The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-07-05
EVANS SPARTAN STRUGGLE
TIME AND AGAIN OLD HERO HAS
BEATEN BACK GRIM REAPER.
Now Recognized That Gallant Old
Man Is on His Death Bed and
Making His Last Fight.

Making His Last Fight.
ATLANTA With that splendid
spirit of courage and pluck that has
characterized his long and useful
life, and which lifted him to briga-
der generalship in the confederacy,
General Clement A. Evans has, for
weeks, been fighting perhaps his lest
and most marvellous battle in this
life.
For more than three weeks he has
heVered on the borderland of anoth-
er world at his home, 1877 Capitol
avenue, while loved ones tenderly
minister to his needs and try to
soOth the unceasing pain that must
sooner or later wear down his in
domitable spirit. For more than a
year General Evans has been a very
sick man, but with the stoicism that
lis as characteristic with him as his
breath none knew it through any
words from his lips
Those nearest and dearest to him,
his multitude of friends everywhere,
his associates on the prison board,
which he has honored and graced
since 1897, saw the proud old form
bending before the weight of grow
ing infirmities-the weight of nearly
four score years, the unceasing tor
ment of a shOt-riddled body, the
weakening effects of an attack of
grip, and keen anguish from mus
cular rheumatism.
But no word of complaint was
wrung from his lips. Day by day he
stuck to his desk at the capitol, de-
voting long hours to painstaking
work in the infinite detail of the con-
Wet system of Georgia, and studying
with minute care the countless pleas
of unfortunates for mercy. Few
know how heavily this burden of I'M
fortunate and unhappy humanity lay
upon his tender heart; yet, how, with
his qualities of tenderness and mer-
cy, there weighed the stern and Pur-
itan sense of justice and right.
These things come to those who
have watched and seen him bending
over his tasks for weary hours now
with a rush of loving admiration for
the unbreakable spirit that held him
up long after most others would have
lsuccumbed to the pain and suffering
of the physical man.
But even this proud and Spartan
spirit had to yield to the inevitable
at last, and he went slowly home tt
begin the last and most wonderful
fight of his life-the Titan struggle
with the Reaper.
And so far he has won his fight
His son and daughters, almost con.
stantly at his bedside, marvel at his
vitality, his logged combating with
death. More than once they saw hin
slipping away into the serene be-
yond, then witnessed the grim, de
termined, terrible battle to whip bach
the hand of death, and have seer
their loved one win yet another
respite.
But the unceasing struggle is wear
ing down the weakened body, anC
sooner or later even the proud ole
spirit must surrender his soul into
the keeping of Him who gave it
There is everything about his las
battle to wiring sheerest admiration
from all who have witnessed it.
In this beautiful and blameless
life, surrounded as it is with so much
that is pure and fine and soul-stir.
ring, the thousands who know of his
last great engagement here on earth
will bow in reverence at the recollec.
ton of spirit that glowed and burn.
ed and fought back in the very jaws
of death itself.