Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-02
EVANS CAR
GREETED AT
STA TON
FIGHTING BOB" GIVES SALUTE
FROM HIS WINDOW
PROMISES TO ATTEND LOS AN.
GELEs FESTIVITIES
Approves Visit of Mrs. Evans to the
Celebration with Their Daughter.
Sick Man Hopes for
Restoration

Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, COM
nander of the Atlantic fleet. and his
son, Lieut.. +. T. Evans, of the Louisi-
ana, passed through Los Angeles at
$50 last evening on their way from San
Diego to Paso Robles. The admirals
private car, the Sacramento. was
brought on the regular Santa Fe train
to the Santa Fe station and was de-
layed only long enough for Los An
geles fleet committee officials. who met
him at Fullerton, to alight. 1t was
then attached to an engine and taken
out as a special over the Southern Pa
cific. Its stay in the station was about
five minutes.
It's journey from San Diego was one
of many small ovations and the car
was filled with floral tributes.
During the stay Admiral Evans was
seen seated at a window. He was just
finishing his dinner and when he saw
the small crowd that had met at the
station to get a glimpse of him he
manifested genuine pleasure by smiling
and bowling. A faint cheer, waving OF
hats, hands and handkerchiefs, and the
pressing of the crowd near his window
brought from him responsive waving
of his hand. Then he sank back in his
seat with the appearance of one worn
with suffering.
Emaciation and pallor and the dis
tortions of the face which have been
caused by narrowing rheumatism. did
not deceive the anxious spectators, for
III that face at the window they inn
mediately recognized the naval hero
they had come to greet. And in the
expression of the eyes and mouth they
found that tenacity and indomitable
will which have merited him the title
of Fighting Bob" for decades. They
saw him in another fight. this time
with the mortal enemy, disease, but
they found him in it courageously.
! There was little demonstration. There
| was no time and no propriety for any
thing except the spontaneous cheer and
4 gestures of perhaps fifty persons, many
( of them depot attaches. The local fleet
officials, Mayor Harper, General Adna
/ r. Chaffee. Joseph Scott and Col j. Is.
/ Neville, a1ighted and behind them sew
! eral members of the aduiraps inn
mediate party. Lieutenant Frank r.
Train, flag officer of the admiral. an
nounced that no one would be per-
mitted to visit the car by the express
wish of the admiral, who, while FEELING
improved ashore, was still physically
unable to receive visitors for any pur-
pose.
Unable to Walk
Surgeon p. E. Mcdonald, who is at
tending the admiral, said much as the
admiral wished to see those who We're
thoughtful enough to visit him, he had
advised against such a course and no
one would be admitted. He said Ad-
miral Evans was unable to walk. he
accepted cards from a number who
were nearby and said he would present
them to the admiral. Among thosetwho
p1 esented cards was President George
H Stewart of the chamber of COM
merce. Mr.. Stewart said his predeces-
sor, w D. Stephens, had telegraphed
Admiral Evans "Godspeed" when the
fleet left Hampton Roads and that he
merely visited the car to tender the
congratulations of Los Angeles and the
chamber on the success of the cruise
and to extend a welcome to it's COM
mander.
| The few minutes that elapsed seemed
only seconds. so prompt was the rail-
road arrangement to switch the car and
take it out as a special. The empty
train was pulled out the south end and
minute later the Sacramento passed
back northward with single engine
and FASTENED to the River station of
the Southern Pacific. where 1t was
transferred to the Southern Pacific
tracks and pursued its way to Paso
Robles, leaving at 6:57. 1t was sched-
uled to reach the springs about mid
night. The admiral will remain aboard
until today.
AS the car passed on the last stage
of it's journey the admiral was again
seen at his window smiling at the
crowd.
1t had been arranged that the car
was to De transferred to the Arcade
depot and attached to the regular 7:30
train. but this was changed shortly be-
fore its arrival and the special pro-
vided for. Details of police were sent
to both stations, but that under Ser
geant Sparks alone had the pleasure
of seeing the admiral. 1t was squad
of eight. whose instructions were to
permit none to visit the car. This duty
performed four of the squad boarded
the car and accompanied 1t to the River
station as an escort. Many who went
to the Arcade to see the naval hero
were disappointed.
The committee which met the car at
Fullerton learned something of the ad-
miraPs plans, so far as he has any.
They report that he is a very sick
man and that his apparent partial re-
storation is more his natural tenacity
than actual Improvement. To the COM
mittee he declared that he felt 100
per cent better last evening than he did
twenty four hours before. which meant
whole lot. He was always cheerful,
jocose many times, even in the terse
expressions which are characteristic.
Mrs. Evans to Attend
One important concession was made
by him and evidently an important
| concession that he was glad to make.
The committee asked his approval of a
visit of his wife. Mrs. Charlotte Taylor
Evans, to Los Angeles during the fleet
festivities. Admiral Evans was assured
that Mrs. Evans was ready to accept
the invitation If her coming met with
his approval.
yes" he said. tell her the visit has
my approval"
So, after all, the Evans family will he
reunited at the Los Angeles celebration,
Continued on Page Threc)