The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-27

Evans fell badly wounded in battle one
day, and during his convalescence he met
the sister of a naval officer, whom he
wooed with the story of his devotion to his
country. She became his wife. and of all
happy women today she reigns as queen.
Evans is a native of Virginia. He comes
from good old colonial stock. His father
was physician with limited practice In
Christiansburg. a small town in the Shen-
andoah valley, and died in 1856 Bob
later went to Washington to live with his
uncle. He was educated at Gonzaga col
lege, Catholic school of excellent reputa-
ton. 1t was while at the national capt.
tai that young Evans attracted the atten-
ton of William Hooper, who was a delegate
to congress from the wild and woolly'
territory of Utah. Hooper had an APP
pontment to the naval academy at his dis
posal. Evans had an ambition. He
wanted to go to sea and live among the
frowning guns of an American man-of-
war. In 1859 Hooper told him that If he
would go to Utah to live long enough to
be eligible to the appointment his dream
of future marine glory could possibly be
realized. With the promptitude Of excited
youth Evans borrowed 5000 from his rela-
tives and started to the land of the Nor
mons. With visions of peril from the In
dams, he bought a revolver of liberal d.
mansions, and made the trip over the plains
by stage. Before his arrival in Salt Lake
City he fired his volley in warfore from
the business end of that big revolver and
shot an Indian, who was one Of a savage
band that made an unsuccessful attempt
to waylay the stage. This was first blood
for E,yanS IT saved his scalp,
Later, In 1860 the young Virg1nian en-
tered the naval academy at Annapolis.
1t was here that he originally earned his
nickname of Fighting Bob" and he won
1t in war of sentiment. With tender
solicitude for her absent son, his dear
mother in Dixie had sent him small dec
grafton for his room-a motto which she
had embroidered with her own hands. and
which the son appreciated with charac-
teristic devotion to his surviving parent.
Bob's love and loyalty to his estimable
mother had long been subject of favor
able comment among those who knew him
at home.
The hand that rocked his cradle has never
been gemmed with diamonds Mrs. Evans.
on the contrary, was one of the plain peo-
ple. The gift was an ordinary homemade
piece of decorative art, an unpretentious
bit of work, but to the recipient 1t was
sacred as souvenir. Around 1t were clus-
tered the memories of childhood, sweetened
by the thoughts Of the old homestead down
among the green hills of Virginia. 1t re-
called a mothers sacrifice to educate a
struggling son. 1t brought up recollections
of her heroic battle with poverty. With
great pride he gave the souvenir a conspic
uous position on the walls of his room at
the naval academy.
There was a rule at the academy that no
decorations would be permitted In the
quarters of the cadets. His comrades ridi-
culed the gift. One of them tore it down
with a sheer and this indiscretion resulted
in prompt resentment from Evans. Others
sided against Evans and tried to over
power him, but the memory of his mother
cave him marvellous strength, and with his
southern blood fairly boiling with the fury
of a righteous cause he proceeded to fight
He used his fists with an energy that
amazed the combined opposition. He soon
knocked out all three of his antagonists IN
cud,ng the bully of the school, who had
never been conquered before. Replacing
the motto on the wall, Evans def1ed stu
dan+a and faculty. to remove it, With
blackened ewes and blood-stained faces