New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-22
CAMP life ON THE MEXICAN BORDER.
81 c, Account 18th New York
Region N"So


moment, but there was work that had IA 4.
done. We first let down our tent flaps ,h..
grabbed our intrenching tools and went "a :.
We worked in relays, four men digging ara
four bailing out water. In an hour a tr.n,s
eighteen inches deep was around our ,.r,
The rain continued to come down, so W. b,I
to dig a canal into the middle Of the stree,
Company - had bright idea Thew v.,.
on higher ground and decided to dig HI,
trench leading into our street TO shed n.
water. We found it out in time and bull, +,
dam. Our skipper, Captain , was GU. N
the rain among US, giving help and encOur
aeement. He was dressed in hat and ruh.
her boots. with a towel around his ws,.,
Suddenly realized was desperately hungr,
I nut on my coat-all my other clothes w.,.
on the floor and were full of mud and water
then beat it to the cook tent.
The cent was flooded; the ovens were tw.lv.
inches deep in water. At least, thought |
NAV be able TO steal a bareback. Then | saw
a sight that gaddened my heart-s box q,
bacon all cut into strips; in about thr.,
seconds | had a double handful. After had
hidden il | came back. REX" | pleaded
REX is the cook give me piece Of hard
tack" Rex cussed, but, as | knew he would
gave it to me, or, rather, told me to h.lo
myself. | took dozen pieces and away |
went Now | knew as well as any one tina,
raw bacon and bareback don't make palsta.
Bile meal: but had a scheme, for in Companv
IS oven were some live embers. Over
went and in a jiffy had bacon broiling I
found a tnpan TO sit on and was eating
bacon sandwich with one hand and broing
more with the other, when | heard vote.
behind me.
The Colonel Appears.
GLOW are you, SON." said the voice. You
can always tell an officer when you hear him
speak. and | knew there was one behind M.
Fine" said l. Then the piece ! was broiling
being done, l put it on a bareback that vas
soaked with bacon dripping and handed j.
over. Then | looked up. There was a big
man dressed in only flannel shirt and h.
The wind tapped his wet shirt against his
bare knees and the water poured from hi,
hat brim. But he didn't seem to mind and
munched his bacon and bareback with as keen
A relish as | myself had. Come to think Of il,
there was no reason why he shouldn't, for
they were darn good.
"What company are you?" he asked.
Company -, SIR
"Teu Captain -" he said, "to have the
,vens bailed out and hot coffee served to the
men"
Eyes, sir" answered, with whose com.
pliments?"
Colonel J." said he, and that was my
first meeting with our colonel.
Wants of the Men.
Our wants here are so simple that there
is little can mention. Our greatest trouble
is in keeping our clothes clean. In the
event that you do not care to do more
would say that some boxes of washing pow
der would be the proper thing. There are
ninety men in the company, so twenty-five
boxes would be sufficient, also eight washing
boards.
In conclusion want TO say that the general
sentiment in camp is: If We are to see any
fighting, keep us as long as you want to,
and we will give all we have. II we are here
for political purposes, send US home. If you
are going to keep US, give US proper medical
attention when we are sick We hate to see
our pals die for want Of that. Don't take
men who are dying and let them lie in the hot
sun on the ground. So far we have only
lost five, but that is five too many. Let them
give us square deal, and the country VIII
find the National Guard will give the best
it has.