JOURNAL 
163 
so much interest among scientific men.* And such was his energy that, 
almost unaided, he gathered in a few weeks the extensive collection of 
fossil bones which furnished to Dr. Leidy the materials for his splendid 
memoir on the “ Extinct Fossil Fauna of Nebraska.” At the same time 
he collected a large and elegant series of Cretaceous fossils, some of 
which were described and figured by Dr. Owen in his final report on the 
Geology of Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The notes made by Dr. 
Evans on the geological features of that remarkable region were likewise 
of the highest interest, and from these Dr. Owen has compiled one of 
the most instructive and beautiful chapters to be found in his valuable 
report. In addition to his scientific duties, Dr. Evans had almost exclu- 
sive control of the business department of Dr. Owen’s survey, which of 
itself involved an immense deal of labor. The satisfactory manner in 
which he discharged these onerous duties, often in the midst of dis- 
heartening privations and even danger, commanded the highest esteem 
and confidence of Dr. Owen and his associates, while his goodness of 
heart, uniform courtesy, and self-sacrificing disposition, secured to him 
their warmest friendship. 
After the completion of the field work of the North-west Survey, (1850,) 
Dr. Evans received the appointment of U. S. Geologist for Oregon, 
which he accepted, and immediately entered upon the duties of his new 
office with his usual energy and zeal. The survey was organized by the 
appointment of Dr. B. F. Shumard to the position of Principal Assistant, 
who shortly after embarked for Oregon, by way of the Isthmus of 
Panama. Dr. Evans determined to revisit Nebraska, and thence pro- 
ceed overland to Oregon by an unexplored route, with the view of deter- 
mining the general geological and topographical features of a vast 
region, then almost unknown to science, and of ascertaining if there 
existed a nearer way from the Upper Missouri to the Oregon coast than 
that usually travelled. He proceeded to St. Louis, and there spent a few 
days in making preparations for his journey. He then took passage*for 
Fort Pierre Chouteau, on board a steamer belonging to the American 
Fur Company. During this passage, which occupied nearly a month, 
cholera to an alarming extejit prevailed among the passengers and em- 
ployees of the Fur Company oh board, several of whom died, and the 
mortality would have been far greater but for the kind attention of Dr. 
Evans, who, though himself laboring under an exhausting diarrhoea, 
allowed himself no rest, but in the triple capacity of physician, nurse and 
companion, was ever at the bed-side of the sick, administering to their 
wants, and encouraging them by his cheering words. 
From Fort Pierre, Dr. Evans again visited the Mauvaises Terres, 
where in a short time he succeeded in obtaining a large collection of the 
fossil fauna of that region, even more extensive than his former one, 
and embracing a considerable number of new and interesting species. 
On his return to the Fort he set about preparing for his long journey, 
which from the hostility of the Blackfeet and other Indian tribes, to- 
gether with the difficulties incident to the route, was regarded by the 
Indian traders as extremely hazardous ; hence it was exceedingly diffi- 
cult to find either guides or hunters willing to accompany him. After 
much persuasion, however, he succeeded in procuring the services of 
two hunters and a half-breed guide, they agreeing to go with him as far 
as the Flathead Village. With this meagre escort he started from Fort 
Pierre, but scarcely had he reached the borders of the Blackfeet country 
ere his hunters became alarmed, and unceremoniously left his camp 
during the night and returned to the Fort. Under these discouraging 
circumstances a person less courageous than Dr. Evans would have 
turned back ; but difficulties served only to develope the indomitable 
* To Dr. Hiram A. Prout is justly due the credit of having first called 
attention to the existence of such remains in that region by his excellent 
memoirs of Palseotheroid and other bones, published in Silliman’s Journal. 
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