Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-09-23
aFigStine Bob's" Retirement.

Lake Mohonk. n. T., famed for Its
championship OF world peace. recent
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-three
years ago. The occasion of Lake Mo-
honks 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 have done all in my power to
uphold the honor and dignity Of my coun-
try and that I have loved the dear old
flag as love nothing else in this world.
That have suffered severely under that
flag must be evident to any one who sees
me, but would live my life over again
just as have lived 1t If knew the suf-
,fering was to be a thousand times as
q
feeling that It is a reward for long and
honorable service, and / hope to enjoy
the rest and comfort 1t 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 1 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 I'M
known to the general public. Oppor-
tunity has not knocked at their door.
Our Deweys, Simpsons, Schleys 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
good account OF themselves In a crisis
had they been called upon to face 1t.
With the passing of Evans from ac-
tive service the navy loses one Of its
most famous and picturesque officers.
His sobriquet, Fighting Bob" which
he is said to dislike very much, was
no idle characterization. AT the age of
nineteen he participated in two land
attacks on Fort Fisher, during which
he received four severe rifle shot
wounds; at thirty-five he showed great
courage and determination In Chilean
waters; at fifty-two, as commander Of
the Iowa, he assisted IN sinking Ger
vera's fleet, and at siXty-one he left
Hampton Roads for the Pacific with
sixteen battleships ready" as he ex-
pressed 1t, ''for a fight or a frolic."
Scores of stories illustrating his cour-
age, his resourcefulness, his wit and
his self reliance have been printed,
and now that he has retired the great
public as well as the naval world will
miss him. Fame a-plenty has been
his. Retirement does not find him
cIassed among the unknowns, and yet
perhaps the unknowns are not alto
gether to be pitied. Many of them
who have lived to see Dewey heart
sick, almost heartbroken, over the
tickle public's change of front toward
him. Sampson wrecked in body and
mind, Schley disappointed and imbit-
tered and Hobson in the Ananias club
have doubtless congratulated them
selves that fame never wreathed their
brows with the laurel.