Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1918-01-22
Interesting Letter From c. NeiIl Baylor

DtdT I1OlllG
Did you ever hear of "Norther."
Well, you possibly heard of one but
not until you experience one can you
be able to know just what they are.
| am going to tell you true story of
a "Norther" thusly: Thursday, Jan.
no was day of summer heat, the
thermometer going above 80 degrees.
Coats were uncomfortable and you al
most sweltered in your winter cloth
ing. At $50 o'clock, Hager and my
self boarded a trolley car for the main
part of the city. 1t was then real
hot. In about ten minutes some one
in thecar shouted there's norther."
Instantly the car windows were shut
down and clouds of dust driven by a
strong wind enveloped everything.
The car stopped for while and you
could see nothing for the sand and
Gust, (and there was some dust be-
cause it hadn't rained here for over
a year, The wind grew stronger at
6 80 the thermometer registered about
20 above zero, drop of over 60 de-
grees in less than an hour. The wind
continued with undated fury. We
we're in town without overcoats and al
most froze. Then came rain, sleet
and snow. 1t was after great diff
Guilty that we finally were able to get
a GER to take US to camp. When we
entered camp we found a wreck.
TENTS were down, buildings blown
over My tent was still standing but
the dust penetrated everything even
going into the suit case. The tent
was filled with snow but | did not
Imind this. / went to sleep, not know
ling whether my tent would fall or not.
In the morning we inspected the ruins.
Breakfast was not served until IL
lo'clock-about five hours late, and
then we only had hard tack and cof-
fee. The Casual office where | am
working temporarily was down and
we had to put up new one. Cold
lwell it vas about ten above and with
the wind it felt like 60 below. We
worked with difficulty. Snow was
banked everywhere. The wind contin-
Iued throughout Friday. Saturday
was warmer and today warmer still.
mo, these storms are not so frequent
there, it is said and this is the worst
Isince 1888. In Alabama | struck the
worst winter in rs years, and here /
struck the worst storm in 30 years.
Well, it was a great experience even
though it was a cold, cold one.
San Antonio is some city. Two
thirds of the population are Mexicans
land many speak Spanish. The build
ings are all low but beautiful in design
and construction. 1t is live city
a modern New York, and pretty girls.
There are more pretty girls to the
square inch here than any place l have
struck. You meet girl on the street
and think how beautiful she is when
another one more beautiful appears.
If am here long | am certainly going
to meet some of the nice girls for they
are beauties. | went to St. Marks
church today and heard a good ser
mon. The services were very impress
sive, being filled with a military spirit.
San Antonio is wide open ON Sunday,
all shows running and many stores
Ibeing open. The land is level, dry and
There are few trees. Beautiful palms
Iare everywhere. Streets are lined with
lthem-that is residential sections.
Kelly Field is one of the greatest
lcamps in America, more than 10000
men being there. You see at all
hours of the day from rs to so aero
lplanes overhead. There are three
lOther camps near San Antonio-so it
is really city of soldiers. | am crazy
about the town and the beautiful girls.
NELL,
Line d, Kelly Field No. 1,
San Antonio, Texas.