[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Port Orford Meteorite Hoax - Part 3 of 6
>>Although his early exploring trips and specimen collecting provided at
least a beginning for a natural history of the Pacific Northwest, Evans
clearly was not a highly regarded<<
Although I am familiar with Plotkin's and Roy Clark's report on the Port
Orford meteorite, I am not in full agreement that John Evan's was the fool
he is made out to be nor is he a unhighly regarded geolgest or scientist.
Rather I will offer some information (providing references) that he was VERY
highly regarded in the scientific circles of his time, by his boss and by
his peers. Read on.
First off it is not just John Evans but Dr. John Evans. From the American
Philosphical Society, Volume 103, Number 3, June 1959.
"In 1847 Dr. David Dale Owen who was appointted United States Geologist to
conduct a geological survey of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and part of
Nebraska chose as sub-agents Dr. John Evans and Dr. B.F. Shumard. The Work
of Evans soon attracted the attention of Owen so that great confidence was
placed in his ability.
"He has credit of having been the first scientific explorer who visted those
vast cemetaries of extinct animals which have excited so much interest
amoung scientific men."
Dr. Owen had this to say about Dr. Evans of the Bad Lands expedition: "In
addition to his scientific duties, Dr. Evans had almost exclusive, control
of the business department of Dr. Ownes survey, which of itself involved an
immense deal of labor. The satisfactory manor in which he discharged these
onerous duties, often in the midst of dishearting privations and even
danger, commanded the highest esteem and confidence of Dr. Owen and his
associates, while his goodness of heart, uniform courtesty, and
self-sacrificing disposition, secured to him their warmest friendship."
I could go on and on but feel this is enough for the time being to at least
refute some of the negative publishes items about Dr. John Evans in regards
to the Port Orford Mystory who seem most highly regarded by his boss (which
by the way was no push over) and his colleges at that time. I will try to
post more if interst exists on this "hoax" and try to shed some light on
some discrepancies I have with the mystery but certainly not with Dr. John
Evans.
--AL Mitterling
----------
Archives located at:
http://www.meteoritecentral.com/list_best.html
For help, FAQ's and sub. info. visit:
http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing_list.html
----------
Follow-Ups:
References: