Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-08-20

Participated in attack on Fort Fisher
January 15, 1865.
Earned his title of Fighting Bob"
during the year 1891, when he was in
command of the Yorktown at Valparai-
so, Chill.
During the war with Spain he was
commander of the Iowa, taking active
part in the destruction of Cervera's
fleet, July 8, 1898.
Washington, d. c., Aug. 18.-The
name Of as gallant and efficient an
officer as ever wore the American naval
uniform was removed from the active
list today when Rear Admiral Robley
ID. Evans, known the world over as
Fighting Bob" was retired for age.
Admiral Evans took the great Atlantic
battleship feet around Cape Horn last
winter and his official career virtually
ended with the arrival of the fleet at
San Francisco. Since that time he has
been on leave of absence and has been
sojourning at various health resorts in an
effort to conquer bad attack of rheu-
matism, an ailment from which he has
suffered for a number of years.
Fighting Bob" Evans was undoubt-
edly the best known and most popular
officer the American navy has known
since the heroes of the civil war period
passed from active live. Admiral Evans
in recent years has been known as the
reliable man of the navy. Throughout
his career he was adored by his men,
and he knew also how to hold the favor
of Washington.
Admiral Evans began fighting in the
civil war, when he was still in his teens,
and completed his record of actual hos
tilities by the great work he did with
the battleship Iowa at Santiago. In the
interval and since that time, he render
cd his country every kind of service.
Evans went to the Annapolis academy
in 1860, and year later came the out
break of the civil war. The mother of
Robely demanded that he resign from
the United States service and fight for
the south. His brother had espoused
the cause of the confederacy, but Rob-
ley decided in favor of Washington, and
announced his determination to stand
for the union. 1t was decision that
cost him many heart-burnings, for it
was many years before his mother for
gave him.
His brother fought gsllantly for the
south, and was twice wounded. He did
not share his mothers indignation at
the young naval officer, and the two
brothers never wavered in their friend
ship, despite the divergence in their po-
1itical views.
Evans active service began in the
West Indies where he commanded q
watch sent to search for Confederate
privateers. He was first under fire at
Fort Fisher, and was wounded in the
attack on that stronghold. 1t was at
first decided,that both of his legs would
have to be amputated, which would, of
course, have ended his naval career, but
even then Evans had that swiftness of
action which later was to bring him dis
tinction. AS soon as the doctors COM
munication to him their decision to take
off his legs, he drew his revolver and
announced that he would blow off the
head Of the first man who dared ap-
proach him Adopting new measures,
the physicians worked with him and
managed to restore him to health with
both legs intact.
In 1891 Evans increased his fame by
his conduct in Valparaiso harbor. He
was In charge:of the little gunboat York
town, during the trying period when the
least slip might have precipitated war
between the countries, conflict that
would have entailed serious conse-
Quences, since It was no secret that
Great Britain at that time sympathized
with the South Americans. In the
teeth of the protests of the Chilean
government Commodore Evans took on
his boat the refugees from the American
legation, and when the natives threat
ened reprisals he announced that at the
first hint of attack he would lombard
the city. The world admired his spunk
and Washington learned that in Eight
ing Bob" it had a man who could be