Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-21

Whenever the people discuss the
present war 1t is an even wager that
some reference is made to Fighting
Bob" as Captain Robley D. Evans Is
generally known. This officer, now
with the blockadlng fleet off Cuba. has
been known for years as a man of do
termined courage, resource and force
Of character. He is a hard worker, a
strict disciplinarian. but OF kindly man
ner in spite of the ferceness of his
cuuntennnce. During the time his ship
then the Indiana, was being c0mplet-
cd at the Cramps shpyards in Phlla-
uelphin, the captain put in eight hours
day experimenting the work. The
people then had a good opportunity to
study Fighting Bob" Ia good advant-
age. His is striking personality His
whole being breathes force but he is
not what women call handsome man.
HIS countenance is fierce. In fact. up
on the occasion of a public dinner Cen
eral Nelson a. Miles, now chief in COM
mand of Uncle Sans soldiers, after the
handsome appearance of Army officers
Ind some way been commented upon,
said, in the course of speech: THE
ugliest men in the United States seIv-
ice are its two most courageous men
Captain George X. Wallace OF the
army and Captain Robley u. Evans Of
the navy" wallace was known among
his comrades AS Ugly" Wallace. lie
was killed while bravcly battling at
the famous Sioux Indian fight at
Wounded Knee.
Fighting Bob" has halt In his
walk. The lower part of his left leg
Is badly twisted backward, the result
Of wounded knee received during the
stominE Of Fort Fisher. He was then
a mldshpman, who had been gradu-
ated from the Naval Academy one
yeur ahead of his time. When the sail
ors and marines had been landed. a
storming party of about 100 men was
told Off and volunteers asked for to
lead IT. Four stepped forward. Among
them was Evans. They tossed n coin
for the perilous honor. Evans won.
lie was first to mount the scaling lad
der. but whom he reached the parapet
shot struck him In one knee, and he
fell inside the rebel works, n bleeding
captive. The next day Fort Fisher fell
and the young MILDLY was recaptured
He was subsequently placed ON the re-
tired list, but pleading for active serv-
Ice, 4 joint resolution was passed by
both houses of congress restoring him
to the active list and exemptug him
forever from physical examination as
10 disability. lie is the only officer In
tho navy who has been thus honored.
I'm Inquiry was once addressed 10 Cap
tain Evans as to how he gained the So
briquet of Fighting Bob" His reply
was modestly given.
"1 do not like the subject" he said
Il never courted that kind Of distinc-
ton in the service, | am simply a can
tain In the navy. | nm no more fight
er ana M more entitled to that title
than any other officer. Every man In
the United States navy will fight when
1t Is his duty to do So Courage Is "A
universal quality among Americans.
either nHoat or ashore. Cownrdice Is
so rare that II is not worth considering
II the captain &c battleship with 500
men on board or the colonel Of q rpgi-
ment Of one thousand American reg1i-
lars goes into action, he does not make
a discount OF one hundredth part OF /
per cent. for backing or skulkIng ON
the part OF his men,"