Page 80 - 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

Capt. Cox Report on Lake City disturbance
Co. H, 1st Infantry, FST
Lake City, Florida, July 13, 190;
The Adjutant General (J. Cliff-ord R. Foster)
Tallahassee, Florida.

Sir, - I have the honor to submit following report as to part taken by
this company in matter of attempted lynching of prisoner at County jail.
Telegram from Commander-in-Chief ordering Company out,received, by
Captain via S.A.L. office at 8:15 pm via Western Union, 8:45 pm.
Had 32 men in armory ready for duty at 9:30 pm, which was all but two
of members of the Company present within City limits.
Was told at 8:45 that the prisoner was safe, but formed Company, held
same in armory, and on failing to find Sheriff Cone, saw Jailer, Deputy
Sheriff, Mayor, and Police. Received positive assurance that prisoner
was safe with Sheriff out0>City and mob quiet.
Wired Tallahassee for orders and was permitted to dismiss Company
which was done at about 11:45 pm.

Very respectfully
N.H.Cox
Capt. Co. H, 1st. Infantry

Local newspaper report on the same disturbance:

The Friday Excitement
A little excitement was created on our streets Friday evening by the
report that an armed body of men from Ft. White and the surrounding
country were in or near the city and that they had come for the purpose
of lynching the negro, T. J. Hampton, confined in the county jail, who
murdered two men in Ft. White in March, 1893.
It seems that one of the would-be lynchers took a few too many and
while exhilarated went to the sheriff and confided all he knew. The
sheriff immediately wired the govenor for help with the following
response: e
"Capt. N. H. Cox. --Call out your military company at once and
report to Sheriff W. N. Cone for orders. W. S. Jennings, Governor."
This order was receive at about 7 o'clock and the men were at once
gathered together at the armory. Sheriff Cone very wisely thought it
the best plan to take the negro out of town and he accordingly, with
a deputy, got a carriage and took the negro to Hagan, and boarding the
train at that place carried him to Putnam county, where he is now in jai
When it became k^nown that the negro was gone no attempt was made to
enter the jail.' Capt. Cox notified the governor of the facts and
about midnight received the following telegram:
"Capt. N. H. Cox. - If you have positive information that prisoner
is out of town you may disband until further orders. W. S. Jenning,
Governor." ;
The following telegram was received Saturday morning.
"Capt. N. H. Cox. - Your telegram received, I beg to thank you and
members of Company H for•promptness in responding to call last night.
W. S. Jennings, Governor."

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