The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-01
EVANS is HERE.
Fighting Admiral Arrives in
Topeka Sunday.
Likens Kansas to Battleship OF
That Name.
VISIT HERE IN 1853.
He Then Crossed the State by
Stage.
VIII Lecture at the Auditorium
Tonight.

=ghtiug Bob Evans Is here
The admiral whose sickness prevent
ed him from taking the feet al the
way around the world, arrived in To-
pek4 Sunday morning over the Rock
Island from Kansas City where he had
spent the night on his journey from St
Paul to Topeka He didn't have TO be
wheeled about IN 4 chair as was re-
ported. but with the assistance OF his
Secretary he succeeded IN getting or
the train and hobbIed 10 Z carriage On
his crutches. and was taken 70 the Ma
riOuaI hotel where the admiraPs party
Il occupying 4 suite OF roOmS-
Admiral Evans vas net by George
W Banter and I Rubenstein who have
charge Of the arrangements for the
Nodes. under whose auspices Admiral
Evans lectures tonight and a repre-
sentative Of the state Journal
The admiral IS accompanied by Mrs
Evans. his secretary. George E Har-
mon. and Mrs Evans maid
There is one thing about Admiral
Evans that SURPRISES one On first sight
He does not bear cut the impression OF
size which * conveyed in his pictures
Admiral Evans * 4 small man He *
probably five feet eight inches in
height and doesn't weigh more than
$50 pounds
It is reported that Fighting Bob
= n the clutches OF the rheUT11a aEIsT1-
This he sCrsnu0usIy denies I have
nad z little he says but I am z u
over that All that 7 use crutches for
At the present time IS for my foot
which was operated upon short time
ago
The retired admiral presents an in
posing appearance He Is q compact
little man with 4 weather worn. clean
shaveu face, round and CHEEKY with
iron gray eyes that are keen as the
edge OF his sword, and every feature as
clear z his
Fighting Bob as Admiral Evans Is
a1eCrI0UateIy known 70 every citizen N
the Cuited states, was seen in his room
II the National by a representative or
the State Journal shortly after his ar
rival There Is one thing you can
tel the people said Admiral Evans
and that IS that I haven't the rhe1-
msIism-
First Visit to Topeka
This Is my nrst visit . Topeka
continued Mr. Evans and am very
much impressed With It Ike the
looks OF the country surrounding.
everything seems 50 prosperous
L Is d pleasure TO talk 70 Fighting
Bob He * rot the severe and eccentric
man wh1I magazine writer's have PIC
ruret. bCt he Is very appr0s8c12DIs and !
he does lot nliuce words IN expressing I
his. opinions He talks directly 70 the I
point. and seems not 70 avoid con
verSari0u- He X well Informed and
VIII tax 0Ehand On almost any topic
above al he i extremely modest and /
evades questions regarding himself
I drd Kansas very interesting said Z
the admiral The first time I ever saw /
the state was II 1859 I was OF NY way I
70 Utah then and crossed on 4 stage
coach from St Joseph 70 Mary SVllle
and went vest I fOrger where the
nexr stoppIuE place vas I came back
the same route the next year, and then
7 didn't get another look at the stare !
until n 1900. when I was sent 10 samoa 4
70 takE charge OF court marL14t-
Naturally the change n C14l EoCLy 4
years ciu1e was wonderful In 1850 1
never dreamed Of seeing the bea1CIIT1L
state that I saw II 1900 or that I see
now I was through Kansas again Two
wears later when I vas sent &c L ma
during the Boxer troubles The other
previous time 7 had ever been IN kan
SaS vas last sumner. on ny way east
after reIiuquishiug the command OF
the Atlantic Eeet-
does the 6atrIeshiU which bears her
1arus- The Kansas = one Of the preC- |
lfesL and best equipped o3CLLeSdIpS II 4
the entire feet She ranks next 70 the 4
pride OF the entire navy and Is N the
command Of one II the Ezvys greatest 4
officials Captain TrseIa1d- whom every 4
nan in the navy holds II the highest 4
respect And she has one Of the best 4
crews IN the entire service. Just to I
show YOU what the crew OF the kan I
sas can do il might De vel TO recall I
the football tournament which took 4
place Just before the feet left Hampton 4
Roads The Championship OF the feet 4
Cav between the Kansas and the Min [
1esoca crews but everyone thought
that the Minnesota would win But the I
Kansas crew surprised them and the 4
Minnesota team never had a Iookr- \
During the Spauish-Americau war II
took a great deal Of pride II the Iowa I
which 7 then commanded and II
- 10 -e-=- ~ -
the navy but I now consider that the +
Kansas Is far ahead Of the Iowa
The hardest battle IL which 7 ever
rarrfCfpat6d- said the admiral II re-
spouSs 70 1 question from the S4are
Tas4ruaI reporter T believe was the
battle OF Fort Fisher during the civil .
var IN which We captured the fort
from the Coufederates after z hard
battle near the mouth OF the Cape Fear /
river was wounded four times m I