Evening journal., 1916-11-01
Delaware militia
ENJOYS LONG Hike
We're Away From Camp
Deming on Four-Day
Trip
STILL NO NEWS
OF HOMECOMING
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DEAlrNG, n. NJ, Oct. 26-Ihe Della
ware militiamen returned this afternoon
from a long hike Four days were
spent in the open, but so interesting
was the journey that the time passed
quickly
Everything was ready by S o'clock
Monday morning The eight companies
in command OF Col. Roberts, L.. 5. A
proceeded westward through Deming and
followed the trail along the Southern
Pacific Railroad TO small station con
sisting of three houses, called Carne
From this point south easterly course
was taken and camp was pitched about
100 o'clock at a water hole near q
small ranch house. Fifteen miles had
been covered
A large windmill pumped drinking wa
ter which had a peculiar alkali taste
As soon as the ''doughboys" had their dog
tents pitched and the baggage train un.
loaded they prepared TO soak their tired
feet in the water hole.
Large camp fires were built at nigh
Two companies generally gathered
around one fire. In gathering wood in
this country more is to be found under
ground than above ground. The roots
Of the mesquite bushes are large and
make a hot fire.
Reveiile sounded as usual about
o'clocl, Tuesday morning but the troops
were given plenty of time to break
90
troops hiked back to Came and then
struck straight north across a level pla-
teau for a distance Of 10 miles to the
town of Florida. Many dogs accompa.
MED the column and some good sport
was afforded by the many rabbit chase:
that took place. Jack rabbits are nu
merous on the western plains and as
soon as a dog sighted rabbit it would
set up a yelp and lead the entire pack
in the chase. The plain was level and
the dogs and rabbits could be plainly
seen for a mile or more.
The wagon trains were placed in front
on this hike so that no shirkers might
place their rifles or packs on them and
thus escape carrying part Of their 4C
pounds.
The column halted at Florida about
noon the second day where the men were
met by an auto truck from camp car
rying fresh meat and bread as well as
mail for fortunate ones.
Leaving Florida at o'clock the citi
zen soldiers took north western trai
and arrived about o'clock at a spring
neart Fort Cummings where camp wa'
pitched for the night. Sixteen miles were
covered Fort Cummings was an in
teresting place and many souvenirs were
found including bullets, eagle ornament:
probably from soldiers hats; fiat lead
en- bullets dug from the crumbled adobe
walls; Indian arrow heads, pottery, etc
u is said that the expedition which fl
nally conquered old Geronimo, chief Of
the Apache Indians. who so terrorized
the settlers in the southwest was sent
ont from this place. The fort now is a
complete ruin although some of its walls
are still standing. u is situated at tho
base of Cooks Range, foothills of the
Rockies and is nearly surrounded by
mountains.
The third days journey was the most
interesting of all. Only seven miles
were covered bu. l. was 4 difficult trail
After leaving Fort Cummings the CO.
lumn followed the old Butterfeld trail
across the Nimbres Mountains. This
was once one of the overland stage
routes to California. At a sharp turn
in the trail the spot where 20 immi
grants were massacred in the early sos
by Indians was pointed out. A few
stones mark the graves in which soldiers
from Fort Cummings buried the victims
II was thought many times that the
roads were too steep and rough for The
wagons. but the mules buckled down tc
their work and set a good pace fol
those following. Camp was pitched about
noon on the ranch owned by Charles
Rich who was driven from Mexico by
the bandits. He and his family told