New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-06
One Big Fleet Needed in the
Pacific and Another in the
Atlantic All the Time.
By James q. Morrow.

Ifit were not for his right knee-for the grinding,
tearing shot he got at Fort Fisher when he was
onIv boy OF eighteer-A dniral Robley Dungltson
Evans would still be good for war or two or for
any other active OF hazardous service that might
be required for the honor OF his country
One Of the most romantic and personally attrae-
tive characters In the American navy his life. be-
ginning with early Childhood. has been a rapidly
moving series quaint, dramatic and heroic pct-
ures.
To-day he sits at window in his large, old-fash-
toned house his wounded and torturing leg on a
rest pair CT clutches within reach silver
hox filed with tobacco at his side answering let
tsrs writing out history of his last famous cruise
and receiving the friends who Gala trim and
CHEEKY man. in q fresh suit o. sof! brown. patent
leather shoes and stylish linen and c-avat SO
masses the morning In the afternoon he takes the
air IN his bereuche
The sun OF many ATTITUDES and the wind o. many
storm tossed seas have left their eoppeTy dyes in
his face His blond hair is turning white The
lines Of his cheeks Rnd those around his large gray
eyes are etched a little deeper since he took his
fact Of sixteen batteshirs ari SIX destroyers pub
lie --operrv costing Se0o 100 0Co and carrying 1scVo
fighting men, from I-alay N Roads to the PacInc
ocean but IN atmosphere and outlook he IS as
sIer+ sturdy and competent ever
A. -he age OF six Robley D Evans's father. q
-.vsicia1 and -lanter the mountains OF Virginia
gave him shotgun. a pony and a negro boy My
Youthful cFaatte" Admiral Evans says, taught me
70 chew and smoke tobacco" Hts black NANNY
5rsp Of her own, but she loved him and he openly
avoVs that he loved he-.- Such are the Virginia
r;ct,1res : brought away from the Interview
On the death OF his father. the boy now ten
,-ears old came 10 Washington that he might have
the privilege OF e good school He lived with al
uncle who was lawyer. newspaper correspondent
ana the clerk OF a committee in Congress. While
sailing a toy boat in the scnoolyaro one morning
an older boy broke IL with p stone
.syFhat happened the boyH' 1 asked
u smashed him with another stone and he was
tak ken home OF & door Then. under coTnpulsion
changed schools
ry1llta,n Hooper delegate in the House OF Repre-
senfAtives from Utah. promised to get him an ap-
,otntuent 10 the Naval Academy at Annapolis II
he would go Salt Lake City and i've for a year
& residential qualification that wac necessary uiie1
the statute -
The long journey began In 1883. when the boy was
,n4-tsen wears old He had bulky valse, navy
revolver $50 IN gold, which he wore IN oeit
o,,,a his body and a railway ticket TO 81. Joseph,
No From Missouri he travelled overland, riding
lons-,egged Mexican mule, in the company OF i've
men who were bound Tor Callfornla- Inc party
res ATTACKED several times by Indians and the boy
a,d his mart in the fighting A Blsckfoot arrow
$50. : tendon OF his left ankle, the heavy
leather OF his saddle. the thick hide OF MS mule
and stuck The mule had TO De Tea ana the aiIc"
cut before the boy gould disInouht 30 nuch 1of
the pIalns as his experiences Illustrated them
r1a yesr In Utah wes passed IN the family or
M Hooper. Young Evans spent most OF the time
IN hunting He describes how he saw Dlacx
ob,ect In the woods which might nave oeeh d
bar or something else. IT gave II load OF NO .
shot IN see what would happen The object
.-,,rov.d 70 be m Indian wearing q large hat an
disz1nx roots Evans fed his pony the 4ndiaa
following and shooting arrows AT hooper houSe
Evans got his rife. The positions OF tle 4auidA
and the boy were then reversed. the FORMER gong
first and the latter chasing him on = TIN O10A
% the mountains =.
rhsr. fs another unique ard characteristic pi0a-
mr.. OF Utah Evans was reading on HocpeFs
.ercn. A pigKer Eadign f1I cf whiEkeya u mne-