The Mankato free press., 1917-11-09
LETTER FROM BOYS
IN THE ARMY CAMPS
From Tuesdays Daily.


Mrs. Henry Butler, 533 Range street
North Mankato has received the fol
| lowing letter from her son, William
F. Butler, who is with the hospital
corps in the naval service:
Marine Barracks, Quantico, Va.
! August 2S.-My Dear Mother: We
arrived here yesterday after a thirty
hour trip We had a special Pull
man and ate in a diner on the train
1t was some nice trip, believe me. We
passed through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virgin
| ta, Virginia and the District of Colum-
bia. We passed through Akron, Ohio
about p. M, and Pittsburg, Pa.
| about 10 p. m.
"It is some sight there at night. All
the smelters at work look as though
the whole city were afire. No wonder
| they call it the smoky city.
"From there we passed through the
, mountains. / didn't see as much OF
| those as l would have liked to. We
landed in Washington, D. c., about 8
a. m. We had breakfast and took a
hike about the city. We saw the
White House, the Washington monu-
ment and other places of note. We
left there about noon and arrived
here at 2 p. m.
"It is warm down here during the
day and turns cold at night. One
can raise sweat here at any time aft
er 10 a. m. to p. m.
Our camp here is located on the
Potomac river about $50 miles up
river from the Atlantic ocean and
about thirty miles south of Washing
ton, d. G..
"We are about five hours from
New York city at Philadelphia. This
is marine camp, just like an army
camp. We have good eats and beds
and as yet we have nothing to do.'
+ + + +
Camp Dodge, Iowa, 351 Infantry
Supply company-Dear Ones All:
Will try to write a few lines tonight
to let you know that am alright and
feeling fine. Have been real busy
as we issued about $500 denim suits
today. These suits are called faiti.
que suits as they are used when the
men have work to do that is out side
of regular duty, such as washing
dishes, peeling potatoes, or unload
ing coal. They are very good as
they protect the uniform.
We have had lots of company at
camp today as there is a teachers
convention in Des Moines this week
and today is the day they were all
supposed to come out here. Well,
visitors are always welcome, as it
is treat for us to get a chance to
talk to outsiders.
There are about 5000 negroes here
now that have been sent here from
the south, They find it pretty cold
up here after living where it was
warm all the time. l met a couple
yesterday who were dressed in Palm
Beach suits, and we were all wear
ing woolen uniforms, and overcoats
We are very comfortable as we
| have fire all the time, plenty OF
good covers, plenty to eat, Except
sweets) and good warm water to
! wash in so I am well satisfied in
every way. a safra
There was meeting last night to
give the boys a chance to sign up
| for life insurance, l took out S1O,-
| 900 policy, which will cost me $3.50
per month. think about nine out
of ten took out some. You could
take out what ever amount you
| wanted to.
We have a very nice bunch of boys
in our company, and we have some
great times. l saw Albert Johnson
| today, the first time in about a
month. l went down to where the
Mankato boys used to be and was
told they had gone south, Come to
| find out about it there was only part
of them who had gone, the rest had
moved and were living only a block
| from where / am now located.
Can't think of any more news for
this time, so will have to close Love
| to all, Clare v. Fowler