The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-28
IT'S CHIEF
Over the Loss Of His Eldest
Son.
DEATH OF FRANK A. EVANS
From an Overdose Of Morphine Taken
Without Rash Intent.
HAD BEEN IMBlBlNG TOO FREELY
And Took the Opium to Produce Sleep
Funeral Will Occur This Morn
ing at 10 O'clock from the
Seventh Ave- Residence.
HAD BEEN ImBIBlNG TOO FREELY

| summons to a half dozen anxious watchers
| who scarcely dared speak above whisper.
An outstretched hand smothered the sound
+, that grated harshly on the death scene,
| but still the industrious little clapper rat
tied away just as young Frank Evans had
| intended it to do the night previous when
he wound it up and set 1t at this hour to
make sure that he would be at work on
| time
But Frank Evans did not go to work
| Half an hour after the tingling sound of
| the alarm clock ceased he was a corpse
and today all Birmingham mourns with its
chief executive, who is Frustrated with
grief over the loss of son. There is crepe
| on the door at the city hall. Little busi-
| ness Is transacted and the city grieves
with its ruler, a sad climax to a joyful
| Christmas celebration.
Frank Alfriend Evans, % years of age,
| died yesterday morning at 7:05 o'clock at
the residence of J. J. Bonner, $40 Eighteenth
street. The cause of his death was an
overdose of morphine, though in view of all
the facts obtainable, not taken with suicidal
intent
The remains were removed shortly after
his death to the home of Mayor Evans,
1701 Seventh avenue. During the day hun
dreds. of friends called to express regret
and tske last look at the pa1ld features
of young man who was popular with all
who knew him.
The funeral will occur this morning at 10
o'clock from the residence, DR.. Handley,
pastor of the Central Presbyterian church,
officiating. The body will then be inferred
beside that of his mother in Oak Hill cem-
eery. The pal1bearers will be as follows:
Louman Handley, Frank King, J. c. Bon
ner, Ollie Miles, Kenny Kean, James Haw-
kins, Hugo Marks and Wallace Smith.
Young Evans had been drinking for two
days and Monday night when he sought
to sober up and prepare for work he found
himself in a condition bordering on nerv-
Gus prostration. The theory is that being
unable to sleep be took morphine. In his
weakened condition the dose proved too
much and he succumbed to its effects. The
friends and relatives of the young man
can think of no cause for the opium to have
been taken with rash intent. He was of
bright and buoyant disposition and the ru-
mors of suicide that have been started by
some appear to be groundess.
Went Home EARLY
In company with his father Frank Evans
went to his boarding house about o'clock
Wednesday evening. The mayor accom-
panied him to his rooms and remained with
him for some time. After this several
friends of the young man came up in his
room and they passed off the time playing
games for an hour. When this was stop
ped he remarked to some one that he could
not sleep and intended going down town
to get some medicine This he did. His
brother, John Evans, came in about IL
o clock and found Frank at home and in
apparently good spirits He saw him take
two tablets from a little round box and
swallow them. He inquired what it was
and Frank told him that it was nothing
more than headache medicine. Both young
men then retired, Frank in a room up
stairs and John the lower floor.
Before retiring Frank announced his in
tention of going to work at o'clock the
following morning in the freight office of
the Southern railroad. Accordingly he set
an alarm clock at $50 to give him ample
time to reach his work. He also made an
engagement with his brother to visit some
young ladies' last night John Evans went
to his room with no thought that his BROTH
er's life was in danger
Found Him Breathing Heavily
A son of Mr. Bonner, who Is employed
at night in the offices of the Alabama
Great Southern railroad, was to occupy the
bed with Frank Evans. He came in at
o'clock in the morning and found Frank
breathing heavily, his position in bed ind-
eating that he had been suffering from
commissions Young Bonner realized that
something ives wrong and aroused his
father. Mr.. Bonner sent hurried message
summoning DR.. Wilder.
The doctor took in the situation at a
glance and went Immediately to the in
Urinary of Drs. Talley and Chapman, cor
ner of Third avenue and Twentieth street.
He returned with DR.. Chapman In a short
time and the work to save the young mans
life was begun. stomach pump was
used. but not trace of the fatal drug
was found. 1t had already been absorbed
by the system and medical skill could avail
nothing as far as removing 1t was con-
cerned.
Restoratives were then resorted to and all
the methods human minds could think of
were put into operation. 1t did not take long
Aoi INC phs SiSiahs 10 see tnat the young
man was beyond recovery and his relatives
were summoned.
Mayor Evans had arrived shortly after
the physicians and remained at the bedside
| until the end The immediate relatives his
brothers and sisters, brother-in-law, Mr..
Colvin. Captain ]. B. Donelson. his uncle
and his uncle and aunt, Mr.. and Mrs. Geo.
T. Hill. were all present. The end came at
7:o5 o'clock, and an hour later the remains
were removed by the Miller Undertaking
Company's ambulance to the residence Of
the mayor I'm Seventh avenue. The box
which had held the drug was found in the