Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-01-31
Another Letter From the Junior.
Somewhere in Louisiana,
Sunday January 20, 1918.

Sunday January 20, 1918.
Dearest Dad-It is ten o'clock, and
we are twenty-four hours from San
Antonio, having left there yesterday
morning about ten o'clock. Since
that time we have been moving east
ward more or less steadily. We are
about $50 miles from New Orleans,
and we should get into that city about
four o'clock. We are travelling on
the Southern Pacific, and am IN
the second coach from the engine,
the first coach being the cook car.
The engines on this road are Oil
burners, and the track is bedded with
oyster shells and sandstones. lnere
are no cinders or dust, and, aside
from the fact that We are travelling
in day coaches. three to douoie
seat, we are pretty comfortable. II
is raining a little this morning, ana
the conductor Just told US that 1t is
the first good rain they have had mere
in six months. At that they have II
on Texas, for they said they had not
had a good soaking rain in two years.
lust a little while ago we went
svuBIsIno1 'sl,shsIs1 qSnolq'
town of quite good size. Last night
we went through Houston, texas,
and from the train We could see the
ruins of the big fire they had there
some months ago. All morning we
have been going through the famous
Louisiana swamps, and it is mighty
easy to believe almost any stories
YOU read about them. The trees are
covered with hanging moss, which
swings from the limbs and branches.
Numberless palms give the only
touch of green to be seen anywhere,
for the winter season is on here too'
and the people are bowling because
the thermometer is down TO "a.
Practically all the timber in this
section is cypress, and there are lum-
Der Yards without end. A few miles
back we crossed big river, trio-
utary to the Mississippi, and we saw
one of the big wooden ship-yards.
There were number Of ships build
ing, and some of them looked as II
they were ready to be launched. We
are seeing more water today than we
have seen since we have left home,
Just having crossed another river
considerably larger than the Potomac.
The conductor says that the swamps
are full Of alligators, but at this sea-
son they bury themselves to keep
warm. | haven't seen any and Just
don't know whether to believe him or
not.
The chief crop down here must be
sugar cane, for every few miles we
see a big refinery. The cane IS
planted on a ridge about foot wide,
with a deep furrow on either side Tor
drainage. Unless that is done the
cane is drowned out-that is in the
lowlands of Louisiana. Yesterday
the country we passed through IN
Texas all had to be irrigated, and all
through the fields wound the long
irrigation bitches, and water is at
premium.
We are certainly seeing a whole
lot of the country, and the best part
of it is we don't have to worry about
tickets at all. Also we are getting
good eats. That is the biggest sur
prise OF all, for we were expecting
corned beef, etc., and instead we are
getting regular mess. For supper
Yesterday we had good baked hash,
rice, bread, butter, jam and lemon
ade. The cooks didn't get the water
in time to make the coffee, so
we had lemonade. For breakfast we
had post toasties and milk, bread and
gravy, coffee and an apple. The
mess sergeant has some time with the
water in the pans for with almost
every lurch of the train water flies
in every direction. The only way
that he can put any water in the cans
at all is to put heavy blocks Of wood
in each can, and that helps to a GER
tain extent. We just passed through
little town, Gibson, and there was
sign elevation above sea level
lis IT," If you could see the end
less swamp you would think we were
below sea level.
The captain in charge just came
through and ordered me to hold all
of my men in the cars when we gel
TO New Orleans. That means a
guard on each door, for that is the
only way we can keep them in.
hope we all get off and take a hike
when we get there, for my legs are
getting stiff from sitting down Sc
much and sleeping curled up like a
pretzel. Fortunately we did not have
to get up at $50 Today II was 7.3C
when woke up, and | went to sleep
at 9 o'clock | have no kick coming
on the amount OF sleep get. II
things keep up as well as they have
been we will all be in good shape
when we hit Augusta, which should
be Tuesday morning some time. AL
so we may get sleepers almost any
time. hope We will, for they are
so much more comfortable both for
riding and sleeping
| guess | had better stop now, as
it is getting toward mess time and
can't afford to let a meal slip, for il
you are not ready you are more than
liable to get left, which would be a
calamity. Love to all,