The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-26
BObEvans
AS a.
Fighter

Whenever the people discuss the pres
ent war, it is an even wager that some
reference is made to Fighting Bob.
as Captain Robley d. Evans is gen.
orally known. This officer, now with
Admiral SIMPSONS squadron. has
been known for years as q man of de-
termined courage. resource and force Of
character. He is hard worker, a strict
disciplinarian, but of kindly manner in
spite Of the fierceness Of his countenance
During the time his ship, then the In
diana, was being completed Mt the
Cramps shipyards in Philadelphia. the
captain put in eight hours day super
intending the work. The people then
had good opportunity to study Fight
ing Bob" to good advantage.
His is striking personality. Hii
whole being breathes force. but he il
not what women call handsome man.
His countenance Is fierce. In fact, upor
the occasion Of public dinner, General
Nelson A. Miles, now chief in command
Of Uncle Sans soldiers, after the hand
some appearance Of army officers had in
some way been commented upon, said,
in the course Of speech, "The two
ugliest men in the United States service
are its two most courageous men-Cap-
tain George K Wallace of the army and
Captain Robley d. Evans of the navy"
Wallace was known among his COM
rades as ugly" Wallace. He was kill
ed while bravely battling at the famous
Sioux Indian fight at Wounded Knee.
Fighting Bob" has halt In hi.
walk. The lower part Of his left leg is
badly twisted backward, the result Of
wounded knee received during the
storming of Fort Fisher. He was then a
midshipman who had been graduated
from the Naval academy one year ahead
Of his time. When the sailors and ma
rines had been landed, storming party
of about 100 men was told of and vol
unteers asked for to lead it. -Four STEP
ped forward. Among them was Evans.
They tossed coin for the perilous hon.
or. Evans won.
He was the first to mount the scaling
ladder, but when he reached the para
pet shot struck him in one knee, and
he fell inside the rebel works, bleed
ing captive. The next day Fort Fisher
fell and the young MILDLY was recaptur-
ed. He was subsequently placed ON the
retired list, but pleading for active serv-
ice joint resolution was passed by both
houses Of congress restoring him to the
active list and exempting him forever
from physical examination as to disa-
bility. He is the only officer in the ma
Wy who has been thus honored.
An inquiry was once addressed to
Captain Evans as to how he gained the
sobriquet of Fighting Bob" His reply
was modestly given.
II do not like the subject, he said.
"I never courted that kind Of distinc-
tion in the service. am simply cap
tain in the navy. am no more a fight
or and no more entitled to that title
than any other officer. Every man in the
United States navy will fight when it is
his duty to do so. Courage is a univer-
sal quality among Americans. Coward
ice among Americans, either afloat or
ashore, is so rare that it is not worth
considering. If the captain Of a battle
ship with 500 men on board or the colo
mel of q regiment Of 1, 900 American reg
ulars goes into action, he does not make
discount Of one-hundredth part Of 1
per cent for backing or skulling on the
part Of his mon" - San Francisco
Chrouicla