The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-09-23
GOVERNOR GILCHRIsT WON
A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT

10 v EMNOkA uALShhASI WIN
A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT
The Jacksonville Metropolis of Fri
day tells Of the following experience
of Governor Gilchrist at Camp Fiem-
ing:
Yesterday the governor, mounted on
q splendid bay horse, and accompanied
by his staff, rode out from the camp to
make an inspection of the state reser-
walton. After going over the rifle
range and Witnessing the maneuvers
OF the troops in the woods. the gov
ernor and his staff found themselves
some distance from the camp. with
many trees and much tangled under
brush between them and headquarters.
The leader OF the party undertook to
find near cut to the camp, and riding
down to the river found a place which
could be forded.
Reporting the matter to the rest of
the party, the governor and his staff
entered the water. Governor Gilchrist
and his staff had not gone more than
nifty yards up the river, when the horse
ridden by the leader stumbled and fell
forward in the water. Hardly had the
leaders horse fallen, when the horse
Of another member Of the party STUN
bled and fell also. Being cracker"
horse. the second animal rose to its
feet Immediately, shaking the water
from its TANKS. no more disconnected
/. that 1t would have been by shower
: bath. Not so with the horse of the
leader. The animal, with its leg deep
In the soft mud OF the rivers bottom.
had fallen heavily. It's feet became en-
tangled in something beneath the sur
foo nf hn NJ animal
as II resigned to watery grave. The
two officers were. however. unhurt,
having leaped from the animals as
they went down.
Bold Charge Of the sAirttail Brigade
Returning to the river bank, the Of
fcers tied their horses and determined
to make an effort to rescue the fallen
horse OF the leader, which by this time
had entirely ceased it's efforts to rise
and was apparently on the eve Of Civ
ing up the ghost. After rapid con-
sultation, according to the words OF
the governor, "a shirttail brigade was
formed" and the members of the mos,
honored STAFF in the state troops, re-
moved their lower garments and wad-
ed out into the river on a life saving
expedition. All efforts to raise the fal-
~
fruitless.
The governor and his staff founder.
ed around in muddy water up to the
middles, and pulled and coaxed in vain
The animal seemed already to have
packed its grip for horse glory ant
made the necessary preparations To-
death, and refused to be disturbed, ant
with eyeba1ls protruding and heat
barely above the surface OF the water
only grunted dolefully in response t.
the efforts put forth for it's rescue. TIL
members OF the party gave the anima
up for lost and stood for a moment
with scant and dripping apparel, look
ing at each other in deep chagrin.
Then Governor Gilchrist proved t
be the hero of the occasion. With tn
knowledge he had learned in tn
younger days on the farm. he too
s charge OF the situation, and result
began to follow.
Push her over" said the governor
the absence of the most essential par
OF his clothing taking the effect @
commanding tones from the words.
Push her over. Now, then"
With a splash that nearly browne
the governor and his party, the hors
was thrown over on its side. At tn
direction of the governor. two OF tn
members of the party tok their place
at the head of the horse. and 'Governo
Gilchrist took hold Of the animals tai
The plan worked admirably. When til
horse lay on it's side in the river.
could be partly foated. Then the wor
was given. the three men pulled wit
will. and the horse floating on II
side. was pulled free of the impedimer
on the bottom of the river, and towe
about fifteen feet down the river to
place where the sand at the bottom
the water was firm enough to give
safe. footing to the animal After
little coaxing 1t was persuaded to ris
and proved to be little worse for Il
narrow escape.
"Hoo-ray for the governor." sa
somebody.
Yes, hoo-ray for the governor
agreed the other members Of the part
Three cheers were then given, ar
the party waded back to the ban
where dripping wet and well sprinkle
with mud. they climbed out of the W,
ter to don their trousers, which he
been left swinging majesticalIy fro
the lower limbs Of several trees.
To Governor Gilchrist the honors
the naval engagement was given, al
he deserved them. After the supp
was over at headquarters. the stol
that calculated around among the o
ncers was how the governor of Flo
ida rescued a fallen horse from Il
river. and lent his Herculean streng
to drag the animal, by the tail,
safety.
There wasn't any hero in it," sa
the governor. The horse was dow
and getting ready tn drown and U
all just formed a shirttail brigade al
hor ont