The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-01-27


could hare learned a great many
things from this good man, but my
career in the school was very short.
One day, after a smart rainstorm, |
was trying to sail a toy boat in a
pond in the schoolyard, when one of
the larger boys smashed my boat with
a stone. l Immediately smashed him
with another, and he was carried home
on a door. | was soon at my home
with my books and belongings, and
thus ended my public school life"
Much of my spare time was spent
about the committee rooms of the
Capitol, and on the floor of the House
where | made the acquaintance of
some of the men who afterward be-
came so prominent in the history of
the country. | also passed
many happy hours on the waterfront,
watching the various sailing craft as
| they came and went. / had never
seen salt water, and | don't think l
knew single naval officer; but some
a sea life, and from this time on the
idea was never out of my mind. | had
| about decided to run away to sea
when l made the acquaintance of Mr.
, Hooper, then Delegate in Congress
! from the Territory of Utah, with whom
my uncle was in some way associated
He asked me if | would like an ap
pointment to Annapolis, to which
very promptly replied that nothing in
the world would please me so much
In order to have the appointment
however, it was necessary that
should go to Salt Lake City and be
come a resident. ! had four days in
which to prepare for what was, at that
time, a very long and dangerous jour.
ney; but the end of the fourth day
found me ready for the start"
Here is a little story of his life in
Utah which shows that Evans knew
how to retreat when circumstances
demanded it.
Frequently I went to the country
or a days shooting, and as game o.
all kinds was plentiful, | made very
good bags. One day, when I had wan
dered rather too far into the thicl
woods on the side of the mountain
had an exciting experience. l haC
dismounted from my horse and wal
advanced slowly and quietly through
the thick cover, which was so dens'
that the sunlight was almost shut out
when I saw some distance ahead o
me a curious black object Afte
watching it for some time without be
ing able to make out what it was,
gave it one load of No. shot, to se'
what would happen. / was thorough
surprised at the result. 1t proved t
be a Digger Indian, with large blac
felt hat on his head, digging roots
AS he Strengthened himself up h
seemed to me ten feet tall, and l los
no time mounting my pony; neithe
did he in mounting his. There was n
time to explain matters, and | bolte,
down the mountain road with the DIE
ger in hot chase. He OCCASIONAL
sent an arrow over me, and general
behaved in a way to hasten me int
town in the shortest possible time
As I reached the front gate Of Nj
Hooper's house the Indian pulled u
!. about 300 yards away and sat on hi
pony, waiting apparently to see VIVA
! would happen next. He only waite
few seconds when / appeared wit
my Colts rife, and then we had
spirited race for the mountain, onl
in this case | was the pursuer, and
surely put him to his best speed
escape. l was more careful after thf
how I shot at things until I could max
out what they We're"
81 passed my entrance examination
to the Naval Academy September ]
I 1860, and reported, as an acting init
shipman, on board the frigate Const
4 tution-'Old Ironsides'-on the got
of the same month. The examination
fortunately for many of us, was
very simple one, nothing like the ella
& crate and trying affair of today, othe
. wise many of us would not have fc