Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-12-27
MESSAGE TO GARCIA
INVOLVED $5,OOO,0O0
Ohio Veterans Heroic Ad-
venture During War.

|
to Garcia" Is known wherever the Eng
lish language is spoken. How much
different the fame of John Wolf Of
Pomeroy who carried "a message to
| Garcia" when Garcia was running
around In knee pants.
One gloomy day in February, 1884,
Wolf-he was Corporal Wolf then-sat
in his tent cleaning his accoutrements
when his captain, Barlow Curtis.
opened the flap and entered. Corporal
Wolf sprang to his feet, clicked his
heels together and saluted. This was
at Cumberland. Md. ].
"You will report at my quarters at
Z O'clock tomorrow morning" said the
| captain.
"I'll be there" came the reply.
The day before, there had been q
consultation among the officers Of the
English corps, Union forces, as to the
best way to get a certain trunk from
Cumberland to Harper's Ferry, 05
miles. A paymaster In charge Of an
armed escort was considered to be too
risky. The very show Of force would
be notice to the enemy, skulking In the
mountains, that fat prize was await
ing the taking. Captain Curtis was
present. n
Plans Are Discarded.
After all the plans Of the officers
higher up had been discussed and dis
carded, he said:
Gentlemen, have a man in my
company who can deliver that trunk
single-handed and alone. John Wolf
can take 1t through where whole
company would fail"
He detailed his plans and the 9TH
ers agreed with him. That was the
cause of the visit to the corporaps tent.
At seven o'clock, the morning appoint
ed. the young soldier stood in front of
the captains quarters. The captain
dragged out b trunk and said:
Corporal, you will take this trunk
aboard a train, which will leave here
in few minutes, and deliver 1t to the
hotel In Harper's Ferry. Better keep
a sharp eyeAon the trunk, and get re-
ceipt for 1t. Report to me when you
return" s
The corporal picked up the trunk,
devoid Of label or address, placed 1t
on his shoulder and walked toward the
station. He had no written orders, not
a scrap Of paper in his pockets to iden-
tify him and not weapon except q
small revolver in a blouse pocket.
He boarded a Baltimore & Ohio
%~c,x1 - eo,,r nNo oh &c duropod hlc
trunk into a corner and sat on 1t. He
wore his uniform and was in appear
ance an ordinary soldier going some
where with an old trunk. His start
| ing point and destination were within
the federal lines at that time, so he
| needed no pass.
The mountains and rugged scenery
slowly unrolled, He pretended to be
absorbed in looking out the window.
He had not been told what was in the
trunk, but he knew that 10000 sol
diers were encamped whereabouts
They had not been paid for six months,
and the man to whom he was to de-
liver the trunk was government pay
| master.
Trunk 10 Dropped.
When the train drew into Harper's
Ferry, shortly before noon, he again
picked up the trunk and again placed
It on his shoulder, walked two blocks
and dropped 1t on the floor Of the
room Of the payEaster, who seemed
to be in nowise surprised at the ap-
pearance of the trunk, which was old,
worn and rusty and looked much like
| it had been pulled out of scrapheap.
The paymaster scratched off a re
| ceipt for zone trunk and contents"
handed it to the corporal, who sa-
luted and retired.
He returned to Cumberland, reached
camp at eleven o'clock that night, and
the next morning reported to company
headquarters, saluted his captain, ex-
hibited his receipt for the safe deliv-
| cry Of the trunk.
Captain Curtis grinned.
Corporal, do you know what was
in that trunk 2" he asked.
IT suspect do" the mon com" ad-
mitted. i
"Just $5,OOO,OOO in new bills, right
off the government presses" said Cur
tbs.
Wolf Is an Ohio native, but when
the call for, troops came in 1861 there
was no place for him in the ranks Of
Mason-DiXon line to take up arms In
the nations defense.