The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-03-07
Hust /" FIghtlng Bob" Hoist
White Flag in Lifs's Fight.

WashingtOn.-The report that
Admiral Bob Evans Is about TO re-
tire from the navy because Of Ill
health has sent throb OF sympathy
and regret through the country.
Scores OF kilograms and even cable.
n grams have been received at the
Navy department. asking as to the
ffuth OF the report, and expressing
I high regard for Fighting Bob"
Robley Duningson was the name
given him at his birth, Aug. Is.
1916, over 60 years ago. But he is
Fighting Bob" TO the American
people.
he is born fighter. At G he was
handling gun. At 13 he was on
his way across the western plains to
acquire residence at Salt Lake
'tAy.' He had been promised an sp
, /pointment to Annapolis II he became
resident Of the Utah City.
On the way the emigrant train Was
attacked by Indians, "Bob" was
warned to stay under cover when
the fight began. When the Indians
had been beaten back an arrow pin
ming Bob's right ley to the mule he
rode showed how we'll he had obeyed
the order. He had been In the thick
est OF the melee. The arrow had to
be cut between his leg and the pony's
si6e before he could dismount.
When the civil war broke out
young Evans, then at Annapolis,
had a heart racking problem to de
eide. His mother was an ardent
secessionist. His brother did not
hesitate but donned the gray. But
Bob decided to cast his lot with the
olss who had educated him, al
.x6ough his mother sent his resigna-
y tion to the federal government.
His fighting spirit was wildly Il.
Illustrated in the assault on Fl. Fish
or. January, 1865. Twice he was
wounded and fought on. A third
bullet pierced his knee and he fell
helpless. A sharpshooter kept peg
giDg away at him. A bullet tore off
one OF his toes. THERE OF the wound
ed man was aroused, and grabbing
his own rifle be shot his enemy dead.
1t was well for Evans after that
battle that he had strenuous
spirit. When he was taken to the
hospital 1t was decided that both his
legs must be ampusated. Bob heard
the decision and that night armed
himself with revolver, which he hid
under his pillow.
Next day when physicians broke
their views 80 him the wounded
youth pulled his gun. You will
never take of my legs while have a
bullet leit," was his ultimatum.
They didn't think then that 1t was
a bsolutely necessary.
In 1891 Evans gained his title oil
"Fighting Bob" He was in com.
m and OF the little Yorktown at Val
paraiso, Chile. IL needed but the
drop OF q hat, 1t seemed, to start
war between that country and the
United States, Evans was In the
harbor, facing 10 forts and the
Chilean feet. He took on his ship
the refugees from the American lega'
tion in the teeth OF the protests o.
the Chilean government. More thar
that he kept them safe and bluffed
\ the entire feet and all the forts BY
\calmly threatening to open fire. The
world read Of it-gasped In sheer ad
miration OF the nerve OF it-and ht
became Fighting Bob" forever.
Evans commanded the Iowa al
the battle OF Santiago and was ir
the thick OF she scrap that destroy
ed the Spanish feet.
He was always quick to meet an
emergency. While dining the Ger
man emperor on board the Colum
bia, at the opening oithe Kiel canal
be told the emperor all OF the water
tight doors in the ship could b
closed In 80 seconds. To make goot
he ordered the signal blown on th'
siren. There wasn't enough steam
and the emperor laughed. Evan'
quickly turned In bis seat, pushed
the general alarm buttons, andlin
minute and 9 half the doors wer'
closed.