Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-01-04
Fighting Bob," One of Most
Popular Men in United States
Navy, Suddenly Stricken in
Washington.
ATTACK OF ACUTE
INDIGESTION FATAL
Dead Officer Served in Civil and
Spanish American VARS
Started BattIeShip Fleet On
Cruise Around World.

fBy Morning journal Special Leaesd Wire.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-Read- Admir- :
al Robley -. Evans Fighting BOD,
to an admiring nation, died suddenly
late today at his home in this clty.
Acute indigestion ended the career %
one Of the most popular oiIlcefs oi
the navy. He was Ill less than TWO
hours.
Admiral Evans, born 65 years ago
IN Floyd county Virginia, arose 10
day apparently in better health 'and
snirits than he had enjoyed in some
time. For years sufferer from ola
wounds sustained in the civil wa
and from recurrent attacks of rheu-
matte gout, the aged sea ilsltei
seemed to have shaken off the bur
den OF his advancing days. lie dls,
played high spirits al breakias' anu
ate n hearty luncheon at noon.
While in his library at o'clock
the admiral was stricken. instantly
his family sent for Or. S. s. Adams,
who. on his arrival found the pa
tient in great pain. After treatment
Admiral Evans fell into restless
sleep and it was thought the danger
had passed. Shortly after O'Clock,
however, he awakened and raising
himself with difficulty, announced
that he was choking
Il cannot get my breath" he said
and sank back.
At AS o'clock he died, conscious
to the end.
Al his bedside were his wife, his
daughter, Mrs. II. l. Sewall, ana ms
daurhter-in-law Mrs, Frank Y,
Evans. wife OF the admirafs only son.
a neutenant-command in the navy
now on duty on the torpedo boat des-
troyer Monahan, at Boston. the onlN
other member of his immediate fam
lily who was not present was ms
daughter, Mrs. Marsh, wife of Cap-
tain Charles c. Marsh, commanding
the armored cruiser North carolina.
The news spread with great rapid
itv and caused q profound shock III
official circles.
President Taft was one OF the FIRST
to express his grief and condolehce'
He said:
Admiral Evans was one of the
most successful squadron comhnahu-
crs we have had in the navy Tor
long time. He was a rigid disciplln-
arian, of quick decision and admir-
ably advised in the intricacies OF the
machinery Of cruisers and battle-
ships and skilled in drilling them.
am very sorry to hear of his death-
Admiral Dewey was so overcome
that he could utter but "A few words.
Il am shocked beyond measure at
the sudden death of my lifelong
friend, Admiral Evans was an ne
could say.
Secretary Meyer paid this tribute
to the officers memory;
by the sudden death of Admiral
Evans the country loses one of lts
most brilliant and able Officers. II
was on account of his abihty tht't
President Roosevelt selected him as
commander-in-chie OF the battle
ship fleet that cruised around the
world. Although on the retired llst
he had kept up his active interest III
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 today. pointed out that he hlm-
self had given Admiral Evans tne
command of the Atlantic fleet on lts
crtise around the world, the choicest
assignment ever extended to an Amer
lean naval officer in time of peace.
He was practically an i'll man
when he was selected for TINS I'M
portant duty" said Mr.. Metcalt. bul
his splendid record justified the ue
partment in giving him this recognl-
ticn of his long and efficient service.
lie was one of the most eiliclent anu
capable Officers the navy has known
ANA his name has been household
word for years.
one of the iron links that bound
the old navy To the new, command
ing figure in each, was Robley -.
Evans. He did not take kindly 10
the sobriquet Of Fighting Bob' iot
although OF sruff exterior. he was
man of the kindlest impulses. Ihus
it never was used In his presence 10y
his friends.
But his dauntless courage in times
of great emergency, the grim deter
mination with which he faced over
whelming odds and the stoicism with
which he bore his wounds and gas-u
unflinchingly i'm the face of death.
made the title an appropriate name
ana as Fighting Boh' he was known
wherever the English language Is
spoken.
Evans was mere boy when he.
was sent to the naval academy at IN
napoiis. Before he got far with his
studies the civil war broke out. ana.
throwing his books to the winds. he
went to sea and was assigned L"
blockade duty. II was in one of two
attacks made by the northern navy
on the powerful defeuSes az Fort
Fisher. y. g.. that young Evans re
ceived the wound through the thigh
~hi,h rendered him cripple for
life. He suffered three other wounds
hut a. soon as discharged from the
hospital he again plunged into the
lighting and served until the end ct
the civil war with great credit
With the ending Of the war there
came period Of stagnation Whicl
marked the passing Of the old wood
on navy. Evans drifted for time in
TO civil pursuits. although never re-
llnquishing his connection with the