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Evans, Fred P. (1862-?)

Slate-writing medium of San Francisco, California. Evans went to sea as a young man, and his mediumistic gifts developed while he was in marine service. He is most remembered for producing 30 different spirit messages in as many hands on a single slate at a public séance on June 21, 1885, in San Francisco. Many of the signatures were identified as correct. He demonstrated slate writing to British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who testified to his abilities. On May 18, 1887, he produced five differently colored writings in the presence of Wallace and also colored portraits on paper between two slates.

Evans lived for many years in San Francisco, but in 1922 traveled to England, where he held séances. He stated that because he was impatient of the criticism that he had used his mediumship for making money, he had spent several years mining in California so that he could accumulate enough income to make him independent and give his services free.