The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-19
Capt. Evans and tht
Whisky SmugglerS.

IL there Is one thing that annoys
Captain Robley ID. Evanss now In COM
mand of the battleship Iowa. more than
another. II is to have his men come on
board the vessel intoxicated Withal
he Is generous to the men under his
command, and he viii not permit any
one 10 impose upon them. To take
liquor on board ship OF the service Is
against the regulations OF the navy,
and Captain Evans is strict on that
point. When man violates this regu-
lation on any vessel that Is under COM
mand OF Captain Evans, he is punished
for his offense by being put on short
rations and confined to the ships brig
for several days. With the outsiders
who take liquor on board II is different.
and while Evans cannot make the pun
ishment as severe as he would like. he
metes out such as he can II is usually
sufficiently unique. too. to keep these
pirates from the vessel thereafter.
Several times while he was in COM
nand OF the battleship Indiana and
while that vessel was being overhauled
at the brooklyn navy yard Evans had
trouble with some OF the members OF his
crew who had bought smuggled liquor.
They were put In the brig. but refused
TO tell where they got the stuff
Evans determined to put a stop to
this business, and he issued orders ttac
a close watch be kept for the culprits.
IL was not many days afterward that
two OF them were caught and when
the question of punishment came up
Evans was equal TO the occasion He
ordered the men lashed together, and.
preceded by drummer and a bugler.
with a marine guard from the ship.
they were walked around the yard to
the tune of the "Rogues' March and
finally put out OF the grounds. with
warning never TO return. They didn't
bother the Indiana any more. and the
captain was relieved.
A few days before the ship was ready
to leave Captain Evans was promenad-
ing the quarter deck, enjoying his after
dinner cigar. He was approached by the
officer of the deck. who informed him
that he had three prisoners who had
been caught trying to sell liquor to the
crew Captain Evans anger arose inn
mediately, and he walked over to,where
the men were standing In charge of n
corporal of marines. After giving them
severe lecture he ordered them to
together. The corporal had seized eight
pint bottles of whisky t?). The men
were next taken to the scuppers and
made to bend over. The corks were
removed from the bottles and the con-
tents poured over their heads. AS the
liquor ran down their heads and soak
ed their clothes they struggled, gasped
for breath and coughed. Captain Evans
we itod until fhe last drOp had left the
bottles and then ordered the culprits to
stand up. They were sorry looking
lot.
How do you like thai? ?" he asked.
There was no response. He lecturcd the
men about smuggling liquor into the
navy yard and told them what he would
do II they should ever come on board
his ship again Then they were put out.
When asked why ne had poured the
LIQUOR over the men. Captain Evans
said: Those - rascals do more to in
lure the reputation of the service than
all the bad men in 1t. They not only
demoralize the men. but they get them
into trouble 1 poured that liquor over
them to give them a taste OF their own
medicine. 1t will make them smell SO
- bad for the next few weeks that
they will not undertake to come into
the yard, and you may rest assured
they will never come on my ship again."
Since then the vessels commanded by
Captain Evans have been free from
smugglers. The men who do get into the
yard for the purpose of selling LIQUOR TO
the sailors are always particular to AJAX
who lis in command Of the ship before
venturing on board.