Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-19
HIS FLACISSTRUC
Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans
Reaches Age Limit and Re-
tires From Navy.
CEREMONIESATLAKE MOH0RK
EuIogy Delivered and Letters From
National Leaders Read - Nearly
Half Century in Service.

Lake Mohonk, n. Y, Aug 19.-Far
from grim warships and the sea, where
he spent nearly half a century in the
service of his country, Rear Admiral
Robley ID. Evans of the United States
navy, who is at this quiet mountain
resort, reached the age limit of 62
years yesterday and passed from the
ranks of the country's active sea
fighters.
His has been the longest service.
but two years short of half century,
OF any man who has reached the rank
of rear admiral in the United States
navy.
All through the day the hotel was
thronged with admirers of Fighting
Bob as his hosts of friends delight to
call him, eager to congratulate him on
the G2nd birthday and to wish him
many more happy and useful years.
kilograms by the score reached him
from all parts of the country, all ex-
pressing felicitation and affection for
the man who has done so much to
build up the American navy. Many of
the messages brought delighted smiles
to the admirars face, while others
brought just n suspicion of moisture
to his eyes. The telegram in particu-
lar 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"
Expects to Reach "a Hundred.
In reply to friend who asked the
admiral how he felt on his 62nd birth
day, he replied characteristically:
Fit as a fiddle | am 90 years
young today and | expect TO reach 100.
| am taking on flesh at the rate of half
a pound day, and | haven't got a
thing to do but loaf Who wouldn't
get well under such circumstances?
The admiral strongly asserted that
the United States is in duty bound to
maintain a large navy He declared
that he has always held that our best
guarantee of perpetual peace is to be
so strong that other nations will be
afraid of us.
FOrmalities I'm Evening.
The formal celebration in honor of
the admiral took place in the evening
in the large parlor of the Mountain
hotel. Albert K. Smiley introduced as
presiding officer of the ceremonies J.
Edward Simmons of New York. When
Admiral Evans was brought into the
room in a wheel chair the audience
applauded him vigorously. keeping it
up until the admiral silently raised his
hand as request for silence.
Mr.. Simmons then delivered eu-
logy of the admiral and read letters
from President Roosevelt, DIR. ]. M.
Taylor, president of Vassar college,
and Rear Admiral Pillsbury.
Among others who sent letters re-
GREETING their inability to be present
were Governor Hughes, Paul Morton,
former secretary of the navy. and Gen
eral Anson G. McCook. Each letter
voiced the writer's high appreciation
of the admiral and his services TO his
country.
DR., Andrew S. Draper of New York
made the address of presentation of
the loving cup. which was gift to Ad-
miral Evans from the guests of the
hotel. The cup is of silver, gold lined,
with three handles, and beautifully en-
graved
| Cheering and applause followed Ad.
miral Evans speech. Just at the close
of the exercises huge birthday cake
covered with 62 lighted candles, wa.
brought into the room. This gif
seemed to please the admiral more
than any other part of the ceremonie.
of the evening.