Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-06
SERVED WITH
FIGHTING BOB
OLD TAR TELLS INCIDENTS IN
COMMANDERS LIFE
HAS MEDALS FOR BRAVERY
IN ACTION
Patient at County Hospital Hopes to
Tread Warshlp's' Deck for Last
Time and Grasp Admlral's
Hand

Out III I1G equity liOoplloI AOSb oA6Ab
of by the world in which he was once
a hero, is an old veteran of three wars,
known to the inmates of the institute
only as "Old Cap'n"
He is very feeble, white haired,
emaciated. On his face there are many
little sores and pits, and several scars.
His hands are rough and crumpled.
His fingers are knotted; his veins vari-
cose. The wounds of battle have left
not few purple streaks on his arms
and body.
He walks about eccentrically on two
canes and visitors pass by him care
lessly for there is nothing left of him
now to indicate his past; the old fire
and courage are departed; the strength
and sinew of other days have given
way to palsy and rheumatism.
But "Old Cap'n" has a record which
any man might honor, and many envy.
He was once saluted by the bravest
officers of the United States army and
navy-officers who since have earned
renown. perished in war or passed into
history with medals and monuments.
His name is Captain Daniel Nc
Laughlin. That tells but little to the
present generation; but to the very
few who knew him when he aided and
fought with the British tars in the
famous battle of the Taiku forts, at
the mouth of the Pei-ho, way back in
1858, when the American Commodore
Tatnall invented the phrase Blood Is
thicker than water-a brother sailors
in distress; I'll help him Quito those
who knew him in those days the name
recalls a series of valiant deeds In
which not once, but many times, this
feeble veteran-then in the prime of
a vigorous, fearless life-risked death
for principle.
Aided British in Fight
1t was in that battle of the British
that Commodore Tatnall brought his
vessel to their assistance, towing
Junk with 600 English fighters and re-
Inducements into action, after the
American vessel had lowered her PEN
nant and ensign.
"Cap'n'' Mclaughlin was one of the
Americans aboard that famous vessel
who fought with the Britishers. He
also served in the Mexican and Civil
wars, distinguishing himself for many
deeds of valor.
During the Civil war he was one of
eight men who received a peculiar type
of medal for his bravery.
The government never gave but eight
of the medals of that class, and Cap
tain Mclaughlin wears the only one
of them that now is left. He has 1t
tied to a @. A. r. ribbon, and 1t hangs
down on his vest where everyone can
see 1t, though none know what 1t Is.
The medal is so large it would really
be cumbersome to anybody but Nc
Laughlin. He is very proud of it.
Two of the other eight We're buried
at sea with their owners. One was
buried ashore with a cavalryman. Two
were lost in the San Francisco fire, and
two were buried in the trenches of
Gettysburg. The other will go with
Mclaughlin to his final resting place.
Aside from McLaughlin's career as
q sea and land fighter, he has the dis
tinction of having been at Annapolis
when Fighting Bob Evans received
his sobriquet. Mclaughlin tells the
story in an interesting manner.
"'Bob.'" he says. was raised by
very religious parents and when he
went to Annapolis was presented by
his mother with a number of scrip
tural notices, which for some reason
were Objectionable to a certain class
of rough cadets who were inclined
to taunt Evans when he first appeared
at the academy. Bob stuck the mot
toes up in his room, and was told by
the officer of the day he must take
them down.
Refuses to Obey
evans was a powerful and fearless
fellow. always, and not afraid to cham
pion his principles. He refused to re-
move the notices, and a quarrel en-
sued. AS a subordinate, most fellows
would have stood almost anything
rather than the risk of expulsion. Not
so with Bob The first thing that
officer knew he was lying on his back
with a bloody nose and badly dis
torted countenance.
,fo. foI ~ hA5x hnf In1
Evans as Fighting Bob-the fellow
that amt afraid of any o" 'em,' add
the title became permanent in after
years. when in numerous fistic encoun-
ters Evans scored triumph after tri-
umph, and came to be looked upon as
the champion fighter of Annapolis
"There are very few people who
know how Evans got that title, but
/ happened to be at Annapolis. and
remember the day it was given to him
as clearly as though it were yester-
day.
HE is one of the bravest officers the
navy ever had, and he'll prove it if
he gets chance to go for something.
He can handle a bunch of warShipS
just as he handles his fists. for Evans
is the big Jim Jeffries of the navy,
and don't forget it."
Mclaughlin tells many other inter-
esting stories concerning Evans, and
is anxiously awaiting the time when
he can hobble down to the fleet and
meet him.
'I want to get back on a warship
just once more before die, boys" ne
said yesterday. II guess this will be
my last chance. put In a good many
years among 'em, but I'm kinder tack
in to leeward lately. so it's soon off.
ST don't mind droppin' anchor for
keeps, after l get another look at the
old squadron. and shake old Fighting
Bob's' hand another time. It's worth
dyin for, for an old tar like me-
AS@