The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-02
FIGHTING BOB EVANS.
Brave Commander of Yorktown
Talks Of Chile.
HIS EXPERIENCE AT VALPARAISO.
Maintained the Dignity Of the F1sg-
Thinks Puget Sound Needs Protse-
tion-Yorktown and Her Crew.

steamer Yorktown, which arrived from
San Francisco Saturday evening en- route
TO Boring sea. is popularity known as
Fighting Bob" Captain Robley u. Ev-
ans commanded the Yorktown at VAL
paraiso last winter during the time when
war with Chile was considered inevitable.
The Yorktown relieved the Boston, and
the latter vessel left Valparaiso about
week after the Yorktown's arrival. The
only American gunboat in the harbor OF
the Chilean capital for more than six
weeks was the Yorktown. The Chilean
mob trouble had occurred a short time
previous to the arrival Of the
Yorktown, and the natives took
particular good pains to express their
contempt for the United States govern
ment The feeling against the Americans
was very intense when Captain Evans ar
rived from the Brooklyn navy yard with
the Yorktown. One day while he was re-
turning aboard several miscreants ashore
attempted to stone his gig. He promptly
notified the authorities that If the act was
repeated he would clear his ship for
action and fire upon the city. The
Chileans took him at his word
and let the daring commander alone.
Speaking of his experience in Chilean
waters during the late unpleasantness,
Captain Evans said to the PosT-IsTKLLI-
eENcER correspondent:
Tor nearly two weeks We momentarily ex-
pectsd an attack from the Chiisans. There
were nine Chilean men-of-wsr In the haroor
with their guns continually bearing on us ane
their officers anxiously and impatiently await
ing the signal OF attack. From Valparaiso
heights and the adjacent military Notifications
there were probably 300 more guns trained on our
ship and ready for action. Our vessel was
continually cleared for action, steam was always
up and arrangements were made so that the
cables could be shipped In an instant and we
would DO ready for the fray. We expected every
hour to engage in battle, and nv officers recog-
nized the serious phase of the situation.
We were In Valparaiso harbor ffty-two days,
and for forty-five days the Yorktown was the
only American warship in port
Captain, do you think that the present feeling
OF the Chileans toward Americans will disappear
end the old-time relatio nship resumed?
No, sir. The only way to win the friendship
OF those people Is to whip them or else send
dozen men-oiwar like the Charleston down
there and let them have q grand naval demon
stration of Valparaiso. The Chileans imagine
that couple Of vessels like the Esmeralda
could whip the entire American navy. I'll ad-
init that those two vessels would have made
matters quite lively on the Pacific coast II war
had been declared. The Esmeralda could have
taken the port OF San Diego, replenished the coal
bunkers OF the Chilean feet, stormed San Fran
cisco, and levied al immense tribute on every
American city on the Pacific coast OF course.
there 10 no doubt but that the United States
would have numerically whipped Chile, but in
the meantime the Chileaus would have
placed the American government in q most I'M
enyiable situation.
To ska ah~ ofa1a ,A
the Tag OF the United States to be looked upon
with admiration, It is imperatively necessary TO
have several new cruisers Of the Charleston
type constructed. Director Holman and the
lower house OF congress are doing an irrepara-
BILE injury to this country in their efforts TO cut
down naval appropriations. Take this sound
for an illustration. What Is there TO pre-
vent fourth-rats warship from coming up here
and destroying every city on Puget sound, or
else levy an immense tributef Across the
Straits the British government has excellent
Notifications, large dry dock and feet Of
half-a-doxen modern war vessels at the station.
The suress way to avoid war Is to be prepared at
all times with large and staunch naval feet
This government and England only few
days ago were on the verge OF war. While at
the Mare Island navy yard we had our orders to
prepare for sea in twenty-four hours and to be
IN fighting trim at that For several days we
constantly expectsdto be ordered out and that
hostilitiex with England would be commenced.
In olden times 1t was customary to declare war
and then walt sixty days later to commence
hostilities. Now. war ia declared by telegraph
and inside OF sixty minutes battle is fought
Captain Evans Is one of the youngest
captains in the service. While mere lad
he entered the Union navy during the
civil war. and by meritorious conduct and
daring achievements he was rapidly
ahAl aAA Co. Il
ideal naval commander, intensely jealous
of the flag, and takes every favorable OPP
portunity to pay glowing tribute TO the
character and greatness of the American
people. His round, smooth, honest-look-
ing face wears the aspect of seriousness
and characteristic determination which
impresses the observer that he has a
large pent-up force of character. He
is splendid conversationalist and
his peals of hearty laughter ring out. Dur
ing the civil war he was badly wounded,
and a mili attack of rheumatism at this
time does not alleviate his ailment On
the passage up from San Francisco he
sprained an ankle, which has kept him
confined TO the cabin for several days.
The Yorktown sailed from New York on
October 8, 1891, and is of 8, 800 horsepower
and has q maximum speed of sixteen
knots. Her complement is $50. She is
three masted, schooner rugged, and can
spread $500 square yards of canvas. Her
nominal coal-carrying capacity is 200 tons
but her bunkers will accommodate 400 tons.
She receives her motive power from two
triple expansion engines, which are stu
ated in two separate water-tight compart-
ments. Tho vessel is lighted entirely by
electricity.
OF her armament on board her main bat
terry consists of six 6-inch breech-loading
rides. The secondary battery is eight
rapid-fring guns and revolving cannon.
The torpedo OUTFIT consists of eight launch
ing-tube guns complete.
The Yorktown Is twin screw. coal
protected cruiser. Her length between
perpendiculars is 20 feet and her draught
fifteen feet.
The officers are a remarkably iine-look-
ing lot of men and would make a good i'm
preston anywhere. They are courteous
and ohliging to visitors, taking especial
pains TO make strangers feel at home on
the handsome vessel in their charge. The
Yorktown carries l61 men, fourteen Off.
GERS and sixteen marines. Her officers
are: Commander. r. d. Evans; Iieuten-
ant u. Kennedy. executive officer: Lieu
tenant W. p Conway. navigator; Lieu
tenant T. z. d. w, Veeder. Lieutenant r.
A. Fisk, Lieutenant A. q. Winterhalter
Ensign b. A. Hutchinson; Ensign A. s
Scales; surgeon. G. 4, II. Harmon: nav.
master. j. X. Martin; chief engineer. 4
Adamson; assistant engineer, {. f. Rom
NELL; assistant engineer, {. A Hayes; pay
clerk, L. A. Grendle.
Claliam Bay News
CIAIIAN RAY AnriI Sn.-ISnecinl 1-rha