The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-05
sergeant Frank Barber Of Company
Writes interesting Letter
About Journey
to Texas.
SOUTHERN WELCOME
Some Of the Troopers Ready to Admit
That Not All the Pretty Girls
Live In Iowa, Cores
pondent Says.

ooio m an interesting letter to The
Gate City from Sergeant Barber of
Company l.. 1t Is written from a
DAILY dairy kept by the sergeant and
Is vivid and interesting chronicle Of
the journey from Camp Dodge at
Les Molnes to Brownsville, Texas.
Following is the letter:
brownsville, Tex, Aug. 1, 1916.
The Gate City,
Keokuk, Iowa.
Thinking that our relatives and
friends would enjoy hearing OF our
trip from Camp Dodge to Browns
vile, will take the liberty OF writ
ing them through your columns. Will
write from notes made each day.
July 2o-We were called earlier
this morning than usual. being up
at 400 a. m.
The First regiment moved in three
sections. The first section left about
11:30 a. m. The second about 400
p. m. The third section, OF which we
were part. left Camp Dodge at 7:15
p. m. We travelled in style on stand
ard Pullmans.
July 26-The excitement of moving
and not being used to- sleeping in a
real bed, got the boys up early this
morning. 1t was about 500 o'clock
About this time we caught our last
glimpse OF Iowa, and an hour and a
half later we stopped for breakfast
six miles south of Kirksville, Mo. It
was quite a novelty to get off the
train to line up beside baggage car
and get something to eat.
At 1880 we arrived in Moberly,
Mo-, and were met at the station by
the Moberly band. and the majority
of the citizens.
It was here that we had our first
parade. and were cheered to the echo
for the perfect time we kept in march
ing. After the parade we returned
to our cars, where we were served
dinner. At 1890 p. m, we left for
st. Louis. At 700 p. m. we arrived
in North st. Louis, where we were
met by q delegation Of citizens, and
several young girls distributed boxes
of lunch to all the troops. Each box
contained three ham sandwiches, an
orange, two cookies, and a piece of
pie. The pie was wrapped in oil
paper and was quite q curiosity
amongst the boys.
Two Pies Short.
It was here that we had our first
hard luck. Gale Hewitt and myself
were short the pie. However we are
going to collect on our return trip.
We were promised three hours in
st. Louis, but this failed to material
ize. We were switched to East st.
Louis and not allowed out OF the
cars, and laid there for three hours.
There were plenty of kicks on this
We left there at 1900
p. m. and stopped at depot for ice,
where several OF the boys got some
July 27-This morning the boys
were able to hang on to the berths
q little longer, getting up at 500 a.
m. About this time we crossed from
Illinois to Missouri at Thebes. Ill.
eve left Des Moines for st. Louis on
the Wabash railroad and the Cotton
limo, Mo, we had breakfast.
AT 10: 80 a. m. the train stopped at
Clear Creek, where we were all
assured that we sure did enjoy it.
Also some needed it. AS the result
Of this, some of the boys developed
a cold?
We arrived at Campbell, Mo-, at
/ 90 D. M, where the Cotton Belt
route presented each of us with a
musk melon and two stamped postal
cards. We also had dinner here.
1t was here that the boys began
to exchange addresses with the
girls. Percy Eberle Ca member OF
Co. A of Dubuque, who was trans
Tered to our company seemed to be
the most popular, with Joe Burk
close second. Witty"
Mayer, with his 20 boy" was also
very popular. Corporal Ward was
having a good time using up a per-
,ectly good tablet in trying to attract
he attention of some of the good
cooking ones.
At 2:3O p. m. we left Campbell, ar
living at Jonesboro, Ark, in time
or a short parade and supper.
The second section was delayed in
Cast st. Louis where we passed them.
they caught up with us here and
ook part in the parade. When the
rain stopped for us to take bath
his forenoon, our kitchen car was |
lear a corn field. Result, "roastin' /,
,ars" for supper.
I'll, 90 Tho h,,pob ora 1aorp;,,0 IN |