Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-09-07
s'Fixhting Bob's'' Retirement.


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 man
is Fighting Bob" Evans, who to-
day is suffering from the effects OF
bullet wound received during the
stormIng Of Fort Fisher forty-tbree
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 l have done all in my power TO
uphold the honor and dignity of my coun-
try and that l have loved the dear old
flag as ! love nothing else In this world.
That I have suffered severely under that
flag must be evident to any one who sees
me, but l would live my life over again
Just as have lived 1t II knew the suf-
fertng was to be thousand times as
great. go to the retired list with a
feeling that It Is reward for long and
the rest and comfort it may bring unless
some emergency shall call me back into
active service. when | shall give all that
remains Of me to my country as willingly
as | 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 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, Schseys 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 one Of ita
most famous and picturesque ofncers
His sobriquet, Fighting Bob" which
he ID said to dislike very much, wal
no idle Characterization. At the age OF
nineteen he participated in two land
attacks on Fort Fisher, during which
he received four severe rifle sho'
wounds; at thirty-dve he showed grea,
courage and determination in Chilean
waters: at nfty-two. - commander Of
the Iowa, b.. assisted in sinking Ger
vera's nest, and at sixty-one he lef
Hampton Roads for the Pacific will
sixteen battleships ready" - he ex
pressed II, ''foe q nsht Of 4 frolic.'
Scores Of stories illustrating his cour
ass, his rssourcsfulnsss, his Wit an
his self reliance have bssn printed
and now that hs has retired the grea
public % we'll % the naval world vii
miss him. Fame a-plenty has beel
his. Retirement does not and hin
classed among The unknowns. and ye
perhaps the unknowns are not alto
gethee to b pttisd Many Of then
who have lived to ~ Dewey hsart
sick. almost heartbroksn, over tn
nckls public's change Of front towar'
him, sampson wrecked in body an
mind. Schlsy disappointed and imbit
tered and Hobson In the Ananias clu
have doubtless congratulated them
selves that fame never wreathed thei
brows with the laurel.