Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-09-03
"Fighting Bob's' Retirement.

"Fighting Bob's'' Retirement.
Lake Mohonk, N. T., famed for lts
championship of world peace, recent
ly outdid itself in doing honor to a
man Of war who has devoted forty
eight years of his life to service In
the United States navy. The NAL
is Fighting Bob" Evans, who to-
day is suffering from the effects of a
bullet wound received during the
storming Of Fort Fisher forty-three
years ago. The occasion Of Lake Mo
honk's testimonial was Rear Admiral
Evans retirement from the navy at
the age Of sixty-two. In accepting a
loving cup presented to him the rear
admiral said:
1t may not be out of place for me to
say that during my forty-eight years Of
service I have lone all in my power to
uphold the honor and dignity of my coun-
try and that I have oved the dear old
flag as I love nothing else in this world.
That I have suffered severely under that
flag must be evident to any one who sees
111e, pQt \ WOu1O i've my E1e ON6T dSdlil
just as I have lived it If I knew the suf-
fering was to be a thousand times as
great. I go to the retired List with a
feeling that it is a reward for long and
honorable service. and I hope to enjoy
the rest and comfort 1t may bring unless
some emergency shall call me back into
active service. when I shall give all that
remains of me to my country as willingly
as I have given the best years Of my
manhood.
The navy since the days of the civil
war has developed many gallant and
capable officers, most. Of whom have
done the work Of building a great
navy without noise or buster and
many Of whom have retired from the
service with high rank practically un-
known to the general public. Oppor-
tunity has not knocked at their door.
Our Deweys, Simpsons, Schleys and
Hobsons have been inconsiderable in
number because of many years Of
peace and few chances to win dis
tinction. The men of the navy are
such courageous and resourceful chaps,
however, that doubtless few of the
unknowns would have failed to give a
good account Of themselves in a crisis
had they been called upon to face it.
With the passing of Evans from &C.
tive service the navy loses n of its
most famous and picturesque officers.
His s%obriquet, Fighting Bob" which
he is said to dislike very much, was
nc idle Characterization. At the age of
nineteen he participated in two land
attacks on Fort Fisher, during which
he received four severe rifle shot
wounds; at t~hirty-1ive he showed great
courage and determination in Chilean
waters; at f1fty-two, as commander of
the Iowa, he assisted in sinking Ger
vera's fleet, and at siXty-one he left
Hampton Roads for the Pacific with
sixteen battleships ready" as he ex-
pressed it, "for a fight or a frolic."
Scores of stories illustrating his cour-
age, his resourcefulness, his wit and
his self reliance have been printed,
and now that he has retired the great
public as we'll as the naval world will
miss him. Fame a-plenty has been
his. Retirement does not find him
classed among the unknowns, and yet
perhaps the unknowns are not alto
gether to be pitied. Many Of them
who have lived to see Dewey heart
sick, almost heartbroken, over the
tickle public's change of front toward
him, Sampson wrecked in body and
mind, Schley disappointed and imbit-
tered and Hobson in the Ananias club
have doubtless congratulated them
selves that fame never wreathed their
brows with the laurel.