Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20
President Lauds Captain Euans
On 50 Years. Faithful u. s. Work
Chief Discussing
Officer Under %
Secretaries.
Handled Millions
Without Loss of
Single Penny.

Capt George w. Evans. chief dis
bursting officer. Department of the
Interior. who is retiring on July l
after fifty-nine years of continuous
service to the government in that de-
partment, was appointed as a mes
senger boy in the department by
President Lincoln In 1864 and quickly
rose to the higher positions until he
gained his present office. He has
handled $500. OOO, 900 without loss of a
single cent and as chief of the finan-
cial division has passed on and ad-
Indicated financial affairs approx
mating $4,000. 000. 900 without loss or
reversal of his action.
\ number of letters of praise have
been received by Capt. Evans during
his service and upon his retirement.
They include letters from the Presi-
dent. former President Wilson. Hubert
Work and the late Franklin X. Lane.
Capt. Evans life is a story of rise
from poverty. Born in Washington,
he began TO earn his own living when
thirteen years of age. after six years
of education in the public schools of
this city. Prior to the civil war he
was a route boy for The Evening Star
and Baltimore Morning Sun. He then
followed the Army of the Potomac for
nearly three years as a newsboy. be-
ing assigned to the New York Excel
sior Brigade. During that time he
assisted the wounded on the battle
field by bringing them to hospitals
and places of safety. Later President
Lincoln manifested considerable in
tereSt in the boy and invited him to
visit him at the White House. which
he did. receiving at the same time the
assurance of the Presidents help if
he needed it. At the death of his
father he had to support his mother
and family. and LINCOLN. true to his
promise. made him messenger in the
DEPARTMENT of the Interior.
when the Confederate Army made
ITS raid on the. capital, Capt. Evans
ENLISTED aud saw service at Fort Stew
ems: H. also witnessed the assassi-
nation of Lincoln. identified the re-
mains of Wilkes Booth, whom he
knew personally. and attended the
.riaI or the conspirators and
their conviction.
tf6m 1875 to 1880 he was Il member
:.r the Washington Light Infantry
. Corps. Afterward he was active in
reorganizing the National Rifles. He
was commissioned by President
Cleveland in 1895 in the National
Guard of the District of Columbia.
In 1918 he was commissioned cap
tam IN the quartermaster corps of
the District of Columbia National
Capt. Evans is retiring only because
he has been in office three years be-
Sond the maximum age limit fixed by
the retirement act and because of the
fact that Secretary Work is reorgan-
izing his office
He has been identified for forty
eight years with Masonic organ
fzations-York Rite-and for twenty
eight years member of the Almas
Temple. Mystic Shrine. He is also
member of the Independent order of
Odd Fellows. the Board of Trade. the
Federation of Citizens Associations.
Of which he is treasurer; a member
and former president of the West End
Citizens Association; a vice president
and historian of the Association of
Oldest Inhabitants; a member and
treasurer of the Society of Natives of
the District of Columbia. member of
the Columbia Historical Society of
the District of Columbia: treasurer
OF the Masonic Trowel Club. Depart
ment of the Interior; past commander
of the Military Service Legion of the
District of Columbia and director and
assistant treasurer of the Acacia Mu-
tual Life Association of the District
From President Harding he receiv-
ed the following:
May s. 1928
My dear Mr.. Evans: | learn that
on July ! you are to retire from
the government service after the re-
markable service of fifty-nine years
and three months in a single depart
ment. There have been. of course,
very few records of this kind in the