Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-10-03
HELOF HCiM WRITES
FROM CAyv' MILLS
DecOrah Soldier Boy W. Fight
ing Fifty-First Tells AZ His
Trip and Life at Camp
Hampstead, n. Y.
HAD A FINE
TRIP FROM DES NONE.
Says the Weather is Real Chilly and
Damp. Climate Doesn't Just
Strike His Fancy.
Camp Mills,
Hemstead. n. Y. Sept. %.

Hemstead, N. Y. Sept. 2S.
Dear Brother:
Will write you a few lines to let
you know that l am fine and dandy,
hoping you folks are the same. I have
a cold, but otherwise I am feeling
finer than ever. I suppose most of
the conscripted men are gone by this
time. / heard they gave them quite
a sendoff. l bet they had some crowd
at Haugen's hall that 1ight. I sure
would liked to have been there to
take it in. Well we had some trip
out here. Left Des Moines on Sun
day afternoon, Sept. 8, about $3.50
and pulled into Chicago Monday NOR
ming at about daylight. Then we left
there at two o'clock that afternoon,
and got into Fort Wayne, Ind, about
six O'Clock. We did not stop there
very long. The next stop of any size
was Cleveland, Ohio, we got il there
about noon and stayed quite while.
We also got off and took little hike
around the city. We didn't go up
, into the main part of town, just in
the suburbs. We went through a
market place AID got bunch of
muskmelons and apples. One fellow
must have thrown us two or three
bushels of apples and big basket of
muskmellons. We had pretty good
feed on apples and melons. l didn't
like the looks of the city though. Next
city we reached was Erie, Pa. but
didn't stay there very long, then we
struck Scranton; we stayed there
about an hour or two That is some
town. 1t is built right in the foot
hills, the streets are up one hill and
down the other. 1t is mostly all min
ing. But it must be quite city,
would have liked to stopped off for
few minutes.
We went from Pennsylvania into
New York state, then back into Penn
sylvania. We got off again at Pock-
minutes, or so. 1t surely was pret-
ty looking place. Some of the boys
took some snap shots up there. We
got into Buffalo about II o'clock that
night and laid over until we could
get draw pin fixed which had pulled
out when we were switching there.
q 1Sa s., 10
morning The next stop we made was
at a small place by the name of Lam
bertsville, it sure was patriotic
place. We got in there just after
dark and they had bonfires going and
were waving flags and cheering to
beat the band They had band
down at the station. I guess the
whole town was there. There asI't
standing room within block of the
got into Trenton close to midnight,
but didn't stop there very long. Then
we got into New York or the suburbs
along towards morning and went
through the subway and got on to
Long Island at about daylight.
We were there until about dinner
time and got into camp about 2:3O
in the afternoon. We sure had some
trip and a trip like this is worth
something to a fellow. We also saw
part of lake Erie, not whole lot
though. We saw it off and on at diff
ferent times for long distance.
Well this is sure some country, but
I don't like It, 1t is too damp and
raw here to suit me. 1t gets awful
chilly here towards evening, We have
been drilling and hiking every day.
We get up at $50 for roll call or
revelle; six o'clock to breakfast;
$3.50 is sick call, GAO is fatigue or
policing; then at 1880 we line up for
drill and drill until 1870. Mess Is at
1900 and drill until 4:90. Then we
have to stand retreat at 5:45 and
mess at 600 o'clock. We are at lib
erty until call to quarters at 900
and tattoo at $3.50 and taps at 9:45.
oh it is a gay old life if you don't
weaken.
We have some real prize fights aad
wrestling matches here. They had
some bouts fixed up last Wednesday
night and they were pretty good. 1t
was Minnesota VS.. Pennsylvania, and
PENNSYLVANIA was laid out in the first
round. But Iowa and Pennsylvania
held the wrestling match and Iowa
lost. They wrestle again In two
lCnnfinuad On last nagal