Smyrna times., 1916-10-04
PROF. |, SCOTTON WRITES
OE CONDITIONS IN MEXICO
INA LETTER TO SECRETARY E.
M. FOWLER OF SCHOOL BOARD

Of an interesting Four Day Trip in the |
Mountains Close to the Mexican
Border-Hopes to be Back Soon
Secretary E. M. Fowler of the Board |
of Education of the Smyrna Public
Schools received an interesting letter
from supervising Principal J. L. Scot
ton under date of September 20,
written in camp at Deming, New
Mexico, Prof. Section is Sergeant of
Company G, First Delaware Infantry.
With Mr.. Fowler's permission we are
giving publicity to some portions of |
Prof. Sections letter which should
be interesting to Smyrnians as we'll as
all readers of the Times. Prof. Scot
ton says: "Affairs in Mexico are
better than they have been for some
time. The freight trains are going in,
the mines have opened up again and
business is going better than it has
for a year. Was talking with one of
our Lieutenants a few minutes ago
and he says he thinks we will be home
by the first of November | think it
rests with the Mexican Commission
meeting up in Conn. If they think
we are not needed here we will soon
be home. All the Ell Paso papers say
that all the National Guard in Mob
ilization Camps will be sent to the
Border and as they arrive the troops
now stationed here will be sent home.
We are not doing anything only the
regular routine of a training camp.
Four Day Trip to Mexican Border
Since l wrote you last we have been
on four days trip toward the Border.
The trip was very interesting from
start to finish. l will try to tell you
about it. We received orders one
Saturday that on Monday morning we
would leave camp for four days hike.
l am the Supply Sergeant and it kept
me busy Sunday afternoon getting all
the things ready. Got everything
ready about IL o'clock Sunday night
and we had to get up at four the next
morning. When the Company goes
on a trip like that l have charge of
the wagons and have the privilege of
riding if want to. took advantage
of it too the first day. Had some
very interesting experiences for the
first few miles. The mules are all
young and not very we'll broken and
we had time to keep them out Of
the fences and the wagons ahead Of
US. One time l thought we were gone
for sure. The mules got scared at d
herd of cattle and the wheels of the
wagon knocked down two posts in the
fence along the road. After we had
gone four or five miles they were
tanned down little and worked very
good. On a march we travel fifty
minutes and rest ten. The first day
we went about IL miles. Stopped
right near a ranch house so we could
get water. We never were in a
country before where water was scarce
and we never realized the value of
water We never knew what real
thirst was before. We pitched our
little dog tents and began to prepare
dinner. We had several hams that
were cooked the day before. made
coffee and l never tasted anything that
seemed so good. From three O'Clock
in the afternoon we did not have
much to so but sit around and rest.
we went to ranch house and they
caves US all the watermelons and
cantaloupes we could carry. Went
back to camp and had party. l never
tasted such cantaloupes in my life
they were fine. In the evening one
or two fellows got smart and we put
them UP in blanket and were just
having fine time until the Captain
came over and put it all to an end
Our beds consisted of nothing NOR,
than one blanket and poncho or small
rubber blanket, but we slept like tops
Over Trail up the Mountain
Next morning we were up brigh
= and early and by 6 o'clock we ha
> everything packed. tents up and al
ready to move. We left the road an
started over trail up the mountain
1t did not look as though we wer
going up hill very much but as W
went up the place we left seemed t
be down in the valley. Travelin
was rather had and we did not hav
any trouble with the mules. The ros
was sandy and although it rsined tn
/ night before the the dust was 500
4 flying in clouds. This was the tim
| when we got so thirsty. The fir
| Battalion under Major Reed had gor
I out the day before and hid themselv,
in the mountains and our task was (