The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-26
HOW ROWAN CARRIED MESSAGE ID GARCIA Officer Made Daring Trip Through Spanish Lines HAPPENED IN CUBA Phrase Has Become SynOny of Difficult Order That Requires Inn
 mediate Obedience-Thrilling
 Experiences
HAPPENED IN CUBA

, ficult order that requires immediate and unquesuoned obedience. The phrase orig mated in the Spanish-American war and refers to the exploit of Lieutenant An drew S. Rowan, of the United States army, says the Kansas City Star Lieu tenant Rowan was given a message from President Mckinley to deliver to General Calixto Garcia. commanding the Cuban insurrecto army. whose exact where abouts were unknown, as he was moving every day. Lieutenant Rowan left on his mission immediately and delivered the message after overcoming seemingly un- surmountable difficulties. few years after the war 'The Message to Garcia was written as moral to young men. It was printed in pamphlet form by an eastern railroad and olrcualted widely. The Emperor of Japan recently ordered it translated and a copy given to every man in Japans public service. The story of Lieutenant Rowan's journey is here told:
 When war between the United States and Spain became a certainty in 1898, President Mckinley found 1t necessary to communicate with the Cuban army. The towns and coast lines were held by Spaniards. That the Cuban army, com manded by General Garcia, was some where in Cuba was about as definite in- formation as any one had. So to deliver 8 message to Garcia was a dangerous as well as important task.
 Lieutenant Andrew s. Rowan, then of the Nineteenth infantry and on special duty in Washington, was selected to car " the message. He had written a book about Cuba and was familiar with the language His only instructions were to deliver the message.
 He went first to Kingston, Jamica, and waited there until April 23, two days be- fore war was declared. Then, in the company of two Cuban guides, he travelled 70 miles across Jamaica at night and embarked in an open sailboat for Cuba.
 Capture Meant Death
 The sea trip began about 1:30 o'clock one morning. For z hours the little boat was buffeted and tossed about the south ern coast of Cuba. It was In imminent danger of capture by Spanish gunboat patrols or coast guards.
 Which" Lieutenant Rowan said after ward, would have meant our death as soon as the Spaniards searched us. Rowan did not go in uniform, but was disguised a Cuban.
 Finally a landing was made about 50 miles west of Guantanamo near the small town of Gran Rincon But the dan ger was by no means oVeE It became greater. Garcia was someyhere in the interior. Before he could be found a coun- try continually searched by Spanish pa trols must be crossed. As soon as pos sibe after landing the march inland be- gan. On horseback Lieutenant Rowan and his escort went in a general north east direction along a low mountain ridge. Constant care had to be exercised. Ham, mocks were swung between trees at night. Most of their meals were of cold food.
 Found Garcia in Five Days
 After five days of wandering through dense forests and almost impossible jungles, the party approached the town of Bayamo, which Lieutenant Rowan be- lieved 10 be the third strongest Spanish post in the island. He could not resist such an excellent opportunity to spy a little on a place American troops might soon be storming. But instead of the Spanish the Cuban flag was flying over Bayamo, and there General Garcia had esta ablished Headquarters. Bayamo had been evacuated by the Spanish troops only week or two before
 Lieutenant Rowan arrived at General Garcia's headquarters on the fifth morn- ing after he had landed in Cuba. That night accompanied by three Cuban of- hcers and 10 men he began his return trip. As the Spaniards had learned of his arrival on the south coast, he started northward through a country even more closely patrolled than toward the south.
 Not Spanish Soldier Seen
 Good fortune seems to have been with the intrepid American. The trip to a little bay on the north coast was made without sighting single Spanish soldier, although patrols were frequently near Six of the party-Lieutenant Rowan. Gen. efal Callazo, Lieutenant Hernandez and three sailors-immediately embarked. Dr. Bieta led the others back to General Garcia's camp.
 And now, when Lieutenant Rowan had cause to believe his dangers were all passed, the most serious ones arose. Hardly had the little vessel made its way safely out of the bay when A violent storm arose. Water had to be bailed from the boat continually. Then to add to their fears, a warship ap- peared which they assumed was Span ish. The six men conversed together and decided to die fighting, even though they had not the slightest hope of whipping the Spanish
 A Whole Fleet Appeared
 Soon II other war vessels appeared and the last hope fled. But they were not to de at Spaish hands. The ships proved to be the United States fleet under Admiral Sampson steamfne to- ward Havana to establish a blockade As soon as this was discovered Lieu tenant Rowan attempted to attract the attention Of the fleet. But he failed and the little boat houndered on, nearly in a sinking condition. That night they were sighted by a small fishing craft manned by negroes and taken aboard The next morning they were landed al Nassau, Berbadoes. Lieutenant Rowan Immediately chartered a small vessel and sailed for Key West, eompisting his mission q month after he had left Washington.
 As reward for his services Lieu tenant Rowan was made a lieutenant colonel of volunteers and given com mand of a regiment of immunes, After the war he became q captain in the regular army and was threatened with courtmartial once result of the burning of a village In Bohol an is- land in the Philippines. He was re- tired from active service in the army December 9l. 1909. with the rank of major, His last service, euriously enough, was with the Fifteenth infan- try, the regiment to which he was as- signed as a second lieutenant when he was graduated from West Point in 1881,
 During Lieutenant Rewans hazard eus trip through Cuba his wife and daughter were in Atchisen, Kan, with Mrs, Rowan's parents, Mir. and Mrs. A.