Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-28

the members Of the band have made
Things more homehke about their
camp. is an interesting story to the
friends Of the boys now in federal SER
vice. The letter from Mr.. Blakney
reads as follows:
Laredo, Texas, JULY %. 1916
Dear Brother-Guess I will trv and
give YOU little idea Of camn condi-
tions here in Laredo The New Hamn-
shire infantry came Thursday and i'm
medlately set TO work in making camp
which is located just across the road
from US The field tract we arc in i
bounded on one side by road ana the
railroad track is the other boundary
nc Machine Gun CO. from Bangor is
camped next to the track and We arc
on the opposite side of the field next
to the road. All Of the commands have
ieIt 50 II leaves the Machine Gun Co.
ana quarters for the band with no
space between. We have the slickest
little houses that you ever saw. a
wooden frame that the canvas fits over
so that We have space Of four feet
tent rolls UP on all sides We have bio
tahle ana chairs and box affair for q
bureau. We have the sides screened
and the flies have to stay o,1+ Ro,;a,.o
me we are not SUFFERING. T will sand
You picture Of our home in Teyas &C
soon as they are finished We have to
do guard duty now as thore is nohodv
to 90 it here and we don't mind il ar
all. We have three guard stations only
ana each man remains on duty two
hours with four hours off duty.
Yesterday afternoon we had another
sand storm. The sky looked like
thunder storm approaching and YOU
could see the black streaks of sand
like rain appears at home. coming TO-
ward us. It was some black and We
knew what it meant OF course. we
rolled down the sides Of our tent in
quick fashion. The new Hampshire
bunch had never seen such a storm,
before and they wouldn't take any ad-
vice from us. After the storm I see
several Of their tents had blown over.
The air was so full of blowing sand
that YOU couldn't see across the road
and the wind was blowing a hurricane
We had to hold to our tent or we
would have lost it. The storm lasted
about on hour with a little rain in con-
clusion. Our table was covered with
nearly an inch Of sand and all our he
longincs were covered with d11st Suob
storms are exciting to us as wo never
saw Such until we arrived on tho hor-
DER Suppose YOU received that Next
can dollar bill that I sent Won some
time ago. # is only worth about one
cent but il seems nice to feel II in, vour
pocket. We have learned quite q LITTLE
Spanish since arriving here and we
should. as hardly any English is used
on the streets by people Of tho citv
The stores are nearly all Noy;c.r ~
at least have Spanish names.
We go over to the "Regulars'' cann
every once in a while to see the hand
fellows They are a fine bunch Of fell
lows and have some band" They have
just lost IA of their mon who were
transferred and they had to get mon
from the Missouri band who are also
stationed here. so they could eivo ,
concert Thursday evening on the Plaza
we all went down and fine concert it
was
You can't imagine how beautiful the
evenings are here in the South. The
SKY is almost always as clear as a hell
in the evening and with light gulf
breeze blowing it is just grand Moon
shines almost as bright as day. They
have fine park or plaza as they call
1t here in the city with a large band
stand and settees around on the grass.
The band is to be changed around
completely in few days in accord
ance with regular army regulations
We haven't been paid off as Vet and
don't know as we will before the first
Of August. Most of the fellows in my
tent. including myself, have been broke |
for long time and We are getting
used to it. One of the boys received a |
check for SO from his parents and |
he took the six in his tent down town