Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-09-04
SOME OF THE AMUSING THINGS ON THE
BORDER

IBy Elmer W. Mason, Headquarters Company,
Sd Battalion, 37th Infantry, Camp Bowie Fort
worth, Texas, August 1911
Dear Friend Munson: ! viii drop you a
line 20 LET you hear from another camp,
am the only boy frcm around Niroaua in this
camp II is up 10 me TO give in the camp
and surroundings. We were sent here to Camp
Bowie July 25, one battalion of the 37th infan-
try. When we landed found the camp in
awful shape. This hold about $4,000 soldiers
when filled Up. The seth division had just left
for France and then were sent here to
train the next bunch and police up the camp.
so IL certainly keeps busy. We looking
for three regiments OF artillery here next week.
Then the fun will start. 1t is a long job fitting
a man for duty; found il that way and
i wasn't exactly new man in the service
either, but I can easily say they don't use
much of the old dope now days. There are
two aviation fields here, and there are plenty
of machines flying over every day. Yesterday
morning two machines colided al the height
of 5000 feet and crashed TO the earth. killing
both pilots. l don't think ! would care 80
take any Of that kind of enjoyment, although
believe ] would take a ride if ever got 2
chance.
Today Is Saturday. and we just fnish'1
their names for passes. II looks like swarm
of bees around the orderly room door
We are training in trenches now. staying
nine days at a time in them, and it gets very
while in there, hsrdships have to be taught
well anything else
The people IN f0Ft worth treas the soldiers
very nice. much better than at Laredo Bot
that is a Mexican town you couldn't ex-
pect to receive the same treatment there.
The Rio Grande river, which you hear so
much about, is not what you would naturally
expect to see. II is about the size of the east
kiekapo0 river and very shaliOH no boats
at all can travel al least / never saw one
all the time ! was there You could see ell
kinds Of huts and shaeks over there in Me,--
leo, and for horses they use the little burFos
which reminds Of jack rabbit, and they
always drive a two wheeled cart.
Nov for an example. I will try to explain
the eity's street sprinklers-s t.o-Wheeied
cart with barrel mounted on the AL and two
hoses with a spray NOEL sticking out behind
and Mexican sitting on the barrel eiOthespin
fashion. and one Of those little mules drawing
the outfit through the streets. The first one
] I took a good hearty laugh at but they
became very common 20 me afterwards
There are plenty Of rattle snakes. tarantuIas
horn toads. eacti in Texas. 50 II you don't
think you would like these don't ever come
down here On the border they have some
bad sand storms. for it il a. hard 70 grow
grass in Texas II Is hair on RoekefeIleY's
head 80 there = nothing to keep the sand
from flying al viii
] like tbs life ane in she army. and would
not quit II they would FIRE me, but I guess
they don't Do that. At least I hayn't seen
anyont fred % FAR. There IL q little poem
printed. We've Had Our Hitch IN He'll" !
would send i 70 you but News is scarce 70
viii close Give my regards to old Vernon
county and the readers u the Censor.