New-York tribune., 1901-05-11


one Of the most interesting books we have
encountered in long time. The author has
great deal 10 say that is worth reading. and he
says it not only with lucidity and point but
with certain quiet humOr giving 10 many OF
his sentences a delightfully."- quaint and effective
turn. When he has occasion TO allude TO the
little black pig that suddenly turned up missing
in one OF his ships and was buried alive for
five days in one Of the coal bunkers. he de-
scribes the animal as being so thin when at last
discovered and rescued that one could almost
read a newspaper through himI'
The Admiral was born in Virginia in 1916 the
son Of doctor who owned farm and num-
Der Of slaves. His earliest recollections yield
some sympathetlcally drawn sketches OF the ne
groes including one Of his black nanny" for
whom he cherishes a deep affection. He adds
his testimony, by The way, TO the great mass
already in existence showing the good treatment
which the bulk Of the slaves in the South
ceived. He says that he never saw but one Of
them whipped. "and he was struck single blow
with rawhide mis- bare back for having 81
treated a riding horse" The future naval Of
hcer lost his father while stin a lad, and not
very long after made his home with an uncle in
Washington. He appears TO have been,
schoolboy, no less quick TO action than he has
shown himself 10 be in mature life. "One day.
after a smart rainstorm," he says. Il was trying
10 sail toy boat in the pond in the school yard.
when one Of the larger boys smashed my boat
with stone I Immediately smashed him with
another. and he carried home a board.
was soon at home with my books and be
longings and thus ended my public school life"
He then entered GOnzaga College, but the pas
sion for the which in his blood did not
take long 20 declare itself The Delegate in
Congress from the Territory of Utah having
proposed that he prepare himself for appoint
ment at Annapolis find him in 1859 leaving
10 take up his residence in Salt Lake City. and
thereby become eligible for the opportunity Of
fered 10 him.
In the Naval Academy he did good work. and
some mischief. We Judge that he was some
thing OF pickle, from the anecdotes he tells.
but what are chiefly conscious OF Is the Sc
rious, resolute devotion with which he applied
himself 10 business That is a touching scene
in which he describes how. when the war broke
out. the good fellows from the South who had
determined to go with their States said goodby
10 their classmates" Evans went with the North
though his family so much opposed TO his
course that his mother went far as 10 write
his resignation without his knowledge and send
IL 10 the Navy Department. Fortunately, mat
ters were explained Washington by his su-
perior officer, and he was only out of the SER
vice twenty-four hours. His brother fought in
the Southern ranks. and the Rear Admiral tells
striking story relating 10 the circumstance.
Active service soon claimed the young mid
shipman. The first time he found himself with
men under him one Of them attempted 10 show
him that he neither old enough nor large
enough TO make any one work Il landed on
top of him from the deck above" he quietly re-
marks. with a heavy brass trumpet and he
was convinced Of his mistake in less than half
a minute ] tied him up securely. bandaged his
head, and locked him up in the coal bunker"
Evans was still in his teens. but obviously well
up TO his work, ana with a lively appreciation OF
the way In which a commander should carry
himself. as he shows by his admiring reference
10 Admiral Lsrdner. under whom ne presently
found himself serving. ITO a naturally fluent
tongue, the Admiral added q vocabulary OF
oaths so fine that il was musical and. when
aroused. he eid not hesitate TO speak his mind
IN the language all seamen understand. AT the
same time his black eyes shone like fireiies ana
his white mustache brirtlso. each hair standing
on enc. He always a darling. and much
beloved by all OF Us" II is Of this Admiral and
his steward. "a fine large, heavy handed Irish
man." that told delicious story The
Irshman envied the dexterity OF certain cap
tain's colored steward. who used 10 stand be-
hind his master az the dinner table and catch
the flies OF that masters bald head Pat
watched this until he could stand IL no longer
Drawing back. he made a vicious swing az a
ny. but instead OF catching II he caught the
Admiral awful blow on the back of his head
The Admiral. thinking there was a mutiny
grabbed the carving knife and made after Pat
rick, who reached the spar deck, and then there
was a hurdle race fore and at. the officer OF the