Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-06
LETTERS FROM
MAINE BOYS IN
BORDER SERVICE
Laredo. Texas. Sept. q.

| At last l have got a chance to write
again. The regiment is back and we
are off guard, thank goodness.
| Yesterday we had extra work, so
didn't get a chance to write and as
1 sent a letter Sunday night | let it
go and called it good.
FORMER was over to see us today,
coming in a car and is doing mighty
well I think for what he went throgh.
although his side has not healed. He
has gained in weight. The bullet went
through his bowels in five places and
stopped under the 10th rib on the
right side. They didn't get the bull
let he tells US and it went in base
! first so you see there are worse things
| than lead.
! l have had a pretty good time lately
but not what you might call exciting.
| Chat will come later if things don't
settle down. | saw more of the older
part (the Spanish) of the town than
before and every house is a fort in
itself with its heavy stone walls and
iron barred windows and the walled
court yards make them stronger still
In case our boys had TO cross under
fire the Missouri Batteries could help
lot from these same houses as they
line the river for more than a mile.
Now l write this not because | eX-
pect it to happen but because l see the
! possibilities and to show you the
idea of the town. You know l always
! said 1 would see a place like this and
also a lot more.
| think the break is close at hand.
for we are under orders for a riot
call anytime now, as the MeXicans are
getting restless here these days and
have made statements about burning
the town and 1 think they mean it.
So we get closed down again and
only one fourth of the Company can
get down town at a time and those
have to be ready to beat it back on
the first alarm. We also get extra
ammunition they say. but don't worry
we can take care of ourselves There
is sure to be awful work for the
MeXicans if anything starts
! I Just got your letter also received
! two lots of papers from you and
K. ]. from Uncle Dan Ward of Au-
gusta.
! The letter to Melvin addressed in
strange hand was dropped in the Y.
M. c. A. box and the slide didn't
work right and the reaches ate holes
| in the envelope, SO they repaired the
damage.
Oh, 1 got a fine gun cover from a
lady in Gardiner today, just the thing
to save me a lot Of work as it keeps
! the dust out. and coming from a
stranger I shall think a lot of it,
I 1t shows the thoughtfulness of our
| Maine women, the best in the north.
But there are many other states that
will stand them a run to hold that
| place and you have to know the Red
Cross workers in Texas to know what
women will do for the Old Flag and
the boys. They worked over boiling
water, turning it from one dish to an
other to cool it the day the n. H.
| boys come here-over 20 women for
IA hours with the heat up to 1923 at
! 10 A NJ. This. so they might have
! cool boiled water; the ice plant was
broken down.
| The store windows have gun eX-
hibits but no revolvers and it almost
makes me homesick, the same as
the Texas gun law which ought to
only affect Mexicans and not the white
people.
/ Tell Melvin to keep my guns in use
and clean so they won't rust: for
when we bake here long enough we
will come home and freeze awhile.
! Gee. I pity you people this cold fall.
It IS about 90 this noon.
Well, enough now. Don't worry.
Love from
ERWIN.
From
Lester E. Higgins
Co. c.. End Maine Inf,
Laredo. Texas,
TO
Mrs E. NJ. Higgins,
Winthrop. Me.