National Guardsman from Company “G” stands outside his tent in Calexico, California.

Photo courtesy of Captain Harry A. Comeau's grandson, John Loggins.

This article was published in the Grays Harbor Post, about July 6, 1916.

Cosgrove to Calexico

Is a Long Hot Ride

Company G Boys Enjoyed It, Though,

and Are Getting Used to 110 to 120 in the Shade.

(BY AUBREY ARCHER)

ON TRAIN, Wednesday, July 5,—Tuesday afternoon, July 4 at 8:45, the train bearing Company G pulled out of Cosgrove station en route for Calexico, California. By the outward appearance of the men one could not have told that anything unusual was happening, for there was no very great demonstration either by members of the company or the few friends and relatives who had gathered to see the boys depart.  The train was boarded quietly and without confusion and good-byes were said as if the trip were to last only a few days instead of an indefinite period.

Everyone realized, however, that they were setting out upon a journey that meant lots of hard work before they could come back, but were cheered by the thought of the grad experience in store, and of the healthy outdoor life all would lead.

Great credit is due the officers in charge of the company for the way the health and comfort of the men have been looked out for, as everything possible has been done to keep them in good physical shape. Captain H.A. Comeau is thoroughly experienced in this part of the work, and has seen to it personally that nothing was lacking that might add to the comfort and health of all in the company.

At Centralia the town turned out in a body with the aid of a brass band and numerous strong voices, gave the boys a rousing send-off.  All the little towns that were passed did their share of cheering also, and showed more patriotism in proportion to their population than the big towns did.  When Portland was reached at 8:15 the men were allowed to leave the train for a few minutes for exercise to take the stiffness out of their muscles.  Crowds lined the streets around the depot and the Broadway and new steel bridges were a mass of people, from end to end.  There was a beautiful display of fireworks in progress, but the train pulled out before it could be fully appreciated.

No Sleepers.

There were no sleepers on the train, but everyone by this time was used to sleeping in almost any position and fairly good beds were improvised out of seats in the cars.  In the morning reveille sounded a short distance from Roseburg and after a bit sandwiches and hot coffee were served.  At Ashland the men detrained and a half hour was spent in exercise.  The weather had been growing steadily warmer as the southern border of Oregon was neared, and at Ashland the temperature was 85 degrees, the hottest it had been there this summer.

The border between Oregon and California was crossed about 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon. The first California town reached was Hornbrook where a stop of a few minutes was made.  Gerry Bran gave one of the men at the depot a dollar to buy some fruit with and the fellow hasn’t shown up yet.  After he is through with Mexico, Gerry says he’s going back and start in on Hornbrook.

Enjoy California Scenery.

Friday, July 7—We have passed through some beautiful country in California so far.  Every town has an abundance of shade trees on either side of their wide streets, and all the buildings look neat and clean.  In the farming districts are to be seen some fine fruit ranches.  Orange and lemon groves are in abundance and now and then an immense sunflower field, stretching almost as far as the eye can reach.

Most of the country is as level as a floor and is ideal for road building.  California certainly has the best roads on the Pacific Coast, and claims to have to automobiles for every square mile of territory.  This surely is the motorist’s paradise.

Sleepers Put On.

At Bakersfield yesterday a change was made from the day coaches to sleepers and all enjoyed a good sleep last night.  The evenings are always cool here, which is a comfort, as a night’s rest is always possible.  The temperature in Bakersfield yesterday noon was 106 degrees, and although we traveled steadily south all day, today by 10 o’clock in the evening the mercury was down to 70 degrees.

Lots of pretty girls have met the train at almost every station so far, and the boys have been kept busy getting names and addresses for future letter writing.

Some grumbling is going on among the men as to the food served out for mess.  This dissatisfaction is due chiefly to the fact that other companies have large mess funds, some totaling over a thousand dollars, and are better able to supply the men with extras and delicacies than Company G is.  While our food is as wholesome and well cooked as that of other companies, yet it is aggravating to see fresh fruit, lemonade, etc. going to other companies in addition to their regular fare, while we have to be content with bacon and hardtack.

A stop was made this morning in the Imperial Valley south of El Cason, and several of the men got a few minutes lively exercise chasing lizards as there were two or three under every clump of sage brush, which would scatter in all directions upon anyone’s approach.

Salton Sea was passed in the afternoon, a large body of salt water, 50 miles long by about 8 miles wide, said to have sprung up in a single night.  Everyone on the car would have given his next month’s salary to have gone in swimming, but the train kept right on.

Calexico Reached.

Calexico was reached about 5:30 in the afternoon and the men were detrained and marched to the camping grounds.  It was 110 degrees in the shade.  The dust was pretty thick, and we had to carry all our field equipment everyone perspiring considerably.  After we reached camp, a short rest was given us, after which tents were pitched and beds made for the night.  The camp is made in the midst of a large alfalfa field and is much the same as the mobilization camp at Aberdeen Lake.  Good water is furnished us, and there are shower baths also at the corner of the grounds.

There is a swimming pool about two miles away and those who care to brave the heat are amply rewarded by the refreshment received from the cool waters.

The first night in camp a big black bug stepped on “Boot” Schumacher’s hand and refused to get off, where upon “Boot” nearly tore the tent down before he could be subdued.

Down at the border this morning the Mexican guard had enough ammunition and revolvers on to equip two men.  Two cartridge belts full revolvers hung at his hips.  He swaggered by as if he owned the earth and didn’t care who knew it.  He refused to have his picture taken, however.

Calexico.

Calexico is a town of about 3,000 people and has paved streets, electric lights and a good water system.  Farming is made possible only by irrigation.  Without it, the town would be a waste of read hot sand like the rest of the Imperial Valley.  It is about 112 feet below the level of the hot and although the days are very hot, from 100 to 120 degrees, the nights are cool enough for comfort and one can always get a good sleep.

Just across the border from Calexico is the Mexican town of Mexicala, where an army of some 1,500 Mexicans are encamped.  During the time we have been here there has always been one or two of them upon their wireless mast, watch out camp. They seem to bee already for trouble, but nobody in town seems to think there will be any.  No one of either side is allowed to cross the border in uniform, and on account of this prohibition all the men on our side are anxious to see what Mexicala looks like.

So far the boys have stood the heat well and are rapidly becoming accustomed to it.  It will be a week or so, however, before good hard drill will be required of the company.

All would be glad to have a little of the far-famed Grays Harbor rain for a few days.

Boys Stand Heat Well.

A card from Mark Mascho, member of Company G, to his mother, Mrs. Jennie Mascho, states that while the weather has been very hot in Calexico, it does not seem much hotter than sometimes here on the Harbor.  The Aberdeen boys all are standing the heat well and do less complaining he says than those of any other company.  There appears to him to be little prospect of a scrap, as there are 6,000 Americans to 2,500 Mexicans in that section.

Last updated August 2004 by Larry R. Short

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