Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-10-04
ON THEIR RETURN MARCH
TROOPS HAVE BIG TIME AT
CAPITAL OF TEXAS
Wonderful Demonstrations Greeted
by OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of Jour-
ney and Personal
CAMp BupA. TExAs. sent. %.

4
| FRIEND MUNSoN: The much talked
of Austin hike will soon be history and
| if the very favorable weather and
roads keep up, we will so through the
trip exactly according to the plans.
Our entry into Austin was blaze of
| glory. All the bands were playing
and We were received by Generals
| Funston, Greene, Richardson of the
Regular army, Governor Ferguson of
Texas, and lot of notables and ex-
Confederate soldiers, the names of
whom we did not learn. BY the way,
the Viroqua band headed the process
sion. 1t was thrilling to hear the
cheering and the sight of an old sol
dier clad in gray, waving an old tat
tered war dag of the south was most
pathetic.
Our boys have never received a
greater ovation in our entire trip,
than the one extended to us by the
citizens of Austin, Our instructions
were to play where crowd was gath
cred and as we entered the city we
saw large crowd of boys and girls
dressed in distinctive uniform lined
| up in front of n large group of build
| ings, college of some sort, we thought,
and struck up march for their enter
tainment. AS we finished bystaud-
er remarked, ''I'll venture those kids
enjoyed the music; that is deaf aud
dumb school. In front of a frater-
nifty building, connected with the Tex
as university, the boys DISPLAYED a
| large sign which read: "Music, Please"
People OF Austin would like to have
the soldiers remain longer and we
would like the privilege. The daugh-
| tafa Of tho Cof1faIapaau triad - rive
big cake to each Company of the
entire camp. Citizens permitted sol
diers to ride to and from camp on the
running boards and tenders of their
autos. Many boys were taken sight
seeing by people who offered their
ears 10 the first to accept. Y.M.C.A.
extended the use of their fine bathing
pool, said TO be the finest in the Unit
ed States, free to soldiers, Merchants
gave inducements by cutting the price
of staples. In most places they want
To raise the price. Most of the boys
visited all the places of interest, of
which the capitol building was the
main attraction. The last evening
the different branches ct the Masonic
lodge entertained large number of
soldiers in their different cisb rooms
and temples.
MIR. Chinn, whose wife was former
Viroqua girl, and a sister of B. FPur-
| dy, was very kind In his efforts to en-
terrain our band boys. The only pub
| lie appearance our band made was on
request of General Greene, the Diyis-
ional Commander. The concert was
given in front of his quarters.
General Holway, Major Williams
and former General Boardman, from
our state department, are visiting the
troops. They called at our quarters
and paid the band a very fine compli-
Iment We noticed comment from
one of the local papers euroute that
| il took eight hours for the main body
of troops to pass their printing Office.
We are on our second day of the re-
| turn Journey. Where we are camped
| far from water. the boys solve the
problem. OF ash basins and bath tubs
| by digging a hole in the ground and
| placing poncho or rain coat in the
| hole 70 receive the water. All cook
| ing is done over the open fire and the
garbage is taken care of by burning
or being buried in the ground Camps
are required to be left in perfect con-
dition.
Only first class mail is delivered
during our hikes, so the home paper
was about ten days late.
| We are past all stages of trouble in
marches and in the past two days
every one has made the hikes without
any help. The only trouble is getting
enough 10 eat and cold water. There
are plenty Of refreshment stands, but
| they don't run credit department,
and pay day is several days of,
Everything is running smooth as a
circus. Oul department feeds the
Mounted Orderlies and Headquarters
staff On the march each member of
! the Mounted Orderly section is sta
toned With some Of the different otlc-
ers and on the days when we make an
early start and water is hard TO pro-
cure, they have 10 get up at two o'clock
! The regular call is for four O'Clock.
! The weather has turned much warm
er and many Of the boys do not take
the trouble TO pitch their tents, but
sleep in the open.
Berlie Moore and Whit Nichols scar
ed four mules nearly TO death the 9TH
or night. The boys were awakened
by the mules walking over them and
their wells made the animals lose all
interest 10 life for several days.
! Every once in while some regi-
ment can be heard yelling and max
! ing a great demonstration. When
we inquire the cause the answer is al
WAYS that they have just received the
news Of their being ordered nome.
/ a. q r.