Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-16
Crowd at Station Waiting for the Trains

the men from the Federal service back
into the National Guard would start
immediat ely, and the company clerks
were instructed to commence making
out the necessary papers at once.
man was detailed in each tent to keep
the fire going all night and the interi-
ors of the big tents We're warm, al
though the cold winds howled over the
sleeping camp until late in the night.
In the evening the boys gathered round
the campfireS and told stories to groups
of admiring and interested friends, sang
songs and were mighty glad to be back
in spite of the cold weather The win
ter coats were distributed and every
thing was made as nearly comfortable
as possible for the boys in the short
time allowed.
A good many of the local boys pass
ed the night with their relatives and on
Sunday morning We're back in time for
reveille, after which they again got
busy with the work of putting the camp
into shape for two weeks stay, guard
was mounted, the big truckloads of pro-
visions commenced coming in and re-
quired men to unload them, and as soon
as the day had fairly dawned steady
stream of teams and automobiles pour
ed in from miles around.
Layout Of Camp
The camp is laid out in alphabetical
order, Companies A, B, c, d and SO
forth on down the line, each having a
street of it's own, with the officers tents
out in front, and mess tent" in front
of each company street, where the sen
in white aprons rule supreme, giving
orders to everyone alike, and getting
the stuff on which an army marches,
fights and carries its burdens. ready for
the hungry recipients. who after they
had completed their work were ready
enough to eat
All day long the ceaseless stream of
visitors swarmed in and around the
camp. parents and friends of the boys
bringing in little delicacies that they
knew would be received with delight
by the soldiers, who avow that they
have nowhere found food like Maine
food. water like Maine water or girls
in the same class with our own Young
ladies who greeted them when they ar
rived, and who visited the camp on
Sunday. Here and there strolled coup
months, evidently not seeing anyone or
wishing to-; fathers We're proudly in
Producing their sons in uniform to 9TH
CT visitors; mothers were cautioning
their soldier boys to do look out and
don't catch cold, keep your feet tucked
in in those cold tents these nights. and
don't let the fire go out, You know that
the quick change in climate is liable
to give YOU Your death of cold" These
We're some of the Instructions that
didn't come from army headquarters,
but which are likely to be needed if the
weather remains as it now is. Most
of the boys feel that they will quick
ly get acclimated again. All are unan-
imous in agreeing that they prefer the
crisp, snappy fall air of their native
State TO the alkal dust, prickly grass,
sandstorms. and hot weather which
prevails in the part of Texas where
they were stationed.
mexican Border Service"
They all carry and produly display
the Mexican Border Service" medal.
This is OF bronze and bears a list of
the raids up to the present time, and
makes very attractive watch fob.
EVERY man mas MS own little COlleC-
ton of souvenirs and there is enough
Mexican money with the End Maine to
ruin the Carranza government if it
should be cashcd il for silver. And one
of the boys remarked to a comrade:
Did you pay a quarter for 10 $40
bills? You got properly hooked, didn't
you, l got two POS for a nickel" Snake
skins, hat bands, Mexican lace. taran-
tulas and centipedes picked in alcohol,
with Mexican opals. knives and all
sorts of interesting things from Man
ana Land" carefully slowed away in
the housewife kits" and pockets of the