The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-06-26
COMPANY A IN CAMP

Saturday afternoon, there was llt-
tie notice is the Star to the effect
that the editor was going to Black
Point Sunday, and would take along
tobacco and other things for the
members Of Co. Al. About half an
hour after the paper went to press
Charlie Fox of Gerig's drugstore
brought a big package, the gift OF
himself and George Greene, and put
il ON the editors table. Immediately
after came George Chambers with
another package from the fire station
boys, and from them they piled on in
rapid succession. That editorial table
never had anything SO interesting or
II before. Friend Bennett of the
Ocala House peeled bill off his roll
and told the editor to buy smokes for
the boys. Friend Jeffords of Masters
store sent box, and then we lost
count. Suffice it to say that we had
more than we could pack in two big
suitcases, and if we hadn't had help
we would never have got thru.
We had efficient aid, however. Ex-
Sergeant George Woods of the Rifles
was going to pay a Sunday visit to
the boys, and with him went Perry
Anthony, Ebert r. Mills and Harper
Aiken. Each of the boys had load
to carry, but none so much as the old
man, but they divied up in weight, so
none Of us were excessively loaded.
This party went on the Coast Line
morning train, and Ellis Brigance and
several others went on the Seaboard,
so there was delegation of about ten
who met in the union station at Jack
sonville Sunday morning.
The best way to go to Black Point
is by auto, but if you have more time
than money you can ride to Ortega
OLA trolley car, and there take one
of the several autoes that finish up
the remainder of the route to the
point. The Coast Line has track
into the camp grounds and runs trains
during the state encampment, but
there did not seem to be any trains
running Sunday, SO the Ocala delega-
ton went via Ortega.
Black Point has been described in
the papers many times, but one can
not have much of an idea of it with
out seeing it. 1t is an almost Level
plateau, some three miles in area
The ST. Johns river sweeps around or
three sides of it. There is parade
ground big enough for ten thousand
men to go thru evolutions on and q
target range. The forest along the
bluff at the southern side of the
grounds has been carefully preserved
and in it the tents are pitched. There
is clubhouse for the officers, and q
big, roomy pavilion for the enlisted
men by the river, and a long wharf
from which the men may 60 in bath.
ing extending out into the river.
Being principally concerned in Co
A, we made a bee line for it's quar-.
tiers. Tt was the second in the long
line of company camps. The boys
had just finished their mornings
work and had little time to them
selves. They greeted the Star mar
like he had been their long-lost uncle
and lost no time in exploring the
suitcases.
We remained with the boys until W.
had to take the train for home, ant
have seldom spent so pleasant day
They were all we'll; not a man ha!
been on the sick list since the com
pany left home. They are all in goot
spirits, bearing cheerfully and un
complainingly the privations of camp
life. We did not see frowning fac.
nor hear word of complaint all day
The company reached camp las
Thursday morning. Their first tril
was not a parlor car experience. "Tht
magnificent transportation system
our newspapers blow about was mo-
in evidence. If the cars they Travelled
in were not condemned. they shoule
be; and the Seaboard Air Line oughi
to be ashamed of itself for putting
men who have volunteered for the de
Tense of their county in such rotter
coaches.
However, once in camp, they were
well taken care of, tho nobody neec
think they are being pampered.
The camp is arranged in streets
which face on the parade ground and
run back into the forest. The officers
have their tents out on the parade
ground, and are not SO well off as the
men, whose tents are back in the
shade.
The men have good tents; they are
more comfortable than the average
houses. Most are in the shape of a
big cone, tho some are pyramidic
With the bottoms of the tents rolled
up, SO that there is full circulation OF
air, and an aperture at the top, they
have all the shade and all the ventila-
ton there is to be had But they can
be closed until watertight, and with a
trench cut around them they can be
kept dry in a swamp.
The men sleep on cots, which are
not SO luxurious as a spring bed, but
they are comfortable enough to q
tired and healthy young man. Each
man has his blanket, if he needs it,
and with his coat or some other such