The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-12-24

left here on November to winter in
the south.
The letter is so interesting that one
can almost feel that you are taking
the trip and seeing the sights with
them. We know their many friends
will be very glad to read the letter
which is as follows:
Leesburg, Florida,
Dec. 13, 1919.
Dear Lena and all whom it may in
terest:-
You asked me in one of your let
+ars to give YOU a description of our
trip down here and if you had known
what YOU were asking / think you
would be sorry and by the time you
have read what | write you Will neV-
er want TO see any more OF my scrlo-
bling; so here she goes: 80
AS you know we left Belding at lV
O'Clock on Saturday, November ana
our first stop was at the county jan
Ionia, where they gave US good dln-
ner. Leaving Ionia at 2 p. m. we went
to Battle Greek, arriving there at o:5o
that night and on account OF ram we
STAYED with Gertie until TUESDAY
morning. When we left Battle Greek
they advised us to go by way Oh
Marshall and down TO Reading ana
Chmden which is the last place we
found in Michigan, and is only about
3 miles from the state line, which we
passed that afternoon about A O'Clock.
Well the first night we camped about
3 miles over the line in Ohio, In a
school-house yard.
The next day we drove In ONE as
far as Hicksville, where they ADVISED
us to take the Hoosier trail to Fort
Wayne Indiana, as Hicksville was only
3 miles from the line it didn't take
long to get out of the state OF ONO.
Finding very good roads all the way
it did not take long to drive to Fort
Wayne. We drove about 20 miles be-
yond Fort Wayne near Huntington
and coming to a nice thick piece OF
woods we asked permission TO camp
and were cordially welcomed there.
This was the coldest night of the trip
1t was only above zero and think OF
our sleeping out in our car. We put
our potatoes and apples up on the
running boards and covered them up
but they froze too. The next day we
found all good roads and Travelled
through a very pretty farming coun-
try and saw the loveliest farm homes
That night we reached Alexandra
and it still was very cold so we de-
cided it would be best to all stay at
a hotel and get a good nights rest.
We all had good warm baths and
good sleep and the morning got an
early start and went to Columbus,
Indiana, before time TO stop for camp.
Coming to a nice brick school-house
about 4:30 we stopped and going
across the way to a farm house we
asked permission to camp IN the
school yard and it happened the mas
was the school janitor and he told US
the school house was warm and that
we might sleep inside if we so wished
and he came over in about an hour
and built up the fire in the furnace
and we were very comfortable for the
night.
The next day which was Saturday,
brought us as far as Fredericksburg.
We drove out 5 miles beyond here and
camped on the side of large hill, at
the foot of which was a nice spring.
Sunday morning was quite clear but
cool and we did not seem to get start
ed very early. The first few miles we
had some terrible roads. About 8
o'clock that afternoon we crossed the
Ohio river, between New Albany and
Louisville. Just before we came to
New Albany we came to large hill
from which we had a wonderful view
of the valley below and from where
we could see both Louisville and New
Albany and the big bridge across the
river which is the dividing line be-
tween Indiana and Kentucky. This
view was over miles from New AL
bany. At New Albany we all got oil
and gas and then started on. Then
at the entrance of the iron bridge
which was over a mile long, we had
our first toll to pay We did not stop
long in Louisville and what we saw
of the place was very dirty and all
old dilapated buildings. We drove
about 5 miles over a rough rock road
mostly up grade for 3 miles and after
a mile at the top we came to Camp
Knox, a government training camp OF
1900 acres. About half a mile from
the city of barracks we pitched our
tents, of course getting permission
from the officers. Monday morning
we left Camp Knox quite early, my
self feeling rather blue as / had had
the misfortune to break my glasses.
For a few miles we found terrible
roads, owing to the much trucking
through the camp, but we all got
over them without any trouble and
reached Elizabethtown about eleven
o'slock. While here 5 Adrian cars
and an Alma car joined US and all
drove together nearly all the after
noon. We left them at Cave City and
went over another road as they want
'1ed to go to see Mammoth Cave and we
1had been informed that the roads were
almost impossible, so at Cave City we
went east to Horse Gave which was
quite a sight. 1t was mammoth big
hole which we had to go down over
800 steps to get to the bottom. AT
the bottom was a large boiling spring
which furnished water for the city
and was underline main street. We
drove out about miles from this