Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-08-21
EVANS IS RETIRED
FAMOUS NAVAL FIGHTER OF
Age LIMIT.

1dS Seen openuln9 summer dt MO
honk Lake, N. ", With His Family
He Saw His First Naval Fight at
For Fisher During Civil War-ccm-
manded Greatest American Fleet.
Mohonk Lake, ~ Y, Aug. 1S.-On
Tuesday evening Rear Admiral Robley
d. Evans, Fighting Bob" will have
concluded AS years of service in the
United States navy and, being at the
age of 60, he will go on the retired list
The admiral, unable to use one foot
because of illness which compelled him
to leave the fleet in San Francisco
harbor-a reminder of the wound re-
ceived at Fort Fisher AZ years ago
but mentally alert AID vigorous, is at
the Lake Mohonk house, where he has
his family, spending the summer.
Career of Fighting Bob"
With the retirement from active
service Tuesday of Rear Admiral Rob
ley Evans Fighting Bob'-the
United States navy loses one of the
most picturesque figures that ever trod
quarterback. Forty-five years ago,
Evans, as young ensign, received his
baptism of fire at Fort Fisher during
the civil war.
1t has been his fortune to command
the greatest feet of fighting ships ever
assembled under the American flag
and many of his countrymen are hope
C full that congress will honor him by
c creating him a vice admiral, rank
l. second only to that of the Manila bay
S hero, Admiral Dewey.
D. Recalled Resignation.
- Fighting Bob was born in Floyd
G county, Va, 6S years ago and came to
y Washington at the age of IL to live
G with his uncle, a newspaper man, upon
!; the death of his father, DR.. Samuel
- Andrew Jackson Evans. Securing an
!. appointment to the naval academy
from the territory of Utah he entered
the college. When the war broke out
between the states his mother, assum-
ing that he would take arms for his
or state against his country, sent in his
resignation to Washington and it was
20 promptly accepted. Young Evans was
determined, however, to stand by the
Union, even against his own family
h. and had himself reinstated, to hi
TX mothers chagrin. He was graduated
n. in 1863 and served with honor through
I'D the remainder of the contest He be
came a lieutenant in 1866, lieutenan
ar commander two years later and com
mander in 1878. He reached the grad
r.. of captain in 1893 and as such office
he served through the Spanish-Amer
IN can war, commanding the battleshi
,st Iowa at the battle of Santiago. ii
mic was promoted to the rank of rear &C
miral in 1901.
50 During the period of strained rel;
tions with Chile he earned the sobr
22c quet of Fighting Bob" He was
Tvs command of the gunboat yorktown
stationed at Valparaiso, which plac
he threatened to efface from the top
graphical map of Chile in such earnei
gle language that the naughty Latil
IDS, Americans speedily released I'll
American sailors. Rear Admiral Evar
per has always preferred sea duty to dui
ashore. He has done more than an
S11 living man to unity this country
WIS floating force, and great credit is d'
SO; him for the high state of efficiency
Tyo eauipment and personnel of the nav
nut Rough and ready, Bob Evans is
ana typical fighter. A stern disciplinaria
best but always just and fair, he is not on
so; respected by the men, but has the To-
4. of them.