A DEAD HERO

W. J. Evans, A Brave Western Soldier

William J. Evans died in the Colorado house Sunday morning after a brief illness of pneumonia. Evans had been a resident of Greeley and vicinity the past three years, following farming as an occupation. This year he worked on shares, T. P. Dale’s ranch, one and a half mile east of town, and did fairly well. A week ago he was attacked with pneumonia and never recovered.

Since his death it has developed that Evans was in a sense a historic character and a fine specimen of the devil-may-care westerner. He was born in Ireland but came to the states with his family, who resided and we believe still reside in what is known as the Bottoms, opposite St. Louis. In the early 1870s Evans enlisted in Co. D, Seventh U. S. Infantry, and while in the service was engaged in the Sioux campaign in the Yellowstone country in 1876.

Brigadier Gen. John Gibbon was in command and while coming down the Yellowstone from Montana he wished to communicate with General Terry, who was coming from the east. The country was almost unknown to Gibbon, and he called for volunteers to open up communications with Terry, and Evans with others responded.

General Gibbon also tells of another brave act by Evans. It was after the Custer massacre and Terry with his command went into camp just below the mouth of the Big Horn river, with the remnant of the Seventh Cavalry. They had many wounded with them and were anxious to communicate with General Crook’s command, which was supposed to be somewhere to the south of them. The country about them swarmed with hostile Sioux, and Terry offered a large reward to any one who would take a dispatch. Volunteers were called for, and Evans with several others responded. Gibbon engaged Evans and two companions, and off they started across the river in search of Crook, and for many weeks nothing being heard of the brave three, they were given up as lost, but one day Evans and a companion appeared at the river bank, having accomplished the object of their journey safely.

For these brave acts Evans was given a Congressional Medal of Honor and otherwise rewarded. While in Greeley he seldom spoke of his Army life and but few knew he did brave and faithful service in western warfare.

Coroner Macy had charge of the body and Sunday communicated by telephone with Henry Wiley, a barber at Fort Collins, who was in the same company and regiment with Evans, and he stated that Evans had the reputation of being a man who knew no fear. The coroner consigned the remains to their last earthly resting place at Linn Grove cemetery, Tuesday afternoon.

William Evans