The Colorado statesman., 1922-06-10
is ASKED FOR HIS
BRAVERY IN DELIVERING
"MESSAGE TO GARCIA"
EXPLOIT OF 22 YEARS AGO
Members of Patriotic and Historical
Societies viii Attend the Unwilling
OF the Statue of Pocahontas on
jamestown island.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

"
when he penetrated the lines of the
Spanish army In Cuba and delivered
to General Garcia, commanding the
Cuban forces In the interior. an i'm
portant message from President Nc
Kinley.
At that time he was a lieutenant on
the staff of General Miles. in COM
mand of the army. War was I'M
minent between the United States and
Spain over conditions in Cuba and II
oect.me important to establish com
manication with Garcia's small army
concealed in an almost inaccessible
Jungle in the interior of the island.
where the Spanish troops could not
find 1t. No one here knew where
Garcia was nor how to reach him and
II was almost forlorn hope when
General Miles handed Lieutenant Row.
an the Presidents message to the Gu
ban patriot and told him to deliver it
II possible.
He Delivered the Message.
Rowan asked no questions as to
how he was to find Garcia, but started
at oace on his perilous mission. He
managed to land on the island and
get through the Spanish Gordon with
out detection. Finally, with the as
slstaDce of native guides, he made his
way through tangled forests and
junglts to Garcia's headquarters, with
the result that the Cuban troops
subsequently were able to cooperate
effectively with the American forces
in the operations that followed. Row.
ans exploit was the subject of Elbert
Hubbard's famous brochure. Message
to Garcia"
Some of Major Rowan's friends, in
Guiding Senator Shortridge of Cali
fornia, believe that he is entitled to
some tangible recognition for his serv-
ices. At their instance the board of
awards of the army is considering the
case.
1t is pointed out that as Major
Rowan's exploit did not involve FAC
tual conflict with the enemy beyond
the call of duty" and was not Eek
traordinacy heroism in action" he
cannot be awarded the congressional
medal of honor nor the distinguished
service cross, but that lie may be
eligible for the award of the distin-
guished service medal for gallant and
meritorious services in position of
responsibility. Award of the dis
tinguished service cross and the dis
tinguished service medal was au-
thoriZed by act of congress in June,
1919, and that act provided that
medals of honor should be awarded
thereafter only for future services
justifying the award.
Pccahontas to Be Honored.
A distinguished representation of
the numerous patriotic and historical
societies of Washington will journey
down the Potomac to attend the i'll
teresting ceremonies planned in con-
nection with the unwilling of the sta
tue of Pocahontas, on jamestown is
land, June 3.
The erection of the graceful and
pleasing figure of the Indian princess
by William Ordway Partridge will
commemorate the two hundred and
fifteenth anniversary of the landing
of the first permanent colony from
England under the redoubtable Capt.
John Smith,. The first settlements
along the James river, under Sir Wal
ter Ruleigh, and some previous ones
under Spanish guidance perished from
disease or the attacks of hostile In
dians. This settlement at jamestown
dates officially from May 13, 1907.
and is, therefore, 13 years prior to the
landing of the Massachusetts pilgrims
at Plymouth.
The Pocahontas Memorial society,
which had collected the funds for this
worthy tribute to the noble Indian
maid who twice saved the colony
from certain destruction, was founded
in this city about fifteen years ago,
and 1t now claims a membership of
5000, in practically every state of the
Union and many of the insular pos
sessions Membership has not been
confined to descendants of Pocahontas,
though the society is largely com
posed of those who trace their an
cestry back to the courageous young
friend Of the whites against her father.
Powhatan.
The memorial society was founded
Jointly by Miss Lizzie McLain of this
city and Miss Mary Desha of Ken
lucky. Its present officers are Miss
Ella Lorraine Dorsey, president Mrs.
William Otway Owen. Mrs. A. Camp
bell Pryor and Mrs. John L. McNeill
vice presidents; Charles g. Glover Is
treasurer. with Mrs. John r. Garrison
as assistant treasurer; Miss Mary Lee
Goddard, recording secretary. and
Miss Lillian Reed, corresponding sec
retary. Charles Crittenden Calhoun is
the legal officer
Or. lie Breton Will Be Missed.
The state of Buenos Aires is getting
a mighty fine senator and the republic
of Argentina Is losing an able and ef-
fcient ambassador in the person of