Page 79 - history-of-military-units-in-columbia-county-fl-(1970)-robert-gary-shields

History of Military Units in Columbia County, FL (1970) Robert Gary Shields

REPORTS ON STATE ACTIVE DUTY

Local newspaper reports on Jacksonville fire:

Promptness of C. L. I. Boys.
Capt. BL H, Cox, of the Columbia Light Infantry, deserves special
mention for the prompt response of his Company to the call on last
Friday evening, from the Governor, to Jacksonville. A number o_V the
Company lived several miles from the city, messengers were dispatched
immediately to notify them of the orders and by 12 o'clock Friday
night the full Company was gathered at the Armory, each member with his
camp outfit, ready to leave on a moments notice.
Capt. Cox who has charge of the Mechanical Department at the State
College and is Commandant of Cadets, feels, no doubt, some anxiety
about his work at this place, expecially as the close of the F.A.C.
is so near at hand; but he can be in but one place at a time and his
first duty 14s'to the stricken city.
The C. L. I. Company is made up principally of young business men
of the city, all of whom responded freely to the call, to lend whatever
assistence they could to Jacksonville,
There are now fully 700 men including officers, of State militia,
besides two companies of marines, on patrol duty in the city of
Jacksonville.

C..I.
L Expresses Thanks.
The Columbia Light Infantry, recently back from Jacksonville, desire
to express their thanks for the many kind thangs done for them by their
friends at home. Those who deserve chief mention are Miss Mattie
Vinzant, our St. Augustine sponsor, who remembered us with a hugh box
of cakes, enough and to spare for fifty hungry boys and the cadets,
Prof. Wharton and Mr. Fisher, for donations of games and reading
matter. The college authorities, Mr. Finley, and^M^.^Huton at the
telegraph office, and the Lake City, newspapers WgSei?rwith a number of
others, all gave the company substantial aid and encouragement.
A more extensive account of their experiences may be given latter but
at present it is sufficien^to state -that the men responded promptly to
the first summons, were on continuous duty for 12 hours after reaching
Jacksonville and were on active duty 8 hours out o$ 24 during the
entire stay, they did their duty cheerfully and were sober, clean-
mouthed and courteous at all times. They received the highest praise
from the Governor of the state, the Colonel of the regiment and, in-
fact, from everybody who had anything to do with them. They behaved,
as a rule, as well, if not better than they generally do at home and
Lake City may rest assured that she has as fine a set of young men
and as efficient a military company as any city in the state.
In conclusion the company wishes to thank its Jacksonville friends
who did much to render life pleasant while in that city. Miss Gay,
operator at the terminal station , Mr. Lenardy, ?the.. station master,
and in fact all the terminal station people did everything in their
power to help the men out and will /ong be remembered by them. •

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