-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
The Savannah Morning News of August 2, 1877 related that Fort Ogden, a scattered village of about forty families, located within an area of four miles, with two churches, Baptist and Methodist, three stores, and a post office, received mail from Manatee by Pine Level overland and from Punta Rassa, embracing Fort Myers and Charlotte’s Harbor to Fort Ogden. It further reported, “A new route is to begin from Fort Meade, on the east side of Pease creek, a distance of seventy-five miles to Fort Ogden.”
With a new bride, James, affectionately known as “Acrefoot” for his size twelve boots, needed a job. Hearing that the Post Office was accepting applicants for the new route, he walked to Fort Meade where the postal agent was accepting applications.
The $26 per month position was sought by a number of others, but Big Ed Donaldson, a renowned Indian fighter of the Second Seminole War, and Acrefoot soon emerged as the favorites.
Big Ed confidently boasted: “I’ll take the mail down and bring it back once a week. I can guarantee the mail will go through, no matter what-hurricanes, rattlesnakes, Indians, or robbers!”
The postal agent replied, “That’s the spirit which built the postal service,” and invited Big Ed to put his “X” on the contract.
But Acrefoot advanced toward the pair and exclaimed: “Hold on there just a minute. I’d go as far as to wager I could make that trip with a load of mail at least twice a week and maybe three times, if old Ed can do it once!”
Looking up at Acrefoot, Big Ed countered, “You saying you’re a better man than me?”
Acrefoot, who was 6 feet 7 1/2 inches and weighed over 250 pounds, answered, “I ain’t saying I’m a better man. I’m just saying I’m a better walker and definitely the best man for the job.”
The agent then proposed, “The man who can walk the route the fastest will get the contract.”
Shaking hands, they agreed and set out the next morning. For the first ten miles or so they were as lock step as identical twins.
Then Acrefoot with his long strides began to pull away and at dusk entered Fort Ogden. After accepting delivery of the mail pouch, the postmaster jubilantly relayed the news to the village people.
A spontaneous party resulted with Acrefoot calling every square dance, except when he relieved the fiddler on several occasions.
Before day light, he passed the fiddle back to its master, picked up the Fort Ogden mail pouch, and strided off for Fort Meade.
Pausing to get a drink of water at Joshua Creek, he encountered Big Ed, who smugly drawled, “Looks like I caught up with you.”
To which Acrefoot responded, “Looks like you did. Except I’m going the opposite way!”
Acrefoot was awarded the contract. In one day he walked, first once a week, later twice a week, the Wire Road route, which proceeded from Fort Ogden to Joshua Creek, then to Long Point, Gum Heads, Dark Cow Pens, Crewsville, Bereah, and finally Fort Meade.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Qba'g guvax lbh jvyy arrq bar