El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-29


Columbus sleeps with it's boots on
and carries its guns on the hair
trigger. One approaches the scene OF
Villas murderous raid, which occas-
Toned the Invasion OF Mexico by United
States troops. with a feeling that thrill
ing scenes are to be witnessed.
The visitor is not disappointed,
It would require the pen OF a Lew
Wallace or a Kipling. and the brush OF
a Remington 10 adequately portray the
picture presented.
Aged but stalwart Indian chiefs who
fought against Geronimo, stohdly view
the scene. Tall brOnZed cowboys stalk
about, aviators mingle with broncho
busters, chauffeurs wrangle with mule
drivers and pioneer settlers sell ham
and eggs to the influx Of eastern
tradesmen.
West From Fl PasO.
Instantly the train pulls out OF FL
Paso the hills OF Mexico are revealed.
seemingly but a stones throw distant.
so clear is the ara great range OF
treeless. crumbling mountains that
slope ruggedly to the very edge OF the
Rio Grande.
The mighty Rio Grande. you discover.
Is but an apology for river. It's j ID
is wide and deep, but alas, the water
is not there. You could dangle a piece
up and take the river along with you.
A pyramid of stones on the river bank
marks the dividing line OF Texas New
Mexico and Chihuahua. The train
swings across high treste over the
stream" and plunges into the noun
tains United States troopers, with
guns sluEg on shoulders or dragging
along by their sides, alertly pace the
trestle and track.
short tunnel Is encountered, and
At
a cache OF supplies Just inside.
Across the Desert.
The cars speed along. For awhile
white pyramids a Jew miles apart mark
the federal boundary. Finally you note
their absence.
ooh, the land Is 50 useless no one
gives a hurrah where the line Is"
fellow passenger remarks, but we find
that we are too far from the line to
see the boundary monuments.
A table land-mesa they call Il out
hcre-it extends in unbroken barren
ness as far the eye can reach, with !
ruined mountains stuck here and there /
around tine edge.
The rocks are lava, the soil powdered /
lava. the bushes sage and cactus.
a Oue-stOry yellow building ia I
reached. with a sign on it indicating |
it Is a station. and you note that the /
"city" is doubling its number OF build I
ings-tWO instead OF one. A half mile I
ore more away heavy winged black /
bu1zards are seen flying above a heap /
OF ugly black objects on the desert /
sand. the decayiug remains OF COW /
tnat has persisted.
At Columbus.
columbus is reached The railroad /
track les the main street. At the north /
lies the village OF scattered frame, /
brick or Of adobe houses, stores and /
huts
At the south extends square mile I
or more OF the main base OF supplies
for Gen. Pershing's punitive expedition (
gainst villa" Chats it's Official name.) :
A thousand or more soldiers line the
track
Picture postal card men storm the
tourists.
Half a thousand army mules bray.
glance at the town indicates that
there is but one building big enough TO
be hotel. and that looks TO have about
six or eight rooms.
Getting Into the Hotel.
lf YOU are wise you jump from the
observation platform, circle the water
tank and rush for the hotel"
The late conner has to sleep standing
The mild-mannered Mr. Hoover-it IS
the Hoover House '-hesitates when
you ask for q room and allows he
sucsses' he can give you a bed, but
be- aims 10 put two people IN room
30 as to accommodate as many as posi-
Die.
The rest Of the arrivals show up soon
mostly FL Paso business men who are
ellinE to Uncle Sam supplies, from con-
Iensed milk to aeroplanes.
Quiet enough in Columbus" I ven
ured to the clerk.
Wasn't very quiet in this very room
wO nights ago." he said.
Fellow from FL Paso said he knew
1illa-
"Cattlemen from outside here a piece
who'd been loading up on booze pulled
gun and turned on him.
stand up ne said.
"El Paso chap knew his game. looked
i'm in the eye and said: 'Pardner,
What you doing with that gun?
I'm goin' to shoot everybody that
yer knew villa he replied.
'Pardner' said the Ell Paso Teller. ,
Let me tell you something Round
ere when we pull a gun We shoot first
nd talk about It afterwards
Just then a couple OF soldiers who 7
ad slipped in, grabbed him, gun and !
II. and the show was over"
7 drew a bed in a wooden lean-to | !
ute new and clean, across the particu-
ir piece Of desert they call street
The Stranger in Town.
An eastern civilian I'm Columbus feels I L
ut OF place. +