Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-05-20
RELATES MEXICAN
| WAR EXPERIENCE
Joseph Evans, at SO, Recalls
Teoublesome Times in This
Country in 1916.
TRAVELLED I 5000 MILES
70 REACH SEAT OF WAR
Newark Veteran Proud of His
Record as Soldier in United
States Army.

sosepn Evans, IS years old, OF 1874 Belize
vile avenue. is much interested in the
etri1e that is terrorizing the Mexican
border at this time. Mr.. Evans answered
oncie Sans call to arms during the
troublesome times of 1876 and served
through the Mexican War. He speaks
with pride of his experience in that war.
Mr.. Evans was born in Birmingham,
England, on July 4, 1896. When he was
four years of age his father came to this
country to find his fortune. Soon there
after the rest of the famlly-the mother
and ten ehildren-embnrked for the land
Of promise. In speaking of his voyage,
Mr.. Evans compared the mode of travel
In those days with that OF today. 1t took
him forty days to cross the ocean. And
we considered that a very quick voyage.
1t was nothing like the Titanic or other
ocean teamers which have the craze to
hill time" said Mr.. Evans.
Walks to New York.
The family lived at Tarrytown, ~. ",
for a short time, then went to Keuka
Lake. steuben County, n. Y, where Mr..
Evans's father owned a farm. When
Joseph was IA years of age he was sent
to live with a married brother at Bath.
Not long after this his father sent for
him and the two started on the 350,mile
journey to New York city by foot. They
drove a herd of cattle, which was to be
sold in the metropolis, The cattle drovers
came down the west shore of the Hud-
son River as far as Newburg, where they
crossed the river on a ferryboat and
then walked to Tarrytewn, where they
remained until the cattle could become
fattened before they were offered TO the
market.
Young Joseph made the trip home
alone, his father sewing two 500 bills
In his trousers and placing him aboard q
canal boat The boy went to Bath again,
where he attended school until he en-
tered bis brothers stove shop to learn the
tinsmith's trade. He remained In this
shop until 1916, when the Mexican War
broke out and a call was sent for volun-
teers.
"a company was enlisted In Bath to
join the First New York Regiment 10
be sent by sea 10 California. !, like
many other young men of the village,
got the war fever and determined to en-
list, despite my fathers entreaties to the
contrary" Mr.. Evans related
Our first setback after leaving Bath
Tor the seat of war was at Albany,
whore a gang of young men who had
seen the soldiers in camp in New York
boarded our train on the Central Rail-
road and told us that everybody was
having "a good time and that the rations
eonsisted of fried pork, bread and cof-
foo for hraaEfaut and hDan eo.t, mi
bread for dinner. The sour consisted in
part of one bean served up in two plates.
OF il you preferred the soup 1t was
necessary to strip and dive for the bean.
This news was very discouraging. but
we were bound TO see II through and
continue on our way to New York. Our
FIRST night there was spent in Castle
William, Governors Island, where we
Remained two months before ships were
chartered for our voyage TO California.
Our regiment was put aboard three
ships, the largest being 1000 tons burden,
which was considered a great deal at
that time. We were given six months
pay In advance so we could purchase
what We needed for the voyage. The
trip around Cape Horn was a ~perilous
one, our feet having been separated sew
eral times by severe storms"
Made Trip to California.
After "a six mouths passage, covering
5000 miles--the longest an army had ever
gone to a seat of war-we reached San
Francisco. In the harbor were several
American warships. We learned that Just
before our arrival that the soldiers and
marines, assisted by Colonel Fremont's
battalion of m~ountaineers. had driven out
what few Mexican soldiers there we're in
California. We then felt that for a time
we would not have much to worry about,
so we anticipated many pleasures In the
beautiful country. But were permitted to
remain on land only one day. We were
ordered to board the ships again and go
to Monterey and Santa Barbara. l was in
Company I. which was one of those which
landed at Monterey. AT this time Briga-
dier.General stephen Kearny, an uncle of
General Kearny of Civil War fame. had
some trouble with Colonel Fremont, whom
he ordered placed under arrest for insu.
bordination. Fremont was the frst to
start the fight In California n when
General Kearny arrived on the scene he
ordered Fremont to report to him. which
the mountaineer colonel refused to do, say
ing that his orders from the secretary of
war were to the effect that he was on spec
ial duty and General Kearny had no con-
troll over him. General Kearny bad FIRE.