Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-28
NORMAN MURPHY
|. OF co. N WRITES
AT zAPATA, TEX,

Private Norman Murphy, son of Mr..
and Mrs. c. B. Murphy Of this city,
writes as follows:
Zapata, Texas. July p, 16.
Dear Folks-We received all our
weeks mail yesterday and believe me-
EVERYONE was feeling better after near
ing from home. I got II letters ana
hoard from several of the fellows ana
girls. Would like to write letter 10
each one but stamps and stationery are
scarce here and no money till the loth
| of August This is an awful town 10
live in. only two white people ana the
Mexicans don't speak English at all.
| had deuce, of a time trying to buy
some Phenolax WATERS at the Bolca
(drug store), for I could not speak Mex.
and he did not know English, but fl
| nally took piece of paper and wrote
ont the prescription in Latin and he
| could read it o. K. I am feeling all
| right because have taken care OF my
! self and am acting as a sort or meolcai
advisor to the company. The hospital
| is all out Of pills and can't do anything,
so when anyone wants to get hXed up
they come to me and | tell them what
is needed It is very hot, ] am sitting
in the shade and sweat is running off
nv nose to beat the band. We have
nothing to do from 10 A. NJ. till p. NJ.
at present and are getting very lazy
We had "f1apja cks" and syrup for sup
per last night and they went fine and
fast, too. We expect to go back to La
redo in four or FIVE weeks, there isn't
anything to spend money on here. no
soda or candy, but once in while
when we have beans 0uxury) I get
can Of preserves to go with them. Am
going to have my washing done by
Mex. for a quarter. We got our new
uniforms today. They are Of thin kahki
instead Of the heavy wool, and wash
fine. so will be a lot cooler and clean
er. The regiment is all broken up now
add scattered all over the border, the
corps has doctor and three men for
each detachment (medical corps).
I haven't received a Kennehec Jour
nal yet. We get lot of them in the
company. though, and l guess someone
,
about our not getting enough to eat
here. We do, and if it wasn't so darn
hot we would be having a good time.
There is no sign Of any trouble at all.
We see lots of Carranza soldiers when
we go in swimming. They swim on
their side ard we stay on ours, as all
the MeXicans on this side are Ameri-
can citizens and we have no trouble
with them, as they appreciate our be-
ing here and are willing to do us IA
Vors at any time. Water is scarce bu.
we can get a drink at any house by
knocking and saying Ava" was
corporal of the guard last night and
one of the sentinels challenged some-
one and they refused to halt, so he
shouted for the corporal and l went
Gown to investigate.
Found that he hal challenged a dom
key in the dark. There are lot of
them here, but they are only half as
large as a regular donkey and are
called Mex. humming birds" Have
a dream most every night of a straw
berry shortcake and glass Of milk.
Have two-months supply on hand
when l get home. How is the garden
coming? Any green peas yet? Write
me about it and I'll give my squad a
Spiritualistic banquet with the results.
We are now working on trench
around our camp, which will take
ABOUT three weeks to finish at the
present rate Of advancement 1t is so
ld1ot that we can't work much. Only