The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-03-21
Hunter Palmer Jr.
Gives First
Impressions

Hunter Palmer, Jr. who recently
volunteered in the aviation division
Of the signal corps of the United
States army and wnssent from Canon
City to Fort Logan at Denver for en-
iistment. IL now in training at Kelly
field. San Antonio. Texas. In the
course OF letter written by him few
days ago TO his brother Robert. he
says:
I'VE left Fort Logan at 6 O'Clock Fri
day evening. March sth. and are now
at San Antonio. We were rationed
when we left Fort Logan with hard
tack, corned willy. lcorned beeD to-
matoes, bread and beans.
Passing along thru the country as
we approached San Antonio. we saw
green fields and many Towering al
monds. like we have in our back
yard at home. Negroes are SO num-
erous In this part OF The country that
saw no one else from the car WIN
dow. They live in little huts. I have
seen no house in Canon City that looks
worse.
TT is not possible TO express in the
English language. how hot 1t is here.
The hottest summer day in Canon
would be cool in comparison. II you
can remember how hot 1t was in the
afternoon at the Chautauqua tent last
summer you can understand some
thing Of the temperature when l tell
you It is whole lot hotter here in the
shade, and there is mighty little of
that available. / was able to wiring
water from my underwear this after
noon
Life here is something like camp life
in the mountains. We have good
food and plenty of it, but 1t is poorly
cooked and served in rough style
The Kitchens feed about five hundred
men apiece. We line up in cafeteria
style and those at the front of the line
are thru with their meal and have
washed their dishes before the limo LIZ
ha1f served.
~ AhoJ AhhCiCst yO4 ~ hboW hhdt j
have been put In charge of our tenn
porary tent. The men were standing
around and was sitting down when
an officer came up and said: Stand
mp. I want to see what you look like
came to attention and he said: I
place you in charge of this tent; re
port to fleAfdsfarters.'
"AtaFort Logan we were quaran-
tined and could not go anywhere. On
our arrival at San Antonio the same
thing happened. because one Of our
crowd broke out with the measles on
the train while coming down here
We are surrounded by guards and
there is no chance to get out until the
embargo has been lifted. There Ia a
smaller quarantine camp here where
they have number OF men suffering
from spinal meningitis. If a fellow gets
sick in this camp he is certainly un-
fortunate. There Is no one here to
give him personal attention. One man
took sick this morning and went into
a stupor while lying In his bunk. The
fellow called an officer. who asked him
II he was we'll enough to go to doc
tor! He said yes but could not
move. The officer went for a doctor.
who arrived in about an hour. have
5ast le~rne1 that he has the smallpox.
II was made an acting drill SER
gent today. but after we leave this
camp I will be private again. We
get up before sunrise and must be In
line at $40. We are required to roll
mp our tents and Fet the bdnks out
II the street for an airing before
breakfast. which Is at $50. Then we
have an hour to prepare for inspection
ard clean up the street. From $50 to
II o'clock we drill. From II o'clock
nnfsl noon there il sergeant's school.
Aftsr dinner We either rest or clean
cemps There are no lights here. 20
ue 30 70 bed 1t sundown.