Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-01-10
ADMIRAL EVANS. DIES /: !! !:
ATTACK or ACUTE INDIGESTION
IS FATAL TO VETERAN
SEA FIGHTER.
HEART TROUBLE HAsTENss END.
Entered Navy at Fourteen and Was
Fighting in the Civil War at Six.
teen--Active In Spanish
2 s Conflict. .5

Washington.-Rear Admiral Robley
D. Evans, U. S. NJ, retired, affection
ately known to all America and the
world as Fighting Bob" Evans, one
If the navy's most brilliant officers
md the man. who as COMMANDMENTS,
chief, piloted the famous American
feet around Cape Hope and up the
Pacific to San Francisco, died sudden
ly at his home here of heart failure,
superinduced by an attack of acute
indigestion.
With the admiral at the time Of his;
death were his wife, and his youngest
daughter, Mrs. II. Sewall wife OF a
prominent lawyer and clubman Of
Boston. The admiral's son, Robert D.,
Jr., who is also in the naval service,
was summoned from Boston.
Admiral Evans had been complain
Ing for several days. but his condition
was not considered serious. He had
long been sufferer from rheumatism
and govt, and wounds he received In
the Civil war had bothered him more
or less for years, but the later compli-
cation Of Indigestion had not appeared
of any consequence.
That his rheumatism was a great
source Of annoyance and suffering was
shown during the American fleets
world tour when Admiral Evans was
forced to give up the command at San
Francisco after taking the magnificent
Armada safely around Cape Horn.
He had been obliged to leave the
feet before 1t reached the Golden
Gate, but returned to command at
that point. He was i'll for many weeks
and It was not long after this that he
was placed on the retired list.
Rcbley D. Evans entered the Naval
academy when he was little more
than fourteen years old and was fight
ing as commissioned officer in the
Civil war at sixteen. Although he
came from q southern state. he and
his mother at the outbreak of the
war sent In his resignation to the
navy department, he remained loyal
to the Union. Is.
During the Spanish war he COM
manded the battleship Iowa. Though
declared to have been strongly inim-
cal to Admiral Schley, the time came
when Fighting Bob" Evans came to
his assistance and his testimony be-
fore the board OF inquiry regarding
the conduct Of the battle at Santiago
materially aided in the verdict which
accorded Schley the honor that had
been denied him.
Advanced to the post Of rear adj
miral he assumed command OF the
North Atlantic squadron March 80.
1905, succeeding Rear Admiral Bar
ker, retired. He retired from actual
service August, 1908. after nearly IS
years OF actual. splendid service in
the United States navy.
The death of Admiral Evans was q
great shock to official Washington as
well as to the. thousands Of admirers
OF the navy hero. President Taft said:
admiral Evans was one Of the
most skilled squadron commanders we
have had in the navy In long time.
He was a rigid idisciplinarian, ofsquick
decision, admirably advised in the In
tricacies of machinery OF cruisers and
in battleships and skilled in drilling
and maneuvering them. II am very
sorry to hear Of his DEATH"
Secretary Of the Navy Meyer said:
by the sudden death Of Admiral
Evans the country loses one Of its
most brilliant and able Officers. It
was on account of his ability that
President Roosevelt selected him as
commander-in-chier Of the feet that
cruised around the world" 5