Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-08-14
CAMP WADSWORTH RECRUIT
WRITES LETTER TO TRIBUNE.

Incidents on the Trip and Condi-
tons in the Southern Camp.
Camp Wadswcrth, S. C.
August 7th, 1918.
Willmar Tribune:
Well, as we received the valuable
Willmar Tribune last night, I thought
of writing few words about our trip
and how we are enjoying camp life
at Camp Wadsworth.
We all had a fine time on the trip.
1t was five o'clock on Saturday morn.
ing when we arrived in Milwaukee,
Wis.,, so there was not much life in
that place, except all the switch en-.
CINE whistles blew as we came near
the city. Arrived at Chicago at eight
o'clock where we had breakfast at the
terminal. The boys were all jolly
while there and took charge of the
piano In the waiting room where they
danced on the amusement platform.
There was wonderful scenery at Chi
cagO, all factories and foundries. 1t
was IL o'clock when the train passed
out of Chicago railroad yards. The
boys were nicely welcomed all the way
to camp by people who waved flags
in their hands; even little children
who were hardly able to hold a flag
were present and did their best to
cheer. We passed by the Great Lakes
Training Station at Chicago.
The scenery in Indiana was similar
to that of our home state, Minnesota.
q In 0cf ctr do tn I'D
at Bloomington one evening where we
stayed an hour. The train passed
thru Louisville, Kentucky about one
o'clock Saturday night and everyone
was asleep as no one took time to
sleep the night before.
The prettiest places were seen on
Sunday as we went thru the states of
Kentucky, Tennessee and North Caro-
lima. Passed by the Appalachian noun
tains on Sunday afternoon. Supper
was served Sunday evening by the
Red Cross at Asheville, North Caro-
lima. At Hot Springs, North Caro-
lima, $500 German prisoners are in.
termed, taken from the Coast because
they had assisted the German Govern.
ment.
Arrived at Spartanburg about two.
thirty o'clock in the morning. Spar.
tanburg is but few miles from Camp
Wadsworth. Here we were met by
auto trucks and taken to Camp. On
our arrival at camp, we were given a
tag with a number on, a blanket, a
drinking cup and a mess kit. The
Kandiyohi county boys were
sent to different companies. We are
nine boys in our tent including Cliff.
ford LaPlant, a first class private,
and Theodore Lunde, of Regal, and
six boys from St. Paul and Minnea.
polls.
Had to get up early on Monday
morning altho we had no sleep that
night. Were given hard drilling on
Monday and Tuesday but have had it
considerably easier the latter part OF
the week. We were vaccinated on
Wednesday, July 31st. A large mum
Der of the boys were sick the forepart
| of the week because they were not
| used to the water. It is always warm
The boys from grand old Kandiyohi
| County are in three different compan
! les; they are in Co.'S. E. X. and l.
Of the seth Pioneer Regt. Only a
few have been rejected here from the
| different counties as the examina
tions are not as hard to pass now as
they have been. Most of the boys in
Co. L. are from St. Paul and Minnea
! polls. The rules are very strict;
we must keep our street and tents
clean. Have large bath houses here
so have chance to have bath every
day. No drilling is done on Saturday
! afternoons and Sundays. Last
Saturday afternoon and Sunday
we had to fix up our insurance papers
etc.
Several members of Co. L worked
on a road Monday of this week and
| had very hard drilling on Tuesday
Several were unable to drill Tuesday
| because of the intense heat, being
125 degrees in the shade. We were
vaccinated again today, this time in
both arms so have only one vaccina.
ton left. No drilling tomorrow or
until twenty-four hours have elapsed
| after the vaccination. Had a mental
examination on Friday forenoon OF
last week at the Liberty Theatre.
The first call in the morning is
| sounded at $3.50 o'clock, and roll call
| at 5:45, after which breakfast is
| served. Drilling starts at 1880 in the
| morning, and continues until 1890
| In the afternoons, we drill from one
| until five o'clock. Roll call in even.
ing at $3.50 after which supper is
| served. The lights are out at nine.
| thirty o'clock and all must be in bed
at ten o'clock. The meals served are
pnn6 a0n0ictinp nf oc<
meat, potatoes, cabbage, beans, pie
watermelon, pineapple, prunes and
other kinds. Sometimes we have ice
! cream. The drinks are coffee, cocoa
ice water and lemonade. We have to
wash our own dishes.
Received our uniforms last Saturday
but have no guns as yet.
Morton Stockbridge is the captain
of our company and Irish is the name
of our Lieutenant. The flag of the
company is made up the blue and red
with the number IS in the center.
We will be out of quarantine the
fOrepart of next week and will then
visit the Y. M. C. AS and receive per.
mission to go to town. The popula.
lation of the camp is about $4,000 so
there are several Y. M. c. AS. Each
regiment has canteen where we can
| buy CONNECTIONS. Free stationery is
given out by the Regimental Union
and the Y. M. G. A.
Several of the companies here may
be moved to other camps and think
our company will be among them.
Received complete equipment on
Saturday so sent our civilian clothes