON CITY
COMP ANY
OF GUARDS
AT GOLDEN
(sy PETER sTERLINe)
Mo1ilization Camp,

they arrived in the mo Jilization camp
here at Golden.
Instantly the blaring of bands, the
week of preparation, gave way to
stern reality. 1t became a soldiers
life for them without any frills or
feathers.
AS the troop train pulled into the
camp the members of the other Colo
RADIO units, the batteries, the cavalry,
and the infantry companies cheered
them to the echo. But it was the
cheering of brother for a brother
and not the cheer acclaiming hero
ss the boys had been used to at
home.
Hardy had the train stopped when
a private hollered out, What outfit is
that?" Company F. from Canon City"
was the reply. We'll. hurry up then
you guys; you're goin' to mess with
US and were hungry" y
The men found that only camp
site had been selected for them and
nothing else done. The big conical
tents, always used in a base camp,
had not even been taken from the
shipping boxes.
Despite the fact that their cars
were virtually loaded with lunch
when they left Canon City and though
they had done little but eat most of
the trip, the men were lined up. given
their mess kits and dished out their
Chow" of beef steak. beans and cof-
fee. No one can work on an empty
stomach, much less a soldier, and
these men had whole nights work
ahead of them.
After mess the tents started to go
up. OF couIs Sc the boys didn't know
anything about the wrinkles or short
cuts in tent erecting, but they soon
caught on under the direction OF
Lieutenant Norman, Sergeant Fulker-
son and Rohn. So well did they do
the job that a captain standing near
me said, These fellows have been
there before. can see that" / laugh
ed up my sleeve because ! knew most
of them didn't know a guy-rope
from a can-opener but it made me
feel good just the same.
Company F. was the first infantry
organization to arrive at the camp
from out in the state, the other two
outfits on the ground, A and l.. being
both from Denver. 1t was with a
natural curiosity then that officers
inf 10
nocked around to watch our men. And
our fellows certa. .nly made a great
showing. Seventy-one men and two
officers, the largest company in the
regiment and all real men. displaying
the fact that they came from good
homes in their every manner. There
were no tatooed arms or chests, no
tough or rough-neck countenances, as
was SO apparent in the Denver COM
panies.
Disinterested officers told me that
they were OF the opinion tn; t Company
F. would be the banner company of
the state because of the high-calibre
OF the men and because they were 50
well officered. found to my surprise,
that the doings of Canon City are we'll
known in military circles and our
town is given credit for enterprise and
patriotism.
The parting of the boys from home
was very hard on them. There were
few dry eyes among them as the train
pulled out and for an hour that was
the gloomiest atmosphere / ever got
into. 1t made me SO blue / found the
tears trickling down my cheeks, too.
heard many of them say that that
farewell after they got to the depot
was the most trying ordeal they ever
went through and that they would
rather fight Mexicans all day than to
experience it again.
But they liked that -off-they
appreciated the spirit shown. 1t was
the tears they couldn't stand. altho
they were moved to them themselves.
Sergeant Ira Burr EXPIRE SD 1t exact
ly when he said. I'D go through hell
and hot water to put Canon City on
the National Guard map. but I'd die
If had to say goodbye again."
The boys know Canon will stand by
them and they are going to make
her proud Of them.
NOTES
The first casualty occurred at
Castle Rock when Private Clifford
Sage lost his hat. He went bare
headed into camp.
Privates John Thomas. Orris Rowe