Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-08-19


great warrior as an active commander OF conquerng eets
On the hr seas IS over and done In memory OF patriotic
Americans the feat Of Rear Admiral Evans in safely con-
dcting the Atlantic feet to the Pacific will remain as the
climax OF the life OF OF the doughest commanders
that ever strobe the quarter deck OF man owar Few
commanders have ever been so well loved BY the men,
and there is deep sorrow today in the hearts OF all OF
Uncle Sans tars.
Fighting Bob" describes Rear Admiral Robley D.
Evans 10 dot He won the right TO this title in his lrs
naval engagement He sailing boat in public
school ward in Washington when bigger boy smashed
il with rock Evans smashed the boy with another The
big boy was carried home door Although the result
was victory for Evans it marked the close Of the public
school career He has been lighting every since and
when there was nothing more warlke the horizon he
tackled the general naval board
Evans was sent to Valparaiso Chile. with the York
town in 1891 The hostile Chiians developed q new
game of cruising about the American vessel with their
orpedo boats seeing how they could come to with
out scraping Although nine Chian warshps were an
chored near by Capt Evans 6gtng mad told the ohcers
in charge Of the torpedo boats it should hthe lork-
town he would blow the bottom out Of i.
The officer replied that the water fin the harbor be-
onged to Chill.
The Yorktown and the paint on her belongs to the
United States sir reorted Evans, and il either is de-
faced by your boats, he'll will smell Of garlic
Not an iota Of paint was scratched on the Yorktown.
n Cleveand's administration he applied to the secre-
arv Of the navy for permission 10 rid Cuba OF the Span
iards Ths profer refused.
Spanish would be the only aguage spoken in hell for
six months if they would just let loose said Evans,
he left the Secretarys olhce.
Al the close Of the battle Of Santiago Evans COM
mandng the Iowa. expressed regret that he had been
permitted to do the icb alone years before
Few commanders we're as we'll liked by their men, He
worked them hard but he gave them corresponding prv
leqes Sports he always encouraged. The people OF
Provinceown Mass objected to the sailors playing base
hall on Sunday Evans threatened to take the Aeet to
some other port Alter that baseball on ounday was not
such sin in Provincetown
II aIsaiIor was imposed upon while on shore, Evans
saw 10 Il that about 40 or so husky lads allowed
shore ave-and didn't inquire particularly there
after into their conduct
In his first trip to South America captain the ship
mascot pig was lost in the coal AT 4 a. m Evans was
awakened BY his orderly announcing Sir. Dennis i
fnnnd" Who the devil is Dennis Numbered Evans
dennis is the pig He's in bad and the men wan
he captain to come out and anything be done
for him. answered the orderly Evans spent the rest
the night feeding the mascot with condensed milk with
SPOON The men never forgot IT.
Fighting Bob never loses his determination and firm
ness when off the Ills mother'In an endeavor to &c
him to side with the Confederacy at the outbreak of h
C;v War sent his resignation to the navy department
When Bob heard Of this he had himself renstated
Roh of his legs we're shot much pieces at Fort Fish
and he surgeon at Norfolk hospital to ampu
III them. Evans pulled revolver from under His pillow
and remarked quietly; feel perfectly sure that cal
I x persons With this gum and the FIRST person to ente
he room With case 81 instruments will get the FIRST sho
Evans i as diplomatic as he Is brave, He plays card
and drinks whiskey because he could not afford not
Al 81 His suaviy has won him the friendship Of En-
neror William, The Empress Of China and the Mkadc
President Cleveland and Evans frequently shot ducks 10
aeber Mckinley and Roosevelt have both honored hi
With their friendship.
much qualification 10 the leading educators of Iii