Brattleboro Union High School - Colonel Yearbook (Brattleboro, VT)

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M onday-August 22 Left Mojave about noon and rode out into the Mojave Desert. It was hot, 115 degrees in the sun. We rode until about 3.00 o'clock and then stopped at a tourist camp and went in swimming. After the swim we rode on until about 11.00 o'clock. Slept in Needles, the hottest place I was ever in. 247 miles Tuesday-August 23 Arose at 6.00 and rode on over the Colo- rado into Arizona, VVe stopped to have a tire fixed and then rode on. We arrived at the Grand Canyon about sundown. Got our first view of it. I had never realized till this minute the size and wildness of the Canyon. Its changing lights and colors took my breath away. For miles up and down it stretched. A land of weird forma- tions and wonderful colors. We slept in the camp at the top of the Canyon. 287 miles Wednesday-August 24 VVe arose bright and early and 'saw the sun rise over Grand Canyon. The lighting effect was more startling than the night before. After taking several good' pic- tures, we went back to Williams, and then started for the Petrified Forest. We saw some cliff dwellings, Indian huts, meteor' holes, etc. We stopped in Holbrook and, as it was raining, we hired a tourist camp. 220 miles Thmxsday-August 25 We got up early and went down to the Petrified Forest, a land of vari-colored rock stumps. We then went back up to the Painted Desert, one of the strangest and wildest sights I have ever seen. It was a desert of all different colored sands. The heat vapors 'rising from it were colored a deep red. We then rode on to Gallup where we saw the Inter-tribal Reunion. This gathering of 15,000 Indians, repre- senting every-known tribe of Indians in the Southwest, was indeed a sight worth see- ing. White people from all over the United States go to see this Reunion of Indians which in some ways resembles our fairs of New England. They 'gave per- formances in the afternoon and evening for three days. All kinds of horse races and foot and obstacle races featured the afternoon programs. In the evening the different tribes gave their various dances, which were very wonderful. Several In- dian baritones and tenors and one soprano sang, after which the tribes rendered sev- eral war songs. We were lucky to see such a program, due to the fact that we skipped through the fence, as our financial condi- tion would never permit us to walk in the gate. Tickets were only 34. The grand- The ial stand was reserved for white people. We could not get a seat there so we mingled with the Indians. We noticed that we were the only white people who were among them and what an experience it was. Slept in a cedar grove outside of Gallup. A Friday-August 26 We left Gallup early and rode on through New Mexico. We passed several Indian villages made almost entirely of adobe mud, and in one place we saw some old cliff dwellings, Passed an old Indian whose brand new hat had blown off in the wind! He let out an ungodly yell, which was ter- rible, and ran after it. Upon catching it, he pinned it to the ground with his axe and it sure made an impression on it. This time he let out a yell which, if it were translated into English, might be swearing. We slept near a swampy lake outside of Santa Rosa. Those mosquitoes sure were brutal. 310 miles Saturday-August 27 Got up early and got our mail and then rode on into Texas. Saw lots of dead cows, and in one place we stopped and took a picture of McKay sitting on one- birds of a feather stuff. The largest town we passed through boasted one busi- ness house which was a combined hotel, grocery, soda fountain, restaurant, and what have you. The town had only one street and the hotel clerk informed us that the only important event out there was when the wind stopped blowing up the street, and blew down for a change. Slept in a tourist camp in Hedely, Texas. 264 miles Sunday-August 28 Rode on to Gainsville. Not much to see except flat country, dust and go-to-hell curves, which were regular street corners placed in the middle of a desert. The rea- son for this was that the country is marked off into squares and that the roads assist in making boundaries. At one place we stopped and took some pot shots at a dead cow, which was all puffed up from eating poison weed. We wanted to see if she would explode-she did. In another place we stopped to get a drink and, when we started to rinse the cup, the owner told us that since they had to lug water fifteen miles they weren't fussy about rinsing the cup. They didn't seem to care if we be- came the victims of filthy bacteria. Slept outside of Gainsville, Texas. 287 miles Monday-August 29 Rode on out of Texas into Oklahoma, and then into Arkansas. We passed through the cotton belt and saw miles of white 3 cotton and black coons. We hit some bum roads and had to ford about seven cricks. The mountaineers through Ar- kansas are sure a dumb lot. If you asked them the way to South Burlap they'd say, Fust turn tu the right. We slept in a tourist camp at Benton, Arkansas. 342 miles Tuesday and Iflfeduerday-August 30 and 31 We left Benton at 7 o'clock and headed for Memphis, Tennessee, but were stopped about sixty miles from Benton by the White River, which had Hooded its banks. If we wished to cross, we were told that we would' have to wait two days for a ferry, so we retraced our steps to Benton, and started for St. Louis. We traveled all that day and night and at four o'clock Wednesday morning we arrived at St. Louis, about 600 miles to the good. We crossed the Mississippi on a big bridge over a mile long. We left St. Louis just as the sun was rising. We rode on out of Missouri into Illinois, and then on into Indiana. We rode until 4 o'clock Thursday morning and then stopped at Wheeling, West Virginia, for our first sleep since we left Benton, Arkansas, exactly 45 hours back. We trav- eled 1281 miles from 7 o'clock Tuesday morning to 4 o'clock Thursday morning. Forty-five hours without sleep! 1281 miles Thursday and Friday-September I and 2 Got up at 6 o'clock, after only two hours sleep, and drove to Washington, Pennsyl- vania, where we had to buy a new fan belt for the car. We then went on to Washington, D. C., arriving there early in the evening. After looking over the capital, etc., we left for Brattleboro, Ver- mont. Traveled all night and arrived in Brattleboro at 8 o'clock, Friday evening, 1119 miles From Tuesday morning at 7 o'clock to Friday evening at 8 o'clock, we traveled 2,400 miles, an average of 600 miles a day, with only two hours' sleep except for March-and what a guy he was for sleep. Why, he could sleep on a bicycle. But I guess he didn't sleep much at that, for the wrangling of Boyden and McKay kept him awake. VVe were stopped in St. Louis by a couple of detectives who thought we had run away from home, and poor Hal knows nothing about it. I-Ie slept through it all. On our whole trip which took 34 days, we covered 9,698 miles, an average of a little over 285 miles a day. We were 17 days going out, 6 days in California, and 11 days coming back. It was a great trip, we'll tell the cockeyed world. -WARREN MANLEY, '29 -HAL MARCH, '27 X I

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2 Thuvfsday-August II Weparose early and after breakfasting beside an icy mountain stream, we entered the Yellowstone. For miles we wound up through the Yellowstone Valley among the tall pointed Douglas Firs. We saw the Mud Pots and the Yellowstone Falls and the Tower Falls. Late in the afternoon we wound down off the hills to the Mam- moth Springs. Hundreds of boiling springs of all colors were visible. NVe saw several bears and during the day we saw a raft of gophers. The air was very rare and cold. The average altitude of the Park is 7,000 feet above sea level. We finally reached a good camping place near Mam- moth Springs. 120 miles Friday-August 21 VVe got up early'and had a bean fight, which consisted of throwing what was left of the can of baked beans at each other. A good big handful of warm Campbell's Beans in the face is a surprising shock. Gussie CGossj held the fort. Went on to Norris Basin and saw Opal Pool, the Min- ute Man, the Chocolate Pots, the Continu- ous Geyser, etc. Next we saw Gibbon Canyon and Beryl Spring Q190 degreesj. We next reached the Upper Basin and saw Turquoise Pool, Excelsior Geyser, etc. We then ate dinner, and saw Old Faithful, Grotto, Grand, Giant and other geysers, and such pools as the Handkerchief Pool, Inkpots, Rainbow Lake, Chinaman's Pool, etc. We left Yellowstone about five o'clock and knocked off about 60 miles toward Salt Lake. Slept in a Tourist Camp at Idaho Falls. 230 miles Saturday-August I3 Left Idaho Falls in the rain. It finally cleared offiand we rode down through the pass of the Rockies to Salt Lake. We saw Echo Canyon and, after eating supper in Salt Lake City, we went to a movie. Mc- Kay and I went to the Rough Ridersf' We slept in a tourist cabin two miles out. A swell place, with hot and cold water, etc. 271 miles .Sunday-August I4 Got up late and went to Saltair Beach. WVe went in swimming there. The lake is 22fZy salt. Then we went on west through the Great Salt Desert. Miles and miles of white sand which contained 90f70 salt. We saw numerous big lakes which turned out to be nothing but mirages, and at one place we stopped and got out to throw stones at one of these lakes. There failed to be any splash. You would swear that there was water, but that's all the good it would do you for there Wasn't. A lit- tle further on we stopped again, just as sure as before that there was water. We 0131321 mal threw stones. What, did water splash up? It was water, but we wouldn't believe it until we threw more stones. March and McKay saw some mountatins off to the north, about 90 miles or so away, and they wanted to hike over and take a look at them. We told them to come along as it was hot. They fooled around some more, so we got sore and drove away and left them in the middle of the Salt Lake Desert. VVe went on to the next town, about 30 miles, and ate supper, expecting the two to bum a ride in. As they did not appear in a couple of hours, we went 'back after them and found them sitting beside the road, throwing stones at a hunk of salt. They were quite peeved and McKay was going to take off. his suit case and start for home, but Boyden made it clea'r to him that he was in the middle of a desert and traffic was not so thick. Also that hot salt and sand wears out shoe leather darn quick. McKay stayed. We found out in the next town that the water that We had seen on the desert was caused from a recent rain, the first that they had had in six months, and the water hadn't had time to sink through the hard surface of salt and sand. We slept in VVells, Nevada. Upon awaken- ing, we found the water in the water pails fnozen solid. 249 miles Monday-Augurt I5 . We left early for Reno and all day we saw nothing but dust, sand, cacti and sage- brush. At oneplace we crossed a dry lake bottom where there wasn't a road, and you could go anywhere you wanted to on a surface as smooth as any cement and about 80 by 100 miles in area. We had three punctures, 'and when we finally reached Reno it was dark. XVe slept in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. At one time on our way to Reno from Wells, We covered 186 miles in four hours. 385 miles Tuesday-August 16 , We got up late and started up over the Sierras, Wonderful winding roads and beautiful scenery. Somewhere in the Sierras we crossed into California and had to have our bedding inspected for the alfalfa weevil. In the' afternoon we reached Sacramento and bought a lot of fruit 13.25 per basketj. After supper, coming down off the mountain into Oak- land, we struck a dense fog. We couldn't see three feet in front of us. VVe camped that night in a tourist town in Oakland. Streets n'everything. 240 miles lVednesday-August I7 Arose late and took a thirty minute ferry across San Francisco Bay into San Fran- cisco. At last we had reached our goal. We were as far West as we could go on wheels. We left Gussie here andfafter mailing a lot of postcards, seeing the Bay and eating a whole of a steak, we went up to Pantages Theatre and saw Tom Brown and his Band, Jack La Vere, The Hunts- man and other good acts of vaudeville. It was the most wonderful theatre I was ever in. After that we went up to China- town. After leaving Frisco, we rode to San Mateo and slept in a field. 5 47 , miles Thursday-August 18 Got up early and found we had been sleeping on somebody's front lawn. About noon'we started up through the big trees toward Yosemite. Late in the afternoon we reached the top of Yosemite Valley and went down past El Capitan into the valley. It was twilight as we came down onto the Hoor of the valley and the sunset was painted a brilliant orange against the rugged cliffs. The tall hrs and redwoods were silhouetted against the starlight sky. VVe could not see any of the falls at night, so we went to bed, after writing a couple of letters. Slept in a fir grove somewhere on the floor of Yosemite Valley. 229 miles Friday-August IQ VVe went down through the Yosemite Val- ley and saw the Yosemite Falls, the Bridal Veil and others. For 3,000 feet straight up on both sides of us towered the cliffs of Yosemite. At one place we stopped and took pictures of two big bucks, and at another place We stopped near a bear and three cubs. The cubs walked all over the car iand one tried to climb in a window. VVe went down out of the valley to Fresno, where we went in swimming. We rode until 3 o'clock in the morning, and finally went to bed outside Los Angeles. 367 miles Saturday-August 20 We got up early and rode through Holly- wood and Beverly Hills to Santa Monica, where we spent the afternoon swimming at Ocean Beach. The surf was wonderful and we rode on a surf board. After sup- per we went to the movies and saw Moran and Mack, the Two Black Crows. After the show we went to a tourist camp in Longwood. f 79 miles Sunday-Aitgust 21 VVe got-up very late and, after eating breakfast, we went through the Los An- geles Zoo. Vile then rode on to San Fer- nando and took a swim in the Coliseum Plunge. Swell pool. After a swim and a swell meal we rode on to Mojave where we hired a tourist shack for the night. 122, miles

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I 1 I be tal MY FIRST CAMPING EXPERIENCE T was my first opportunity to do any camping without a pestering guardian and I had decided to make the most of it. Vtfe had selected for a camping place a small grove a short distance from the White, sandy beach. After my com- panion had succeeded in starting a fire, I got out the makings and proceeded to throw together some slum gullionf' After partaking of our meal we went down to the beach and seated ourselves on a large log. The moon was just peeping over the top of the mountaing the stately pines were silhouetted against the silvery disc, a shimmering path of soft light fell across the lake to the sands of the beach. In the distance came the plaintive song of the Whip-poor-will. And as I gazed across the lake, I saw a canoe drift slowly across the path of light. Then came the mosquitoes by the hun- dreds, buzzing around our heads like so many miniature airplanes. Slapping and scratching as we went, we made. for the tent only to find it also infested by the un- welcome guests. We dove under the blankets and thus evaded the Culex pungensf' I was not getting any kick out of sleep- ing under the stars Cor rather under a tenth until Dick gave me a vicious one in the back. I marveled at his ability to put all discomfort aside and snore. Well, I don't know how many hours I lay there trying to find a comfortable position before I heard a slight rustling in the provision box. I nudged Dick in an endeavor to stop his snoring but all in vain. So I pro- duced a pin and put it into effect, this changed the snoring into a weird war whoop that must have terrorized the countryside for miles around, to say noth- ing of the whatever it was in the provision box. When he got quieted down enough I told him to stop using such vile language and listen. After listening a few minutes we heard the rustling again. A chipmunk, I remarked. So I crawled stealthily toward the provision box. On the way I told Dick to hurry with the flashlight, He wasn't able to nnd it and so I reached out in the dark and touched the bushy tail of what I was sure now was a chipmunk. I got a firm hold and just started to take it out of the box in this manner when the beams of the flashlight lighted, to our horrified gaze, the black and white form of an ani- mal much larger than a chipmunk. A strange scent assailed our nostrils and I very willingly let go of my hold on that bushy tail. IfVe made a fast exit out of the other end of the tent while the little beast ,of the woods resumed his interrupted banquet. -BILLY Cox, '31 THE MAGIC CARPET VVISH we could travel without the risk of being kicked off every time We show our faces, said Mike, the smaller of the two hoboes Not a chance,', said the other, our luck doesn't run like that. In proof of his words a sour-faced brakeman came along the top of the box car. The two tramps decided that they would rather jump off than be kicked off. Consequently, they made their exit through the open door of the box car. Almost as soon as the two boes'l hit the ground, the brakeman hurled a bundle at them, evidently thinking it was their property. The speeding train was soon out of sight and the hoboes unwrapped the bundle. In it they found a medium-sized, ordinary looking carpet, also a paper which read, This is a wonderful magic carpet. Give the name of your destination, seat your- self on the carpet, and pronounce- the magic words 'hokus, pokus.' You will im- mediately be carried to your destination. The two hoboes could hardly believe their eyes. It might not be true, but they were game to give it a trial, so they seated them- selves one on each end, and after much arguing as to their destination, they de- cided to go to Spain. Mike claimed the honor of directing the carpet and he said, Spain, please+hokus, pokus. It seemed as though very little time had passed since Mike had mentioned the magic words, but now there was no doubt in their minds that the carpet could do all it had promised, Not only were they in Spain, but they were about to land in an arena. Much to their dislike they saw that an exciting bull fight was taking place. Mike did some quick thinking and said, Paris, please-hokus, pokusf' When the people of Paris saw the curi- ous air vehicle coming down in their midst, they were not so curious as might be ex- pected. Some of them could be heard saying, Just another one of those trans- Atlantic flyers,', and others said, It's a foolish stunt in this weather. We don't seem to cause much excite- ment here, said Mike. Let's sell the car- pet and buy something to eat. -MAURICE BUCKLEY, '29 ENCHANTMENT MURMUR and swaying of the palms over my head announced the coming of the dawn, I though of everything that had hap- pened to me until I had come to safety. But was I safe on this bit of land that I concluded was an island? Had another unkind fate sent me to more unknown dangers than those I had already experi- enced? I sat up and felt a sudden small sting near my knee. Looking down I saw a tiny black Hy. I must be on some tropical island, I concluded. U Was I far away, I wondered? Had the storm, the day before, driven me away from humanity forever and ever? Then I thought how thankful I should be that I had ever been allowed to reach land at all, so I sent up a simple prayer to Him who rules all. For it was He who had guided my frail boat from out the har- bor to the treacherous storm-tossed waters of the Atlantic and it was He who had brought me to this island, where I now was, Finally, I stood up and beheld the rising of the sun. Such a glorious sight! The waters gleamed with a thousand lights and the sand about me glinte'd and sparkled like diamonds. The sight dazzled me. I traveled inland. After a few minutes I came to a grove of trees. I'll stay here while the heat is intense, I said to myself. Pretty, little tropical flowers were all around and I discovered a tiny spring of water bubbling from the ground. I made a deep basin around this spring by scoop- ing up the soft sand. Having completed this, I 'took a mouthful of the refreshing water, not bothering to think whether the water was pure or muddy. Luckily for me I suffered no ill effects from it. About this time I began to get hungry. Looking overhead I saw clusters of dates. Finding a long stout stick, probably a piece of driftwood, I tried to scale one of the slender trees. just as I thought I was up far enough to poke some of the dates down, my arm slipped and I went sliding around the tree. I dropped to the ground and made a second attempt to climb the trunk. I secured a small cluster. But what is a handful of dates to a hungry person? Wanting to explore more I walked on, eating the dates, and thinking of nothing in particular. As I climbed .a small hill I began to wonder what was on the other side. When I reached the top, there, below me, lay a small valley, a body of water, clear as crystal, lay in the midst of the tiny vale. Faint smoke rose on all sides of the water. It seemed almost magic. Enchanted, came to my mind. Not knowing what I was doing, I started walking down a narrow path. Only a few steps and I was in the valley. When I arrivedysomething clouded my senses and I slept. Was it the tiny smokes? Here it was cold, the heat seemed not to penetrate into the tiny valley. And as I slept, I had beautiful dreams. I awoke, the tiny smokes had vanished, the air was clear and cooled by a little breeze. Glaneing around, I discovered beside me,