... Monte Wolfe was enjoying his last summer on the Mokelumne. He had begun his preparations for a September visit to the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. He traveled to the Expo by "thumb" and appeared at the Oakland home of his adopted family, the Linfords. When he arrived in Oakland, he was in full Monte Wolfe costume; a vintage Army dress uniform with doughboy hat banded by a rattlesnake skin. Neighborhood kids playing ball in the street stopped in their tracks at the sight. When they crossed the Bay Bridge to attend the Expo, Monte wore his custom made fringed deerhide frontiersman jacket that he had commissioned for the 1939 4th of July parade in Markleeville. Many folks that attended the Expo wore costumes, as did Monte. He was in costume as himself.
After returning home to the Mokelumne River, he guided a few hunting groups including Jim Linford and his friend, attorney Bestor Robinson in November. Bear hunting was bad, but he sent Bestor home with a bear hide as a gift. On the way out, Linford drove Monte to Markleeville and then westward over Carson Pass. They dropped Monte at Plasse's near Silver Lake where he hiked down to his cabin through the Summit City canyon. That was the last time Jim Linford saw Monte.
Harry and Art Schimke had a similar story. They were visited by Monte in November at Alpine Lodge. When he departed through the deep snow, that was their goodbye.
Whatever happened to Monte, it probably happened on April 20, 1940. Strong evidence indicates this was Monte's last day. It also happened to be the day he had entered the world 54 years earlier.
Don
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