The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1918-08-01
orlo Clouser Writes Interesting Letter.
Fort Williams, Portland, Maine,

dirty old ride is over with at last. /
never got SO tired of anything in my
life as did OF that ride. We left JEFF
ferson Barracks about o'clock Friday
and reached here, Sunday about 8
o'clock in the evening. We certainly
had some trip. We went through Illi-
nois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan; then
crossed over into Canada, at Detroit,
into Windsor, where we paraded about
two hours in the streets. We certain
ly received q most royal welcome there
from the Canadians. We then came
eastward in Canada until we hit the
state OF New York. We passed close TO
Niagara Falls, but could not see them.
Saw the rapids though We then came
northward through the New England
States until we reached Portland and
the fort. Fort Williams is some place,
meat, clean and healthy as any place
could be. 1t is situated on the cliffs
overlooking the sea, and guns-I should
smile! neversaw the like before. Be-
lieve me, this coast is sure defended by
some batteries.
There is huge lighthouse about a
quarter of a mile out. which they say
is the oldest in the United States.
Sure shows up at night. The fog-horn
and other noise making contraptions
sure kept up continual roar last
night.
/
All the big ships plying up and down
the coast pass within sight OF the Fort.
There is sure fine bunch OF fellows in
the Fort, all clean, manly fellows, that
make the rough-necks at ]. b. seem
uncivilized. These boys don't yell and
stamp around like bunch of cattle.
This is more business-like place. II
one can't learn anything here it GER
tainly is his own fault.
We will have 10 drill about eight
hours day here, but of course that
isn't bad. 1t won't be when we get n
little more used to it anyway. When
get settled little more and am sure
Tof my address am going to have you
send some of my things, such as my
razor, etc.
After we have had o little more drill
ing we will have to use rifles in our
drilling. That will be fine, won't it?
We will also probably be on guard duty,
for all of the old bunch are getting ready
to be shipped overseas. They say that
the men are kept here from four TO six
months before they leave. I don't be-
lieve will care to leave here for a while
anyway, from what know of it.
!. We are now in sort of quarantine
with just few restrictions. They do
this in order to make sure no one takes
the measles or something else of that
sort. This seems like pretty healthy
sort OF bunch.
There is q fine bathing beach down
, over the cliff, and they say that we can
all go bathing after three o'clock this
evening. III certainly need a bath
after taking that long dirty ride on the
train. There were five carloads of us
that came up here, and we looked like
! Il bunch Of niggers by the time we got
here.
| am writing several hours later than
| where left of for they called us 10
= chow, and then we. were drilled two
| hours. They then took US all down 10
; the beach and let us take swim. The
salt water was new one on me and be-
: lieve me it surely was cold bu; it did
, me whole lot Of good.
They told us at drill that when we
were a little more able TO handle gun,
, we would be placed on guard and SEN
= try duty for the bunch now on are soon
, to leave for France. don't think that
: it will be very hard on only those that
guard the batteries and coast guns
3 One guard was killed that was guarding
4 the lighthouse off-shore by some per-
son unknown, but then you see they
only place the very best Of men in q
] place like that.
I believe it will be as the sergeant
told us this morning, that If in four OF
j five months in this fort we are not rea
soldiers, there is surely something
wrong. certainly am going to do my
part to make good.
NV address now is Fort Williams
Portland Maine, End, Recruit Co., G. A
Tic. Ifyou see any one that would write
be sure and tell them to for l woulC
4 like to hear from them.