365. Pensacola Trooper Dies in Yellowstone 1910

Updated: Mar 23, 2022

Our last article concerned a man by the name of Captain Joseph Dennis Wolfe, but this article is on his grandson William Wylie Wolfe Jr. The young man was born in Pensacola on March 4, 1885, the son of William W. Wolfe Sr. (1853-1916) and Addie Gasque (1862-1918). His father supported his family as a stevedore contractor and did well for the times. The Wolfe family itself was well known in Pensacola partly because of their controversial patriarch Captain J. D. Wolfe and his conflict with the local pro-Southern element. But they were also well-known for Wylie Sr.'s two siblings, Joseph Emmett Wolfe and Agnes Brownlee Wolfe (McReynolds). Emmett became a lawyer as well as a politician serving as a state representative, state senator, Federal prosecutor, and two judgeships, one in Pensacola and one in Miami. As an eligible bachelor, he was also sought after by the young ladies of the community where his romances made good copy for the press. Emmett was finally "captured," as the headlines read, while serving as Governor Napoleon Broward's personal secretary. In this capacity, he fell in love with Miss Mattie Viola Vinson, Governor Broward's stenographer, which led to a 1906 wedding. On the other hand Wylie Sr.'s sister make a career in education. Agnes Brownlee Wolfe (1858-1922) attended Missouri State University and was married to Orlando Erwin McReynolds (1851-1927). The happy couple lived at 924 North Palafox Street in the prestigious North Hill section of town, just around the block from the her brother Emmett (918 North Palafox). She eventually worked her way up to a position as principal of City School #70 located at 29 East Cervantes Street. Augmenting her staff of teachers were Miss Katherine and Mabel Lofton, along with Miss Olive Andrews. Because of her dedication to her profession the new school that was built at 1408 East Blount Street in 1938 was named in her honor.

But Wylie Jr. chose a different path than his renown aunt and uncle! He chose an illustrious military career with the US Army Cavalry. He left his job as a railroad switchman and enlisted in Mobile, Alabama in May 1906 where Lt. Bennett processed his paperwork and swore him in. The 5' 5" trooper was eventually assigned to the 1st Cavalry Regiment in Company "G", which was stationed in San Francisco due to the devastating earthquake there. Prior to his arrival, the regiment had served in the Philippine-American War from 1899–1902.

After his San Francisco deployment, Wylie Jr.'s regiment returned to the Philippines in 1908 and was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg, fifty miles north of Manila. After two years of relatively quiet duty they returned home on February 12, 1910. The young Pensacolian's next station was Fort Yellowstone where the cavalry had taken over the park's management in 1886 and constructed the fort from 1891-1913. It is located on the eastern edge of the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces, southeast of the present day's Mammoth Hotel. By 1910, there were 324 soldiers stationed there to conduct patrols through the park by horse in the summer and by skis in the winter.

But, by this time his enlistment had expired and it was time for him to pack up and head home. Sadly, he would be heading home but not in the manner that he had joyfully envisioned. Letters from home had kept him abreast of the Yellow Fever epidemic that had struck his hometown the previous year. But never did his parents think that another mosquito borne disease would strike down their son 2,000 miles away. But suddenly, Wylie Jr. felt ill with the rapid onset of a high fever and chills. He ached all over and then went into convulsions. The base hospital doctors diagnosed his condition as “swamp fever,” better known as malaria. He was admitted to the army dispensary at the fort where he died on October 29, 1910. The doctors felt like the fever had most likely been contracted while he was serving in the Philippines. A telegram was dispatched to Pensacola informing his family of his sudden death, but with no attached circumstances. His parents were heartbroken as they waited anxiously for news of what happened. His body finally arrived in Pensacola by train on November 8 and was taken to the family home at 907 North Guillemard Street. On November 10th, his body was escorted to St. John's Cemetery where his remains were buried with full military honors.

And even worse, this was the family's second son to die at such a young age! Their 17-year old son Arthur Emmett Wolfe was playing in a baseball game on August 16, 1897 when he became overheated. To cool down, he jumped into a cold bathtub of water, which the doctors said caused "congestion of the brain." In 1897, this was a catch all medical term for any unexplained death. Regardless, the boy passed out and never regained consciousness. Just like his younger brother 13 years later, the young man lay in state at the family home before being buried in St. John's.