Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-10-18
BARTON BOY ON BORDER
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

O~~N~
the train for half an hour. The sta
ton there is immense and has many
points of interest, particularly the
restaurant.
At San Antonio the aspect of the
country changed. We were beginning
to get our first glimpse of southern
Texas, and it was not pleasing to the
eye of a Vermonter. Weird and des-
olate is the country, and alongside the
track lay cattle that had wandered
from their feeding grounds and hun
ger and thirst had done their work,
and they had fallen and lay prey to
the many buzzards of the desert. The
story goes that everything in Texas
has horns, which is literally true.
Not a few Of US expected to have wings
before we were out. of Texas.
The heat of 115 degrees only black
ened US up, and we had plenty of hard
work but no sickness, and established
our camp down by the Rio Granda,
Eagle Pass is a town Of some 1000
Inhabitants Most of them are Greas-
ers Of a low type, although there ere
few beautiful mansions owned by
MeXicans. The poorer class live in
huts made Of bamboo, old signboards
or boxes. It is not uncommon to see
ten or dozen children in 2 one-room
hut. We could not imagine what they
lived on as practically nothing grows
in that desert country. The little
Mexican boys used to hang around
our mess hall, eagerly waiting for a
crust Of bread. Along the latter part
Of our stay there, pals were brought
by the boys and every scrap Of dinner
left over was put in the pals and tax
en- home.
It very seldom rains in Eagle Pass,
and previous to our coming, eight
months had passed without a shower
The Vermont boys were not long in
bringing a heavy downpOur, much to
that colonel issued an order to the eff
feet, "No leaving the company streets
without being properly attired."
Soon the monotony of camp life be-
gan to show in our dispositions; we
were rather tired Of the pick and
shovel, the rifle did not look so good
when we were handling it, newspapers
looked better, and we began to scan
every column for news relative to our
| release. Many misinterpreted re-
ports of a ridiculous nature were heard
every day. For instance, one fellow
in all sincerity said, 81 see Pershing
is becoming friendly with the United
States, don't believe We'll be here
much longer" We never happened
to see the paper this article came out
IN. Soon newspapers, pick, shovel,
drills and hikes were put aside, rattle
snakes and centipedes forgotten, for it
was learned that the Tennessee regi-
ment was coming to take our place.
With the arrival of the Tennessee
regiment there was stir around camp
but it was not disorder, everything
went down in clock-like movements.
We had learned discipline. We were
anxious to see our cars, and were sur
prised and overjoyed to see the word
pullman" typed at the top of each
car. 1t surely looked like a pleasant
trip home, and every minute was en-
Joyed from the time of leaving Eagle
Pass until we arrived in Burlington.
When crossing the boundary into the
Green Mountain state, cheer after
cheer was given, although it was in
the wee small hours of the morning.
Our stay in Burlington was unevent-
full. We were restless as home and
friends seemed near.
At Newport we were completely
taken by surprise, as thousands of
people were in the streets anxiously
waiting our return. The Masons and
band aided us to the armory, where a
splendid banquet was given, some
thing long to be remembered.
Respectfully,
II. j. Dutton.
! Editors Note-Mr. Dutton accom-.
panied this letter with poem EMIT
led, "Hell in Texas" which he saws
best describes the country Certainly
the verse is expressive, but is neces.
sarily crowded out of this issue with
much other material