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

lowed the Navy as a profession, The
candidate had to be sound physically,
and have a fair foundation on which
to build the education required of a
sea officer, who was not in that day
expected to be an engineer, a chem
list, scientist, an electrician, a law.
yer, an artist, etc, as is the case to-
day-only a seaman and gunner, with
the necessary knowledge of things
that pertained to the sea-"
During the Winter of 1S6O-61 the
anxious faces of our officers foretold
the storm of war that broke so sud
denly i'm April of the latter year. It
was a time of great suspense for all
hands; naturally the greatest strain
came on those in authority, but the
midshipmen had their loads to bear
as well. Many of us came from. the
South, and as the States one after
another either seeded or threatened
to do So we had to make up our minds
what we were going to do. Confer
ences were frequent and serious, but
never in one of them was there a dis
loyal word uttered. Every man fol-
lowed the example set by the South
ern men among the officers. So long
as We were inside the academy limits,
or until our designations were accept
ed, we were officers of the Navy, and
would behave as such.
"As soon as war was an assured
thing, my family demanded that
should resign, come South, and fight
for my State; but it did not seem to
me that this course was imperative
My next younger brother enlisted at
the age of IA in the Washington Ar
tillery, and went to the front under
Pelham; so that there was one mem
Der of the family on each side, which
was a fair division if he saw his duty
in that way. was much assisted
in these dark and trying days by the
advice of Capt Rodgers, who pointed
out to me very clearly what my duty
was. I concluded to stick by the Old
Flag, and let my family ties look after
themselves, and so informed my moth
err, who was much grieved and shamed
by my determination She finally
wrote my resignation, sent it to the
Navy Department, where it was ac-
cepted, and without previous warning
I found myself out of the service, de-
spite my determination to stay in.
"What to do under such conditions
was a serious question to me, and I
was again assisted to the right course
by Capt. Rodgers, who telegraphed to
Washington explaining matters. was
out only about twenty-four hours, but
they were very unhappy ones for me-
and was relieved when my reappoint-
ment came by wire"
"While on leave in Washington, l
had curious meeting with my rebel
brother, whose command was operat-
ing on the Virginia side Of the Poto'
mac, few miles away | went one
! evening to an oyster house with a
friend to eat some raw oysters, The
place was one that all of us had known
and frequented for years. AS | en-.
tered the door | observed tall, hand
some young fellow who was finishing
what he had ordered, and at the same
moment I saw him give me a quick
glance of recognition. He drank VI
his glass OF beer, and then walked
briskly out of the place, while ! call
ed for oysters on the half shell, and
ate them very slowly. My brother
knew what | would do, and he did moi
hesitate the least bit in his move
ments; but I had some very serious
thinking to do while the man opened
oysters for me, and | must admit tina
| ate more oysters than | wanted.
Il could have gone to the exact spo
! where my brothers skiff was hauled
out, but I was giving him all the tim'
I could to get there ahead of the pro
vost guard. Finally, my friends aske'
me if | were going to eat all night
when | paid my shot and we wen
} out together. l asked if he had rec
ognized my man; he replied that h
had not, and then asked me in turl
what ! was going to do about 1t. BE
fore I had time to reply, a squad o
the provost guard came by, and t
the officer in charge | reported tina
there was a rebel officer in the cit
q that had seen and recognized hin
and knew him rs such. At first h
seemed disposed to arrest me, but a
last concluded to go after the res
. offender. After the war, my brothe
-. told me that he just managed 10 e'
, cape, and that he had concealed hi
boat at the spot where ! imagined
I was"
The first section of the class wa
graduated in June, 1868, and at ono
a ordered into service. Evans was d'
tailed as a watch officer.
| "Capt. ]. w. A. Nicholson was o