Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-15

have not seen many Ottawa
papers since came here but / take
it for granted that much has already
been written concerning camp-lite
here It might therefore be more
interesting to hear how various
ones are getting along and to get
our addresses
Ralph B0weymaster. an ambi-
tious apprentice of L. Langers in
the painting business. comes first
TO my mind He is located in the
349th. Inf and is fast making
friends with his eversmiling face
and 'ovial spirit There are two
things, however. that he misses,
and they are his mandolin and his
motorcycle Otherwise he is happy
Earnie Douvia. who has had some
previous experience in military life.
is making good and enjoys ii first
rate.
Last evening while wandering
around in the vicinity OF the 3l3th
Eng, Unexpectedly met Bill Scan
Ian. Bill Luce and Mike Zirkel, en-
gagged in a very earnest converse
ton One might have thought they
were at home discussing some I'M
portant municipal issue; when upon
investigation | learned that the
topic of their conversation was this
Where are We going from here
We INDUCED in a hearty laugh
and were exchanging a few news
items when Mike SantuCci sudden
~ joined us He was fully two
miles from his barracks as uncon-
cerned as he would be walking down
"A Sale street. He evidently feels
very much at home We were quite
sure he was not out looking for
business. because our army shoes
will not wear out and a repair shop
is therefore unnecessary. He was
looking up some of the Ottawa boys.
Joe Farrell and Francis Fox were
also seen stroling down our main
avenue, They are with the 349th
Inf.
BY the time | had seen these |
have mentioned it was getting close
to 9 p. m. and | had to get back to
my own barracks. with the resolu.
ton. however of trying to find some
more of the boys another evening
At p. III. the lights 30 out and at
ten taps are blown Everything
must then be quiet until the first
call in the morning at 6:l5. which
is followed in ten minutes by revel-
lie roll.call; morning mess at l.
We are having stoves and furnaces
installed so we are able to be com
Portable in our barracks We still
have only cold water but have hopes
of something better in the near fu-
ture. Quilts have also been issued
for which we are thankful
Today we are having one of those
terrific wind and dust storms that
are so frequent here They are
much worse than the snow biz
yards we see at times in Ottawa,
You can see nothing for dust and
to walk against the wind it hard
job indeed Perhaps by the time
winter comes with its storms, we
will have become so accustomed to
the wind we will pay very little at
tention to It. We are awaiting with
interest the arrival of Ottawa
next contingent Of the first quota.
We will be glad to see you all and
will do what we can to make you
feel at home
+ This letter is getting long and
contains very little, perhaps, Of real
interest but Il il bears witness to
the fact that We are getting along
fine and enjoy hearing from our rel
atiyes and many friends in Ottawa
my letter will not have been in vain
There are many whom | have not
mentioned but that is because
have as yet failed 10 see them
Nevertheless, am sure they al
join in greeting you
Thanking you dear readers fol
your patience in reading this, anC
expressing my appreciation to YOU
dear editors Tor your favor Of tim,
and space in which to present thest
lines 70 our friends, beg 20 remain
Very truly yours,
q. ELMER ANDERSON.
Acting <4vylarF " q frr