La Junta tribune., 1917-10-11
OUR BOYS AT CAMP xEARNEy
La yuntA soldier boys Arrive %
Camp kearney, Near san
Diego. California


After weeks Of anxious waiting
the event for which the Second Colo
RADIO Infantry had been longing took
place ON Friday. September 2sth.
We had gone out to drill as usual at
7:15 a. m, and at 9 o'clock recall
was sounded. Almost Immediately
the soldiers were passing the word
among themselves that we were go
Ink to leave for Linda Vista. and
'fhis soon was made authentic when
the company commanders gave in
structions to their men to empty
their bed sacks. pack their travel
ing boxes and roll their blankets pre-
paratory TO leaving on minutes
notice.
At 7:30 p. m. We were assembled
as individual companies with our
blanket rolls on our shoulder and
our mess kits in our hand. marching
from Camp Gunter to the Union Sta
ton. where two trains-one OF fit
teen Pullmans and the other four
teen. were waiting for us. amid the
repeated cheering and good byes Of
the loyal Pueblo people.
At $3.50 p. m. we were on our
long journey over the Colorado and
Southern Railway, with every one
in the best OF spirits, trying to de-
cipher the exact course OF our trip.
Many were disappointed when they
learned that they would not 20
through La Junta. while others were
joyful to learn that they would 20
through Trinidad, which town we
passed through at a. IN. Saturday
morning.
At $40 n m. we crossed the Colo
RADIO line into New Mexico and II was
at this time that we ate our first
meal on the train. which was very
much relished by all after the scanty
supper OF The previous evening. due
to the necessity OF packing the cook
/. ing utensils and provisions IN the
afternoon for the trip.
We received n warm reception at
Dalhart. Texas. where we had our
first stop OF twenty minutes. while
our trains were being transferred TO
the Rock Island line. The selections
rendered by the band were received
with great applause from the Tex
ans. Our next stop was at Tucum-
carl. n. NJ. where We were again
permitted TO leave the train FOR
twenty minutes and then we proceed
ed on our way toward III Paso. Tex
as.
At S:2o O'Clock Sunday morning
we reached El Paso where we were
given n four hour stop-over. to take
. the horses off tho cars for exercise
and also to give the men q chance
to bathe and change clothes at the
Y. N. c. A. The Red Cross served
4 lunch Of sandwiches and coffee
and the Santa Fe land office dis
.tributed folders and post cards. The
men enjoyed the stop-oyer thorough
", most OF the Officers going out
10 Fort Bliss while the enlisted men
took In the sights. many OF them
going 10 the top of the Mesa. from
which place you can look over into
New Mexico. Mexico proper. and can
also get good view OF much oi
Texas. Juarez lies Just across the
river from III Paso, but soldiers are
not allowed to cross the border.
Leaving III Paso We took the
Southern Pacific. following the bor-
der until We reached California. The
next stop from III Paso was at Lords
burg. n. NJ. where we got lunch
at io:3o p. M. Sunday. ON awak'
Ing Monday morning wo found our
selves In Arizona. and at Yumn We
we're permitted to leave the train for
twenty minutes. We found II much
/, warmer ut Yuma than We were &c
customed to. but We were nj once
reminded Of the state under whose
banner we first enlisted by crossinl
the Colorado river. II was st OEilby
Just across the line IN California
where the only accident Of the trir
occurred. that being that one OF the
porters Of the first division was run
over BY . switch engine and killed
One Of the things which impressed
a. most after arriving In Califor'
mia vas the ssiton 6ea. which Il
sixty miles long and Averages fif'
teen miles swide. Il ID . real desrr'
here. being below sea level. and ws
were much relisvsd when We baseu
rising above sea level again. soon
finding ourselves In the edge Of the
beautiful Imperial. Valley. which y
said 70 b. more fertile than The