The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1916-10-05
North Dakota Boys Get Taste
Of Excitement After Riot Call

Mercedes, Tex, Sept. 29.-About 20
members of the First North Dakota
regiment had little active service
last night when q riot call came into
headquarters from the beer saloon q
mile from town, known as 'Tipperary"
named by the regulars stationed
here year or two ago on account Of
its distance from town.
The cause of the disturbance was a
fight between members Of the Third
regular U. S. cavalry and nine Okla
homa artillery men who happened to
be in town on their way from their
station at Donna to an outpost. Sew
eral of the participants in the ARRAY
were cut with beer bottles and the
proprietor Of the cantina sent in a
call for North Dakota troops to quell
the fight, which soon became a grand
free for all. Luckily none of the COM
batants were armed. The officer of
the day Immediately picked up the
men in camp who were off duty and
they were rushed in automobiles to
the scene of action. They carried their
Springfields, sidearms and ammuni-
ton and the saloon "a regular square
bungalow-shaped building screened on
all sides with the bar running COM
pletely around) was soon cleared of
the melee. About dozen Of the men
were stationed there the rest Of the
evening and their appearance as they
marched around the place was so bust
ness-like that no further trouble en-
sued.
Sunday is quiet day at the camp,
many of the boys taking hikes to the
Rio Grande to look across that muddy
stream into Old Mexico and speculate
on how soon they will set foot on the
soil of the southern republic. They
may take train to Point Isabel, a few
miles distant, where excellent surf
bathing may be INDUCED in. One Of
the sights at "The Point" Is a large
wireless station recently completed by
the government connecting the 18TH
mus of Panama with Arlington station.
But the boys are not allowed to go
across the river into Matamoros and
view the many interesting sights of
that ancient and historic place which
has dwindled from city of $4,000 IN
habitants to $4,000 or 10000. Five
members of the regiment who were
planning on taking civilian clothes
along and cross from Brownsville into
Matamoros had their plan discovered
and their passes were revoked. Every
soldier boarding train must now
show his pass to the military police
who meet each train. This is pre-
caution to apprehend deserters. Be it
said to the credit of the North Dako-
ia regiment, however, there have been
very few assertions as compared to
some of the organizations from other
states stationed in this section. New
York so far has the record for stick
ing" 300 members of the New York
regiment stationed at McAllen having
signified their desire to be transfer
red to other regiments who were to
remain on the border when their own
was ordered home.
On Saturday nights dance or bale
is source of wonder and entertain
ment to the Dakota dough boys who
are fortunate enough to stumble upon
them. Sometimes these bales are
held on platforms erected for the pur-
pose, sometimes in halls in the Next
can part of town, but oftener the swar-
thy hombres and dusky senoritas trip
the light fantastic right out on the
hard ground. A tall pole is erected
and a couple of smoking lanterns sup
plemented by brighter moon light up
the "ball ROOM" The music is gen
orally an accordion or violin and
drum, the drum keeping the time for
the dancers. After each dance the
gentlemen must show his apprecia-
ton of the lady's favor by leading her
UP to a stand where he purchases
plate of sweets for dime. The fact
that the lady generally hands the
"dulces" back to the vendor matters
not-in fact that is to be expected as
that is where the profit of the party
giving the dance comes in. The Next
can looks sullenly at the American
soldiers or civilians who may be
watching the proceeding, as if he
we're convinced they were trying to
steal his senorita, but if you speak to
him he is very polite. That, however,
signifies nothing as it is characteristic
of the race to smile at their enemy
and when his back his turned to
plunge knife into him. The other
night couple of soldiers seeing some
Mexicans drinking mescal-the native
drink-out of a bottle, thought they
would try and get taste of it.: The,
liquor is barred from importation into
the United States and is struggled
over in a goatskin by the Mexicans.
Seeing one of the Mexicans put the
bottle in his shirt the two soldiers ap-
preached the thr . Mexicans and tap
ped one of them on his shirt bosom
and endeavored to make him under
stand that he wanted a drink. Much
to his surprise when the Mexican I'M
buttoned his shirt to get the bottle he
drew out instead long butcher knife.
The soldier was somewhat taken
aback, but civilian nearby. who knew
the language explained the situation.
The soldier did not get his drink.
Camera squads are to be seen
around town and the various places
of interest in the vicinity every day.
In fact nearly every soldier now has
his camera if it is only vest pocket
edition, and there will be many in
teresting and unique souvenirs of the
country taken back to show the home