The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-03-23
His Illness the One Un-
happy Feature of
The Cruise.
Friends Fear He May Not
Live to Reach His
Home.
~ MkRLEH e. PEW.
Maedalsna Bay. /. c., March ~.
By Dispatch Boat Orient



The news Of Rear.Admlral Evans
retirement. owing to his protractsd
and now very serious Illness, fell
like a gray fog over the ships OF
the White Armada In Magdalena
Bay-it came to I'll to OVERLOOKING
the cup Of regret OF the great Amer
lean commanders 1900 men.
The Illness Of Admiral Evans had
been the one unhappy feature Of
the remarkable cruise He has
been and is In a precarious condi-
don. There Is every Indication Of
Bnehfa disease and several Of his
closest friends and aides 70 me ex-
pressed their Tear that be would
never reach Washington alive
lies Fighting Bob. the regal.
royal man Of the sea to every man
jack Of 10 battleships-they'ye seen
the blood in his eye. they've shaken
him h. his stout hand they've
heard the sharp words Of command
from his iipa. they love and adore
him for What be Is and whatever
popular acclaim and applause may
reach their ears from the shore,
down deep in the hearts OF them
all from the Rfimy stoker to the
rear admiral. they are sad because
Of this thing
lneessoi is Worried.
Capt lueersoil. chief OF staff,
who Is Admiral Evans first aida
and constantly by his side. said
TO me.
Though the admiral "a in
wretched condition. be possesses
an indomitable viii, and he is malc
lag a great fight against disease.
He may reach his home I'm safety
and obtain relief assure you that
he will be very happy II be does.
In the mind Of Evans hts Illness
81 this particular time is a lament
able misfortune. To his men II is
a tragedy About 20 retire after ~
years conspicuous service In tho
navy. the cruise around the Horn
OF his Is hatileships Was TO have
been the browning glory OF the
glorious career OF the famous sea
warrior
They told me the story OF his
desperate effort 10 ward off the
disease. how he had fought Il night
and day. how. despite the advice
of staff OF physicians he had in
sisted upon transacting much ofths
official business. how he had said
over and over again that he would
not give in and how at last he sub
mitfed TO retirement only when the
peril Of death was brought home TO
him in strong language by the phy-
sicians. But up 10 the day of his
retirement every official order was
signed by him. Two days before he
retired he heard OF the plight OF a
newspaper reporter who had made
the long Journey from San Diego 10
Magdalena in small boat and or
dered that this man be returned to
San Diego aboard a government dis
patch boat.
Evans Befriends Reporter.
THAT boy Is taking his life in
his hands, said Evans to Cant.
mgersoll. and Immediately he
wrote and signed the official order.
II is that sort of thing which
makes the heart of the sailor man
burn at the thought that illness or
misfortune have their relentless
hands on this giant old man OF iron.
IL has been Evans. among all the
officers Of the navy. who has never
failed TO recognize the old friend,
to stop and shake the hand OF tha
midshipman aud ''reminiss" OF thu
old days, Evans has his dignity. his
stately bearing. some say a cruel
face. but his heart fairly bulges
with fine sentiment for the boys OF
the navy and he's every inch a good
fellow and a Just commander.
Today his face Is a perfect mass
OF blue lines and there Is every in.
dication of the torture he suffers.
His govt attacks the left foot and
leg and artieular rheumatism has
suffened every joint IL was with
the greatest difficulty that he was
able 10 hold pen.
lie has not by any means lost
courage and believes that in re-
tirement he will recover his erst.
while efnennfh and Vfpor