The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-19
FIGHTING DAYS
FOREVER PAST
Rear Admiral RobIey D. Evans
on Retired List of the
American Navy.
REMEMBERED BY FRIENDS
CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF
VETERAN OF TWO WARS.

Lake Mohonk. n. Y, Aug. 1S.-Far from
grim warships and the sea, where ne
spent nearly half a century in the serv-
Ice of his country, Rear Admiral Robley
D. Evans. of the United States navy
who is at this quiet mountain hotel
reached the age limit of 90 years today
and passed from the ranks of the coun-
try's active sea fighters. His has been
the longest service (but two years short
OF half a century, of any man who has
reached the rank of rear admiral in the
United States navy.
Love and Affection.
All through the day the hotel was
thronged with admirers of Fighting
Bob" in order TO congratulate him on
his siXty-second birthday and to wish
. him many more happy and useful years.
kilograms by the score reached him from
all parts of the country, all expressly.
felicitation and affection for the man who
has done so much to build up the Amer
fcan navy. Many of the messages brought
delighted smiles to the admrals face.
while others brought just a suspicion of
moisture to his eyes. The telegram in
particular which caused Fighting Bob
many smiles came from an old friend
In Washington and said:
For some of us skipper your flag
will always fly"
Sailors. soldiers. statesmen and civilians
In fact. every walk in life. was repre-
Senleu III sne great OutDOuTlnS OF mes
saSes which came to him today.
Expects to Reach Century Mark.
In reply to a friend who asked the ad-
miral how he felt on his sixty-secCnd
birthday. he replied Enthusiastically:
Fit as "A fiddle. / am 81 years young
today, and ] expect to reach 100 l am
taking on flesh at the rate of half a
pound a day, and l have not got a thing
10 do but loaf. Who would not get well
under such circumstances?
The admiral said he expected 10 stay
here until October, when he win go to
Washington, 20 be associated with the
general board in an advisory capacity.
lie added that he expected 20 do some
work before he left here. having arranged
with a magazine to write twelve articles
on naval matters.
Cruise of Atlantic Fleet.
Asked regarding the probable effect of
the cruise OF the fleet around the world
which he commanded from Hampton
Roads TO San Francisco. the first stage
of the long journey. the admiral said that
he believed its influence was already be-
ing felt. That the cruise would add more
than mere prestige 10 the United States
as world power. the admiral asserted
in no uncertain tones He said II was
the greatest disappointment of his life
that he was unable to keep the command
at least until he could visit Japan. where
he mas a great many friends among the
statesmen of that country.
Questioned in regard TO the war talk be
tween the two countries, the admiral said
that there would never be any war I'M
less the United States forced 1t upon ia
pan. He said the japanese are sensl-
tive people and the greatest little fight
ers in the world. and it Is not wise pol
icy to annoy them too much.
He further stated that Japan'S attitude
toward China was greatly misunderstood
in this country; that il was not her de-
sire 10 coloniZe China, but that she mere
~ wanted to have a hand in directing her
Ia Clf1 he mil N q
United States should have in China was
TO maintain the open door" Further
than that. we cannot expect to gain any
thing. he declared
Should Have Large Navy.
The admiral strongly asserted that the
United States is in duty bound to main
tain a large navy. He declared that he
tee OF perpetual peace is to be so strong
that other nations will be afraid of us.
1--WE should have twenty-four battle
ships IN both the Pacific and the Atlantic
oceans" said the admiral. Sixteen of
these should De in commission in each
ocean all of the time, with eight held in
reserve"
The admiral expressed ii as his opin-
ion. formed through the foreign service
and study OF our naval needs, that such
n fleet of battleships would not Onlv
have inestimable value in promoting our
trade interests in all quarters of the
globe.
Celebration in Evans Honor.
The formal celebration in honor of the
admiral took place this evening in the
large parlors of the Mountain hotel. The
room was gaily decorated with American
flags but the feature which attracted the
attention of everybody was battle
SCARED flag which the admiral carried
on the Iowa during the battle with the
Spanish fleet at Santiago.
T. Smiley was introduced a Drc-
siding officer of the ceremonies by j.
Edward SIMMONS OF New York, When
Admiral Evans was brought into the room
in a wheel chair the audience applauded
him vigorously, keeping ii up until the
admiral silently raised his hand as a re
quest for silence. Mr.. SUMMONS then de-
livered an eulogy of the admiral
A large number of letters from men dis
tincuished in public and private life were
then read by Mr.. Summons.
Following the reading of the letters sew
eral impromptu addresses euloSlZlng the
admiral were made
Loving Cup Presented.
After the audience had sung America"
Andrew Draper of New York made the
address OF presentation Of the loving cup |
which was a gift from the guests of the
hotel
peace But ii is as far removed from
peace at any price as from unnecessary |
war from insipidity as from unjust ag- |
EreSSlOn. 1llS Is n SOOu pace TO ce+S-
brate the completion of an admrars ac-
tive career, and 1t is a good place for !
a strenuous sailor TO slow down the en- |
gines and find shelter in security and |
peace"
The cup is of silver. gold lined. with |
three handles, and beautifully engraved |
One side bears the inscription:
Presented to Rear Admiral Robley ID. |
Evans by the guests of the Lake Mohonls |
Mountain house, on his retirement from |
active service in the United States navy. |
in appreciation of his long and distin-
euished service, August 18th. 19Os'
Another side bears the engraving of a |
modern battleship. while on the third side. |
beneath crossed flags. is a record of the |
different commands held by the admiral |
during his term of service.
In accepting the loving cup Admiral Ev-
ans made a touching address.
Cheering and applause followed Admiral
Evans speech.
lust at The close OF the exercises birth
day cake covered with sixty-two lighted |
candles was brought into the room. This /
gift seemed 20 please the admiral more |,
than any other part of the ceremonies
Of the evening. A reception followed the
formal ceremonies. and men, women and
children We'd with each other in their eff
forts to show their admiration OF Admiral
gyang