The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-04
FIGHTING BOB
. EVANS IS DEAD
Stricken at 2 Yesterday AT.
ternoon, He Died at
4:45.
ACUTE INDIGESTION THE CAUSE
Officials Are all Shocked at
Sudden Death Of
Fighter.
Evans Served With Much
Distinction in Civil
War.
ACUTE INDIGESTION THE CAUSE

Washington. Jan. 4.--Rear Admiral
Fobley ID. Evans, Fighting Bob" to-
an .dmiring nation, died suddenly
late yesterday at his home in this city.
Acute Indigestion ended the career
Of one of the most popular officers in
the navy. He was III a little" "over
two hours.
Admiral Evans, born 65 years ago
in Floyd county, Virginia, rose yes.
terday apparently in better health ami
spirits than he had enjoyed i'm some
time. For years sufferer from old
wounds sustained in the civil war
and from recurrent attacks of rheu-
matte gout, the aged fighter seemed
to have shaken Off the burden of his
advancing days. He displayed high
spirits at breakfast and ate n hearty
luncheon at noon.
while in his library at 2 o'clock the
admiral was stricken. Instantly his
family sent for DR.. S. S. Adams, who
found the patient i'm great pain
After treatment Admiral Evans fell
into restless sleep and it was
thought that the danger had passed.
Shortly after o'clock, however, he
wakcned and raising himself with
difficulty, announced that he was
choking.
Conscious 10 End.
'I cannot get my BREATH" he said
and sank back. At 4:45 o'clock he
died, conscious to the end.
At his bedside at the time of his
death were his wife, his daughter,
Mrs II. /. Scwall, and his daughter
in-law, Mrs. Frank Il. Evans, wife
of the admirars only son, lieuten-
ant commander in the navy, now on
duty on the torpedo boat destroyer
Monahan, at Boston. The only other
member OF his immediate family who
was not present was his daughter,
Mrs. Marsh, wife of Captain Charles
G. Marsh, commanding the armored
cruiser North Carolina.
Tributes TO Hero.
The news spread with great rapid
ity and was profound shock in Of
fetal circles. President Taft was one
OF the first to express his grief and
coincidence. He said: Admiral
Evans was one of the most success
full squadron commanders we have
had in the navy for long time. He
was rigid disciplinarians Of quick
decision and admirably advised in the
intricacy Of the machinery OF cruis-
ers and battleships and skilled in
drilling them. l am very sorry to
hear of his death"
Admiral Dewey was so overcome
that he could utter but a few words.
II am shocked beyond measure at
the sudden death Of my lifelong
friend, Admiral Evans" was all he
could say.
Secretary Meyer paid this tribute
to the officers memory; "By the sud
den death of Admiral Evans 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-c chief
OF that fleet that cruised around the
world. Although on the retired list'
he had kept up his active interest In
the service and his unexpected death
comes as a shock to the navy"
Did Not like SObriquet.
Admiral Evans was one of the iron
links that bound the old navy to the
now. He did not take kindly to the
sobriquet of "Flghting Bob" for, al
man of the kindliest impulses. Thus
1t never was used In his presence by
his friends. But his daun.less cour-
age in times of great emergency the
grim determination with which he
faced overwhelming odds and the
stoiclsm with which he bore ms
wounds and gazed unnlnching In the
face of death made the title so APP
proprlate that as 'iTighting Bob he
was known wherever the English
language is spoken.
Evans was a mere boy when he was
sent to the Naval academy at An
napolls. Before he had got far with
his studies the civil war broke oul
and he went to sea and was assignee
TO blockade duty. 1t was In one oil
the two attacks made by the North
ern navy upon the powerful deienses
at Fort Fisher, n. c., that young
Evans received the wound through
the thigh that made him cripple
for life. lie suffered three other
wounds, but as soon as he was dis
charged from the hospital he again
plunged into the hghtlng and served
until the end of the civil war with
great credit.