Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-03
"FIGHTING Rob" EVANS.
How He Gained His Sobriduet--
Honorcd by Congress.
philadelphia Times)

philadelphia Times)
Another one of Uncle Sans nava
crack-a-jacks
Yesterday we were talking about Com
modore Schley.
Yesterday we read that Captain Robley
y. Evans C"Fighting Bob'D had reached
Key West and was in charge OF the
Iowa, a battleship like the dismembereG
Maine.
The last time we heard OF Captain
Evans hereabouts he had become a IA
miliar figure in Philadelphia. He had
been assigned to the command or the
battleship Indiana, which was then lying
at Cramps ship-yard, and during the
period when that great vessel OF war was
being given it's finishing touches he spent
every day-except Sunday, or course
from A. NJ. to Z. NJ. experimenting
on the banks of the Delaware the com
pletion of that formidable foe to those
who do not approve Of American methods.
His is a striking personality. Ills whole
being breathes force, but ne Is not
what women would call n handsome
man. His countenance is fierce. In fact,
upon the occasion of public dinner
General Nelson a. Miles, now chief in
command of Uncle Sans soldiers after
the handsome appearance OF army oftcers
had been commented upon, said, IN the
course of a speech: 1.-The two uglieSt
men in the United States service are its
two most courageous men-Captain Will
lam Wallace. OF the army and Captain
Robley ID. Evans, of the navy" Wallace
was known among his comrades as
Ugly Wallace. He was killed while
5ravely battling at the famous Sioux
Indian fight at Wounded Knee.
l.. l.,ff q, IL IL
The lower part OF his left leg IL badly
twisted backward the result OF wound
"a knee received during the stormlng OF
Fort Fisher He was then n mldship-
man. who had been graduated from the
Naval Academy one year ahead OF his
time. When the sailors and marines
had been landed q storming party of
about 100 men was told off and volun-
teers asked for to lead IT. Four stepped
forward Among them was Evans. They
tossed a coin for the perilous honor.
Evans won.
He was the first to mount the scaling
ladder, but when he reached the parapet.
a shot struck him in one knee. and he
sell inside the Confederate works. bleed
ing captive. The next day Fort Fisher
fell, and the young MILDLY was recap
tured. He was subsequently placed on
the Itllltu llSlt pul pltdNluS ipi hNliNC
service, joint resolution was passed
By both houses of Congress restoring him
TO the active list and exempting him
forever from physical examination as 70
disability. He is the only officer in the
navy who has been thus honored.
An inquiry was once addressed to Cap
Tain Evans as TO how he gained tho
sobriquet of Fighting Bob" His reply
vas modestly given.
Il do not like the subject" he said,
Il never courted that kind of distinc-
ton ia the service. l am simply a cap
tain In the navy. / am no more OF
fighter and no more entitled to that title
than any other officer. Every man In
the United States navy Will fight when
IL is his duty to do so. Courage is a
universal quality among Americans
Cowardice among Americans. either
afloat or ashore. is so rare that IL is
not worth considering. IL the captain
OF a battleship with 500 men on board,
or the colonel OF a regiment OF ]. 200 Amer
lean regulars goes into action. he does