The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-24
BOB EVANS AND THE IOWA SAVED.
He Had Orders to Dash to Death at San
tiago Before Ceryera Came ONT s

The Sortie of CerVpra's fleet from
Santiago harbor the morning of July 3
prevented the destruction of the United
States batteship Iowa and the death Of
Captain Robley Evans and his crew Of
devoted seamen. The story is told by
Captain Evans himself and was re-
peated. to Henry Triebel, brother Of
Frltz Irlebel. the eminent sculptor of
Rome, who was born and reared in Pc
oria. Mr.. Tribel, who is a large deal
er in monuments, was in the east last
week on purchasing trip. He rode
with captain Evans from Cincinnati to
Washington, the two being the only oc-
cupants Of the sleeping car for more
than half the journey.
Captain Evans willingly reviewed the
loWa's work during the recent war and
told of the assaults and battles in his
characteristic manner. punctuating his
story with the emphatic language for
which the captain is famed
only luck prevented the destruction
or the Iowa. said the captain THE
day after the Storming of Ell Caney
General Shafter made an appeal to the
department at Washington for help on
the part of the fleet. He desired that
the fleet enter the harbor and create a
disturbance, thus diverting the atten-
ton and preventing further slaughter
VI ehS +hiltl VANS W ltl1 LIP civ was
taken. Orders were sent that battle
ship enter the harhor and a consulta
ton was held. It was decided that the
Iowa should enter the harbor the morn
ing of July A.
Captain Evans told the officials that
If they told him to go. of course he
would but 1T meant the destruction of
the Iowa and every man aboard.
II know the harbor to dot he said
Il have been in there many times"
linen making sketch of the pass
age, which reminds one of a letter S
he said: Right there" pointing with
his pencil about the middle of the let
ter, the guns of the enemy, 100 feet
above the water, bear directly upon this
point: the guns have an accurate range
and when my ship reaches that point
good-by to the Iowa and Bob Evans"
-Ihere was another consultation and
Evans was ordered to prepare to enter
the harhor the morning of July 4. The
Spanish fleet left the harbor the morn
ing before the appointed day. Cervera
preventing the sacrifice by making his
final dash for liberty
Captain Evans said that when it was
announced that the Merrimac would
enter the harbor the sailors on the Iowa
were expectant. All wanted to go and
seemed not to think of the conse-
quences.
The Iowa was to send one man with
the Merrmac's party and Captain
Evans lined up the men for the purpose
of securing volunteers. The clerk of
the ship called $50 names and each man
responded, Here am I, send me-" Can
tain Evans remarked that he could not
send the whole crew.
Who does not want to go?' he asked
There was no answer.
well, boys, some of you fellows got
to die. Murphy, step out here. You
too, Mclean. Now, I am going to SEN
tence one of you to death There is not
one chance in million for you to es-
cape if you go on this trip. 1t is a
death warrant for you
Taking penny from his pocket he
said: Murphy, you're heads. Mclean,
you're tails. If it comes down heads
you go, Murphy. If it comes down tails,
you are to die, Mclean"
TN give YOU $50 for your chance IN
go" said Mclean.
Murphy shook his head
The penny was Tipped and it came
down heads. Murphy had been SEN
fenced to death.
TN give you 800 for your chance -"
said Mclean, Murphy smiled and shco1,
his head.
tn give You $3.50 cash" said Mclean
eNcitedly. Murphy shook his head again.
and Mclean hurst in tears and sohhad
like child, then was led back to thp
| ranks.
Captain Evans told of how he won
the confidence of The Spanish sailors
rescued from the wreck of the Cristohll
Colon When they were taken aboard
the Iowa they We're in a drunken con-
dltlon, the captain having given them
grog during the time the Colon was
,.TN, L