The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-03-16
A VISIT WITH JOHN H. HICKS
Fort Hays Veteran Compares the
Hays of Forty Years Ago With
the Hays of Today

the Hays of Today
While in Washington, D. c., this
winter, CHANGED to make the ac-
quantance of John H. Hicks. who was
bugler in Co. F, goth Infantry at
Fort Hays 1882 to 1884. He de-
manded full account of what has
happened out at Hays since that
time, so after telling him what I
could, I gave him some current issues
of the two Hays papers, and asked
Miss Fiesbach to send Mr.. Hicks one
OF the Hays souvenir booklets gotten
out by the Chamber of Commerce.
"Say, 1 got that book this morn
ing, and could not lay it down until
1 read it clear through" exclaimed
Mr.. Hicks as he met me again a few
days later. "That sure must be some
progressive town with so many fine
new business buildings and homes
and schools and churches. But" he
continued, 81 remember every ona of
those buildings in the Fort picture"
"And do they farm that country
around there" was the next question.
He could scarcely believe that Ellis
county now has more than a quarter
of a million acres under civilization.
and raised more than ten million dol
lars worth of wheat alone in the two
years 1919 and 1920, but that's what
the Kansas State Board of Agricu-
ture says.
asked Mr. Hicks to tell me some
thing of his experiences at old Fort
Hays. "Well," he began, "since you
claim to be forage crop investigator
I'll just start out by telling you how
we used to investigate forage at the
post before the Fort Hays Expert
ment Station was ever heard of.
Considerable hay was bought at the
Fort for the cavalry, and the pur-
chasing officer used to run a long
sharp iron rod all through each load
of hay, because some of the haulers
had been discovered piling old wagon
wheels or other junk in the bottom of
the load to make it weigh more"
Mr.. Hicks recalls more vividly.
however, the pretty girl cook who at
opportune times used to slip out with
pie wrapped up in her apron for
the benefit of her favorite soldier
chums, himself among them. He al
so remembers how the sergeants
ordered their men out at 4 a. m. in
the winter to cut ice on Big Creek
for next summers use. Putting up
ice, however, wasn't a half bad Job
in those days, for close by stood the
post trader with a quart of whisky
in each hand, the whisky being ex-
changed for his next summers ice
supply. Mr.. Hicks was scarcely
twenty years old then, and his appe-
tite was good, so he naturally re-
membered being invited out to sup
per once at the Reeders, and his
mouth waters yet for those fine bis
cults. Being a musician, he also had
some big times playing for the Fort
dances which apparently had modern
jazz beaten a country block.
Mr.. Hicks later saw service in Sew
eral other western states where
Uncle Sam thought the Indians need
ed to be taught better manners.
After thirty years service he was
retired out of the Engineers
Band in 1911 as Assistant Band
Leader. He prefers to keep on
IN,
and is at present one of the
guards employed for the gov
ernment buildings He owns his
home at 1928 9Th St. S. w, Washing
ton, D. C., and has a son 27'years old
who served in the World War. Mr..
Hicks is enjoying life very well, but
would like to see modern Hays, and
other points in the West again.
r. E. Getty.