Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-17
Fighting Bob Will Quit
Active Service Tomorrow.
Has Rendered Distinguished
Service 10 His Country.
Retirement to Be Celebrated In No.
hawks Temple Of Peace"

Washington, Aug. 16.-Wlth the re-
tirement from active service next Tues
day of Read Admiral Robley Dunglison
Evans Fighting Bob" the United
States navy loses one of the most pic
turesgue figures that ever trOd a quar-
ter deck. Forty-five years have gone
by since Evans, as a young ensign, re-
ceived his baptism of fire at Fort
Fisher, during the Civil war. During
that span of years he has served his
country CALAMITY, well earning the re-
ward Of rest which grateful people
give.
1t has been his fortune to command
the greatest fleet of fighting ships ever
assembled unGer the American flag.
Moreover, he successfully piloted that
fleet tn the end Of one of the most
remarkable cruises. in naval history as
the elimination of his brilliant ca
reer. Famous in war, he has become
great in peace and many of his coun-
trymen still are hopeful that Congress
will honor him by creating him vice
admiral, a rank second only to that
of the Manila Bay hero, Admiral Dew
ey.
Bord in Floyd county, Virginia. Aug.
18, 1916, he came to Washington at the
age of II to live with his uncle, news
paper man, upon the death OF his
father, Andrew Jackson Evans. Secur-
ing an appointment to the Naval Acad-
envy from the territory of Utah. he en-
tered that institution Sept. 10 1861.
When war broke out between the
states his mother, assuming that he
would take arms for his state against
his country. sent in his resignation to
Washington and it was promptly ac-
ccpteG. Young Evans was determined,
however, to stand by the Union. even
against his own family, and had him.
self re-appointed, greatly to his moth
e1'S chagrn. He was graduated In
1862 and served with honor through
out the remainder of the conflict. He
reached the grade of captain in 1875
and as such officer, served through the
Spanish American war, commanding
tho battleshp Iowa at the battle OF
Santiago. He was promoted to the
rank of rear admiral in 1901, thus
reaching the highest rank in the lad
der possible without the aid of a spc-
cia, act of Congress.
Rear Admiral Evans has been in poor
health for some time past and though
suffering from rheumatism when the
battleship feet sailed from Hampton
Roads last December, he persisted in
his determination to crafty his LIES
wish to take the fleet around the Horn.
He was i'll during nearly the voy-
He was Ill during nearly the
voyage and continued SO until after he
was relieved of command. May 3, last.
It was during the period of strained
relations with Chile that he earned the
sobriuuet of ''Fighting Bob" He
was in command of the gunboat
Yorktown, stationed at Valparaiso,
which place he threatened to cfface
from the topography of Chile in such
vigorous and earnest language that tho
naughty Latin Americans speedily re-
leased the American sailors, whose
frolic ashore led to Il riet and incident
ally to an unpleasant diplomatic sit
uation.
Admiral Evans probably has done
more than airy other living man to
unity this countrys floating force and
great credit is due him for the high
state Of efficiency of equipment and
personnel of the navy today. Rough
ard rugged bob" Evans is Il typical
American fighter. stern discipline
rian, but always just and fair, he is not
only respected by the sailors. the men
behind the guns, but he is loved by
them.
He is Il man of action, never making
a statement he is not prepared to back
up, and always careful to be thrice arm
ed with a just cause.
With singular appropriateness that
may not appear at first glance, Fight
ing Bob" Evans retirement will be
celebrated next Tuesday in the ITEM
pie of Peace at Lake Mohonk. n. Y,
where he has been spending the sum
mer.