The Washington herald., 1912-01-04

narrows Of Magellan is not soon to be
forgotten, neither Is his surrender OF the
command Of that feet with its attendant
ceremonies.
his men under more spectacular. more
pathetic, and yet more fitting circum-
stances than Evans did at San Francisco.
II was a blaze of glory with which San
Francisco welcomed the feet and Evans
said good-by to It. The guard Of honor
on that occasion was composed OF the
cadets Of the Salt Lake High School,
where he had been student more than
fifty years before. Pathos attended the
ceremonies, for the gallant old admiral
had TO live down a thousand pains to be
present, and at that moment, unknown
TO him, his little grandson, the very ap-
pie of his eye and fthe hope Of his de-
clining years, lay dead in Washington.
Born in Virginia
Admiral Evans was born in Floyd
County, Va, August IS. 1876. His father
was a country doctor. and served his
country In the State legislature. He
once said that his first recollection OF
himself Is when he was about four
years old. He was sturdy in health, had
rather long, light-colored curls. and wore
a velvet suit, with a feather In his cap
for armament His first possessions were
taught him how to smoke and chew to-
bacco. He had a black nanny" as
had all Virginia children Of quality in
those days This old woman lived to be
I02 years old, and died in Washington
several years ago.
In his early youth he frequently ac-
cumpanied his fathers teamsters 10
Lynchburg, and he has said that he
never tasted such corn bread as they
had IN those days since no such corn
meal Is now made. His usual wants
when he got TO Lynchburg were a pair
of high red-top boots and some ammu-
milton. The harvest time was the bright
est Of his childish experience. His duty
was to gather the eggs Of the bob
whites" whose nests were broken up by
the harvesters. He would take a basket
lined with raw cotton, and gather the
eggs into this. One day he gathered 10
partridge eggs. and had hen hatch
them out He succeeded in raising nearly
the whole brood
Head of the House.
The father Of young Evans died when
he was ten years OF age. leaving him as
the head OF the house. His mother soon
moved to Fairfax County, just out of
washington, so that he could get the
better school advantages. He could not
remember having learned anything at the
Floyd School, and little more at the Fair
fax schools. In 1851 his uncle, A. II.
Evans had him come to Washington and
1--we at his home. This uncle was a law
tee on Claims.
! He started to the public school. but his
career was short He had made a jack
knife boat and was sailing It on a pool
at the school grounds A big boy came
along and with stone smashed the little
navy Of the budding admiral II was
Evans turn next to throw a stone, and
he did II with such precision and dis
patch that the other boy was carried
home on a door. This ended the career
of young Evans in the public schools.
He next went to Gonzaga College, and
there completed his school days in civil
life.
Much Of his time In those days was
spent playing about the Capitol and on
the floor Of the House. When he wasn't
there he was down at the water front
watching the ships in the harbor. He
had about made up his mind to run away
to sea when a Mr.. Hooper, Delegate in
Congress from Utah. asked him IL he
would go to the Naval Academy on his
appointment. He accepted the offer, went
to Utah to stay year for the purpose
Of acquiring legal residence, and then
came back to Annapolis.
Carries Carpet Bag.
On his way to Utah he had all his
worldly belongings in an old-fashioned
carpet bag At Davis, No, an old man
swapped bags with him by mistake, and
he raised money to supply his loss by
auctioning or the contents of the bag
left him. He Joined an emigrant party
/ at st. Joseph, and rode a Mexican muIe,
which, he says, could smell an Indian
farther, and get away faster than any
beast he has ever seen Once he got
| shot by the Indians, the arrow going
\ through the leather fender over his stir
rup first, then through the tendon Of
his heel, and then into the ribs OF tn'
mule The party had to lasso the mule
and throw it before they could get the
! boy loose.
At another time he had to go with the
/ Indians for ten days, and they offered
| him all sorts of inducements to give up
his trip and stay with them. But he was
not to be turned from his purpose. After
dozens of thrilling experiences going to
/ Salt Lake, and dozens OF others returning
a year later, ne landed at Annapolis,
passed his entrance examination Septem-
/ Der Is, 1850, and started his naval career
as a student on "Old Ironsides."
Then came the time when he must de-
| eide under which banner to enlist. Those
who wanted to go South were permitted
| 10 resign DIOlleI was IN
| the Southern army. he decided to stay
\ in the Federal service. He was a youth
| Of intense convictions and even at that
early age he believed in the Union. After
| he had decided to stay in the service, his
resignation was accepted without his
having rendered 1t. Investigation re-
vealed that his mother had written out
! the resignation and forwarded II to the
War Department. After being out Of the
service twenty-four hours he re-eniisted,
and served through the war.
Proves His Mett1e.
| He proved his mettle first at Fort
Fisher. He was wounded four times In
that engagement, and lay for hours IN a
water-filled hole before he was finally
carried aboard ship. He was taken to
Norfolk, and there the hospital authori-
ties decided to amputate both of his legs.
He had his revolver with him, and de-
clared he would shoot the man who at
tempted to take on his legs. They then
/ let him alone and the attention he got
was very little
After lowering between life and death
/ for weeks. he recovered enough to be
taken to Philadelphia on a stretcher. OF
most men such wounds would have made
cripple foi life But Evans was game
He exercised his legs IN spite Of excruci-
ating pain, and in 1861 was ready for duty
again. Before this, when the question
of promotion came up, the medical board
promptly retired him, but Congress re-
stored him to the active list
After several years Of active sea serv-