The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-03

s. S. Evans, of Denver, COL, has four
times as much anxiety for the soldiers
welfare as any other father in the state
This anxiety is SO great. says the Dem
yer Post, that IL causes the old sentle-
man many sleepless nights and has left
wrinkles on his brow. 1t is occasioned
by the fact that four or his sons have
gone to the front to give aid in freeing
Cuba
To make matters worse for the faith
er, he does not know to what compan-
les his SONS belong; therefore he cannot
tell whether or not they have been, or
are now, engaged In the battle.
Evans Is sixty-seven years OF age
and is the father of family of ten
children. all grown. The children were
all born in the state of Illinois and were
reared there. The father of this FAMILY
did not take any active part in the civil
War on account OF his physical disa-
bility. but he has brought up family
that has made up forit. When war was
declared between the United states ana
spain. a correspondence between the
father and sons, who were all In diner-
ent parts of the country, immediateiy
commenced, but did not continue long,
as three of the boys sent him letters
telling him they had enlisted to night
for the cause
family, ID. j. Evans. aged about nine-
teen years. This boy enlisted In the reg
ular army at Fort Riley when he was
seventeen years old, and when the Kan
sas troops were ordered TO the front he,
of course. went with them. he wrote 10
| his father just before he left and SEEM
| ed enthusiastic over the prospect or
smelling the powder of battle. He went
with the troops to Santiago and is now
| there.
Then Evans received word that an
| other son, George Il. Evans, had en-
| listed in volunteer company and had
l also gone to Santiago, and fs now
/ there. He is twenty-seyen years old.
/ B. A. Evans, aged thirty-esght, was
the next to inform his father that he
was going to war. and before the let
ter reached the parent the son was on
l his way TO Manila. He went from Kan
sas City and said he was TO be tele-
graph operator for the government. :.
w. j. Evans, aged twenty-four. still
another son, enlisted in the Signal Corps
| at Washington, ID. c., and Is now on hit
| way to Manila. None OF the sons have
been heard Of by their father since theJ
| started for the front. He has no way ol
knowing Just where the boys are al
any time, and the anxiety he feels FOL
| them is telling upon MIN. ne tninhi
that the Evans who was injured las
week at Santiago in the fight Is his son
ID. ]. Evans. although he has no means
of knowing for certainty, and thu
| suspense in which he is now living II
pitiful. In speaking of his sons m
said:
II was unable to take any active par
in the Civil War through no fault OF m.
own. but have raised family tha
have made up for that. My boys ar
there. and, knowing them as do, cal
safely say they will cause their supe
rior officers to feel proud OF them
they ever get chance to show thei
bravery. I was proud Of them mysel
| when / heard they had enlisted, yet
felt somewhat blue when realized tha
my boys were going away. perhaps nev
er to return. If they fall I know the
will fall for good cause yet the caus
will only partly heal a fathers wound
. ed heart. IL could get word fror
them Of some sort would feel muc
| easier"
Evans came to this city from Kansa
, about year ago. He is white-haire
| old gentleman of good appearance, bu
| the lines of worry have already begu
] | TO show themselves upon his counte
nance. Every day he prays for tn
safety Of his boys.