Evening journal., 1892-01-21
AWAITING THE MESSAGE
Chili's Fate Hinges on the Pres
ident's Recommendations.
NO NEW CLOUD ON THE HORIZON.

NO NEW CLOUD ON THE HORIZON.
Matters at standstil Until the Chief
Executive Is Heard from--Another Cab
met Consultation Navy Depart
ment stil Active Montt Talka Peace.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2l-The utmost quiet
pervaded the navy department today. No
orders 70 vessels were made public, but As
sistant Secretary Soley and Commodore
Ramsay admitted that Admiral Gherarsli
had gone to sea from Port an Prince with
the United States steamers Philadelphia
and Concord They stated, however, that
Admiral Gherarii's squadron had not sailed,
which was technically correct, as the Kear-
sarge is still az Port au Prince She is ex-
pected TO follow IN few days Both Com
modoie Ramsay and Assistant Secretary
Solely oonfne their statements even yet to
saying that the Philadelphia and Concord
are not at Port au Prince, and they then
add that they don't know where they are
As 70 the order TO Admiral Gherard 90 take
command Of tho fleet, it is said it ia oontin-
gent upon hostilitios actually breaking out,
that he is to take command only in case Of
war. Matters viii probably remain nc a
standstill until the Chilian correspondence
and the presidents message on the subject
are sent to congress
At Work on the Message.
The president is still deeply engroesed in
his message and he again called his cabinet
to his assistance and they were cloaeted
with him for some time discussing, Il is
understood the message 10 be sent 10 con-
gress on the chilian situation. One OF the
subjects discussed by the president and Sec
retaries Blaine, Tracy and Ellxins, was the
time when the correspondence on the Chill
ian question shall be sent 70 congress. Their
decision cannot be definitely stated, but it
may go in this afternoon. Ia addition to
the correspondence from the state depart
ment the correspondence between the navy
department and its officers viii also accom-
pany the presidents message The whole
budget will contain approximately 10000
words
In view Of unfounded reports circulated
that at the cabinet meeting dispatches from
the Chilian government were submitted,
| giving evidence Of a conciliatory spirit on
their part and that they were accepted as
substantial ground for belief that salts
factory settlement Of the difficulty was
| pending, Il may be wen to repeat that since
the offer Of Chill TO withdraw Senior Matta's
offensive note, with an explanation that was
not satisfactory, nothing has been received
from that government,
The Navy Department sim Active.
The sailing Of the Yorktown from Val
paraiso for Callao last night made public by
| the navy department today, carrying the
Balmaceda refugees is construed BY officials
in the absence OF information 10 the con
trary, 10 mean that the Chilian government
persisted ia its refusal TO give the refugees
safe conduct and their only safety lay in
transport by the United States vessel. The
| departure of the Yorktown takes the only
vessel Of the United States in the harbor
and Secretary Tracy said that no other
vessel had been ordered TO take her place
there.
The navy department has ordered the old
single turTet monitors, which for years have
been lying 'in ordinary at the navai
academy and in the James river al Rich
mond, to Norfolk navy yard to determine
their fitness for use in case Of necessity
The Passaic has been at the navy yard, and
the Ajax, Carronicus, Mahopac, Manhattan
and Wyandotte at Richmond
Who Commander Evans Is.
The spirited reply Of Commander Evans,
Of the Yorktown, to the notification from
the Gillian minister for foreign affairs that
he had changed his mind in regard to al.
lowing refugees to leave Chilli unmolested,
has made many persons curious to know
something about that officer
Commander Evans is called Fighting
Bob He was appointed to the navy from
Utah as an acting midshipman in 1860, was
made ensign in 1853 master in 1865 and at
tanned his present rank IN 1878 He is prob
ably the only officer Of the navy in active
service who is permanently disabled One
Of his legs is bent nearly double, the result
Of a wound in the knee received during an
engagement in the late war
The story goes that after Commander
Evans was wounded ne was informed by a
surgeon that 1t would be necessary to ann
| putate his leg Evans swore he would
never submit 20 the operation and accord
ing to the account popular about the navy
department he placed a revolver to the sur
/ geon's head and threatened TO shoot him If
any attempt at amputation were made. The
leg was not amputated, but it was 50 badly
/ injured that il left Commander Evans q
cripple for life. He successfully resisted at
tempts to place him on the retired list on
account Of his disability, and served for
many years on shore duty. Despite his
| crippled condition Commander Evans Is a
/ good sailor and seems to care more for
active service than for duty on shore. He
stands well up near the head Of the list Of
commanders.