Evening star., 1902-08-01
Former Commander of Grand
Army of Republic.
SUCCUMBED IN CUBA
WAS A PRISONER IN THE SIXTIES
WITH COL. McELROY.
Served in Railway Mail Service After
War and Was
Favorite.

Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief McElroy
has received news Of the death of Paul
Wander Voort, past commander-in-chief OF
the Grand Army of the Republic, at his
home in Puerto Principe, Cuba, where he
had been making his home since May, 1901
The news came with a great shock to Cen
eral Wander Voort's friends in the United
States. for no one knew of his illness.
General Wander WORT was one of the
boy" soldiers. He was not quite sixteen
years old when he enliste for three months
service in the 6sth Illinois Infantry.
He re-enlisted in Company M. 9th Illi-
nois and was with his regiment in service
In the 9th and the 23d Corps and the caval-
ry corps of the military division of the Mis-
sissippi. He was taken prisoner at Jones'
Vile at the same time that Col. McElroy
was captured. Both belonged to the same
regiment, and were confined in Anderson
Vile and other southern prisons. He was
discharged as sergeant August 1. 1865.
In Railway Mail Service.
Cen Wander WORT was appointed rail-
way mail clerk shortly after the war. In
1874 he was promoted to chief head clerk.
with headquarters in Omaha. Here, 1t Is
said. he worked out the plans of and prac-
tically created all the mail service now en-
joyed in the states of Nebraska, Colorado,
South Dakota. He held this position till
1884, when he was removed by Postmaster
General Gresham.
Gen. Gresham afterward fully exonerated
Gen. Wander WORT, but did not restore him
to his position Gen. Wander WORT after
ward held many positions of trust In the
employ Of various western railroads. In
1899 he became interested in Cuba and
went there to found a colony something
after the style of the communal colonies
hot hoH ff,y 1o y,,jt tn1 afoo
at various times, but have never really
prospered. The Cuban colony did not pros
per, and it said that a great deal Of money
was lost in the experiment.
In 1882, at Baltimore, the sixteenth ma
tional encampment of the Grand Army of
the Republic elected Wander WORT COM
mander-in-chief. On the formation Of the
department he was elected department
commander, and in 1873 he was elected
senior vice commander-in chief
Mrs. Lida A. Oldroyd, president of the
Department of Potomac. W. R. c., said to-
day that the Woman's Relief Corps had
lost its best friend.
General Wander Wort paid the work Of
the women for the veterans glowing trib-
ute in his address before the encampment
at Denver, and as he was notably eloquent,
and forcible in speech, he carried the day
and secured the Endorsement of the wo-
mems organization. In return he was
made an honorary member Of the order,
and was born upon the rolls as "Sister
dulIue Will tHe right TO wear the w. X.
&. badge and to enter the conventions at any
time. The only honor so conferred upon a
man. Miss Clara Barton is the only hon
orary woman member of the order.
A Pretty Scene at Denver.
A president Of the Department of Po-
tomac. W. r. c.. was responsible, 1t Is
said, for a very pretty scene in the ma
tional convention in Chicago in 1900. Gen.
Wander Voort. then on his way to Cuba, was
escorted to the convention platform by four
pretty girls bearing, silk flags, and in a
voice much broken by the emotion aroused
in his heart by the enthusiastic welcome he
had received told the ladies that in all
probability he was standing before them
for the last time. He urged the ladies to
go on in their splendid work.
Gen. Wander WORT is survived by his
widow and four children. Interment will
be in Cuba, though the body may be
brought to the United States later.