The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-01-21

II New York, jan. 20-Probably 10 Off.
cor in tho navy to-day is more widely
known or more universally popular than
tho commanding officer OF the cruiser
Yorktown, Robley u. Evans, ut present
aconspicuous figure in the international
episode in which this country and Chile
! are the principals. There lare, those
Swho think that us long rs tho Yorktown
lis in Chilean waters it will BIO Evans's
fight, and that il the diplomats only
keep their hands of the commander
will settle the matter sinule.handcd and
to tho satisfaction Of Ill concerned.
Tho opinion Is doubtless founded on
3 q good knowledge OF tho man, who, in
spite OF IN apparent rashness, is level.
headed and possessed Of fine powers OF
discrimination. Never was this more
apparent than in the time OF danger or
T disaster on board ship. The right order
was always gwen without an instant's
hesitation, and tho officers and ships
company were sure OF knowing that
5 come what might, blow high, blow low,
they were sure OF pulling through all
right.
Commander Evans is among the
lucky officers OF tho service in ono parti-
Z cular, he was young, or comparatively
go, when he was promoted to the rank
z of commanding officer and hcassumed
responsibility at an age when he was
sufficiently elastic to carry on duty
without fear'of what might possibly
( happen. He frequently has said that
the older lieutenants OF to-day would
4 nevor mako good commanding officers,
simply Because they would be so old
and SO much accustomed to looking
over their shoulders to see what the
captain wanted that when they were in
command and didn't have any sold
and the responsibility would weigh too
man" to look to, they would be timid,
4 heavily upon them.
All Of the class of 1860, to which Evans
belonged, were graduated from the
! Naval academy before they had finished
5 their full course OF study and were sent
4 ut once aboard the blockading vessels or
cruisers in active service. 1t was Act
ing Ensign Evans in those days, and he
was ordered to duty aboard the old side
wheel steamer Powhatan and assigned
to one OF her gun divisions. When the
4 landing party was detailed to 20 ashore
and board Fort Fisher, Evans bucliled
on his sword and revolver and went in
command OF his company OF blue jackets.
On rushing through the palisades
which reached from the tort to the sea,
Evans, while at the head OF the column
leading his men, was several times shot
/ by the Confederates, who poured in 4
destructive fire OF musketry, not, how
& ever, before he reached the ditch at the
foot OF thetparapet. The men in rear
OF the advanced !sboarders" seeing the
slaughter in front, and finding they were
/. not supported, retreated, leaving the
killed and wounded behind
Almost every one who was able dug
up a little mound Of sand to protect him
self from the bullets which whistled
about as long MS there were any live
sailors in sight. Evans has always said
( that his escape Mt the time was wonder
1ul, rs many Of the wounded men about
him were shot dead. lie was SO close
to the parapet, however, that he was
!. probably not seen, or ii he were his
youthful appearance may have saved
him.
When he was first shot in the body
he kept on charging, but 4 bulle.
through his leg brought him to the
ground. While lying there another
bullet struck him in the big toe. "This
( made me mad" said he, and taking n
revolver from the man who was shot
down by his side, he held it in the hol-
\ low OF his left arm to secure steady
\ aim, and, in spite OF the excruciating
I pain which was torturing him, hc coolly
3 emptied every barrel OF it, at the gun
1 ners on the paraper.
& When the fort finally surrendered to
the troops under General Terry's COM
smand, Ensign Evans was taken to
hospital, and the doctors, thinking to
y save his life, proposed cutting off the
wounded leg. The plucky youngster
had just strength enough left to take
L charge OF the matter himself, and he
pleaded SO earnestly and so successfully
that the leg was spared The result is
that he has been lame ever since.
His cruise as watch officer to the
China station was repleto with exam
pies OF his professional knowledge and
ability, and when he returned he went
q on duty in the department OF seaman
ship Mt the Naval academy. While
s there the negro question was under a
lively discussion, and to render it more
\ prominent colored cadets were sent to
: both the national Academies. Every
thing thatwas said or done to these COL
ored boys became matters OF comment,
and tho officers had to BIO careful how
they treated them.
Ono day at seamanship drill, when
I Evans was in charge, tho colored mid.
Y shipman had started up the rigging
ahead Of the order, and the action
caught tho officers eve "Get down
n out OF that, you black rascal" was the
order. Suddenly recollecting himself,
! however, he turned quick as wink to
where awhile midshipman was about
doing the same thing and said: "You
white rascal, come down from there"
Honors were easy and no complaint
was made by the friends OF tho colored
s fellow. ~. ~
The Congress, OF which Lieutenant
Commander Evans was the executive
officer and Admiral English the captain,
was q crack frigate up the straits, .
and during her cruise in the Mcditer-
4 ranean was always spoken Of in the
highest terms of praise. She was as
q clean and neat a ship as VIC ever had
out there, and as well drilled and well
disciplined as she was happy and con-
tented. Evans always led in everything,
4 and his officers were eager to help him
along. He believed in rewards as we'll
A. 4 IA,