The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-04

decision and admirably advised in the
intricacies of the machinery of cruisers
and battleships, and skilled in drilling
them. 1 am very sorry to hear OF ms
DEATH"
Admiral Dewey was so overcome that
he could utter but few words. Il am
shocked beyond measure at the sudden
death of my life long friend, Admiral
Evans" vas all he could say.
Secretary Meyer paid this tribute TO
the officers memory:
ans the country loses one of its most
brilliant and able officers 1t was on
account of his ability that President
Roosevelt selected him as commander
, in-chief of the fleet that cruised around
the world Although on the retired list,
ne had kept up his active interest IN
the service and his unexpected death
came as a shock to the navy.
Former Secretary of the Navy Met
calf, who happened to be in Washing.
ton, pointed out that he had nlInselI
given Admiral Evans the command OF
the Atlantic fleet in its cruise arouho
the world. the choicest assignment ever
extended to an American naval ofhcer
in time of peace
Efficient and Capable.
HE was practically an i'll man when
he was selected for this important
duty said Mr.. Metcalf, but his splen-
did record justified the department IN
giving him this recognition OF ms long
and efficient service. He vas one OF Tue
most efficient and capable officers the
navy has known and his name has been
a household word for many years"
! One of the iron links that bound the
| old navy to the new, commanding
| figure in each, was Robley D Evans.
He did not take kindly to the sobrlqueL
of Fighting Bob for although OF
| kindIiest impulses. Thus it never was
| used in his presence by his friends
| But his dauntless courage in times OF
great emergency; the grim determine
ton with which he faced overwhelm-
ing odds and the stoicism with which
he bore his wounds and gazed un-
flinchingly in the face of death, made
the title so appropriate that as Fight
ing Bob" he was known wherever the
English language is spoken.
Evans was a mere boy when he was
sent to the naval academy at Annap-
oils Before he had got far with his
studies the Civil war broke out ana,
throwing his books to the winds he
went to sea and was assigned to block
ade duty. 1t was in one of two at
tacks made by the northern navy on
the powerful defenses at Fort Fisher,
N. c., that young Evans received the
! wound through the thigh that made
him a cripple for life He suffered
three other wounds, but as soon as ne
again plunged into the fighting and
served until the end of the Civil war
with great credit.
Back in the Service.
with the enQlHS OI the wal S1ACAO
came a period of stagnation which
marked the passing of the old WOODEN
navy Evans drifted for time into
civil pursuits, although never felin-
touishing his connection with the SER
vice In fact, as soon as congress
made known it's purpose to meet the
insistent demand of Secretaries Cham
dler and Whitney for a renovation OF
the American navy, Evans came PACK
into the service and was one of the
leading spirits in planning the rudI-
ments of what is now the American
modern navy
dispatch boat Dolphin a = cruise
around the world to test the structural
! strength of this first product or the
infant steel shipbuilding art Of the
limited states. He always got the best
f, ships and the newest because his su-
perior officers knew he could be
trusted to handle them safely and de-
yelOp their strong and weak points.
| tt hannened that with the gunboat
yorktown he dropped in at Valparaiso,
Chile, in 1891, and found an opportun-
ity to display all of the determination
and courage he possessed. Some or
the American sailors had been NAL
treated and murderOusly assaulted and
Evans felt it his duty to demand pro-
lection and reparation- The ODDS
against him were grotesquely large
The tiny yorktown lay in the harbor
lunde the guns of the whole Chilean
fleet. yet Evans never faltered. put
carried out his purpose and sailed
lawav trfumphantly with his colOrS fly
ing and the band playing the Ameri-
can national air to the accompaniment
of sullen salutes from the Chilean forts
and warships.
He Got a BattIeship.
A few busy years engaged in duty
on the construction board when
planned the modern battlesnlps ano
cruisers and in several long cruises u
trv out the result of his brain work on
the high seas brought Evans then
commander, to the opening OIL Ihe
Spanish Am erican war. He wanteu
battleship and he got one one OF ms
Ibest-the Iowa-which represented
the latest product of the American
When Cervera's fleet made its fatal
dash through the blockading snlps on
SANTIAGO on July 8, 1893 Captain Evans
shin took a notable part in the 5e-miie
running fight that followed. For MS
gaIlantry in this action he received tne
thanks of congress and was promoted
AS a full fedged rear admiral. Evans
was called on to take the Atlantic fleet
around the world and how he was Sc
Iected has already been told by 1ornei
Secretary Metcalf. That prllilsln y
| achievement. the first cruise OF an At
nored fleet Of that size and power fully
J tested Admiral Evans ability as ar
organizer and a commander. All the
public knew was that 10 paluesitlps
, had made the 25.000-mile cruise; the9
could not imagine what that meant &c
the directing mind of the fleet. of the
: many hours Of anxiety spent in pouring
} over charts of harbors and reefs; o.
planning for supplies for fuel ana 1000
and Of keeping together in contentee
: and and happy mood the thousands of mer
j, who made up the crews of the war
ships.
Bv the time he had reached Sa1
Francisco the strain had become 81
j severe that he was unable to leave hi
4 bed and it was necessary to relieve hin