The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1912-01-18
Admiral Robley d. Evans.

tie first OF last Eeek. He Vtas the
most spectacular character in the
American Navy, and vas the ehisi
setsr in many Periious adventures.
Many stories are being published ab0ot
him since his death. We reprint feu
Of them 70 shOE the character and
ready sii Of the r1sn.
When the Maine Was blown up iE
Havana hArb3r. the War Department
called on Admiral Robley D. Evans
for . report a. to coast defenses
around Havana ard her probable ca
pleity TO withstand a siege. Evans
reply went back TO the Secretary OF
War very promptly Gs follows; I'VE
can lick 'em easily. Give me. Pernis-
sion AZ once TO she'll Havana. and !
promise yoa that there sill Be no Ian
Euage, except Spanish. spoken in hell
fof the next forty-eight hours"
few days after the sppeArAnee Of
Evans and hi. felloE officers OF the
coast Of Havana, the Spanish author
ities wanted q conference 10 discus.
the Maine disaster. hoping TO convince
the Americans that Spain was inno-
cent o. the Maine tragedy. Evans did
not Eant 70 grant the Conference sat-
istied that Spain had caused the death
OF the gallant seAnen Of the Maine.
Orders came TO grant the conference.
At the appointed time the Spanish
officers came on board an American
Esr vessel and stoatly protested The
innOceoee Of their country.
After the conference vas over in
which Evans was very formal the con-
ysrsstion driited 70 events on the is-
land. That very day q Spanish mot
hsd attacked the building in which the
American consulate was located. A
Big bronze eagle which had been perch.
ed high up on dome Of the consulate
building was torn down by the mot
and in its downward course It struck
4 Spanish Aag. tore il from the stat
and carried IL to the earth. The Span
ish officers said that the people were
superstitious and feared that the incl
dent was prophetic OF Spanish disaster,
but, said oae OF them, The flag Of
Spain will never be dragged to earth b.
the United States or any other country.
By this time Evans had reached tn,
boiling point, and bringing down hi
hand vehemen.ly on The table replieC
to the Spanish Don in a style more EN-
phAtie than rious; Don't you hull
fighting. reaeherous - know
what the eagle and flag incident means
Ii means that the American eagle hsi
been watching the Spanish yulturei
and that he will tear down every Span
ish flag on the island. and By the gracs
OF Almighty God and the strong arm
Of the U 5. government it will come
a sight sooner than most people
expect it." And il did come sooner
In few short weeks Dewey's gun
thnndered around the world from "a
Of Manila bay. and the mighty wa
gods OF sampson aud Schley swept th,
Spanish feet frou Cuban waters.
The spirit shown by Robley Evan
all through hi- career as an officer wal
characterized in early life when h,
was arrested in Russia for refusing 4
bow his head before the "Czar Of al
the Russias" on coronation day Tit
occasion was a mighty gala day. Th'
Gar was seated upon q throne Of ivorl
and gold. srayed in the purple Of th'
empire, and before him passed in grea
eOneourse, courtiers, statesmen, for
eign diplomats, soldiers. peasants. anC
every one who passed before Russia
ruler must uncover and bow the head
There was one young boy who march eC
before the throne with uncovered
head in military salute, but refused q
bow The field marshal spurred Aftei
him and brought him back TO the EN-
peror's throne. he ruler, perceiyine
that he was a foreigner. addressed him
in English. "WhO are you and from
whence d. yOu eonef Why do you re
fuse to obey the law Of the land? Ir
Russia the thrones decree il law,
Why did you refuse to bow yo1r head
befor- the throne?
Looking the emperor Ia the eye
without fiinching the young man re-
piled
"My name is RIbleY Evans. an
an ensign on yonder American wArship
and | boa my head only to Almighty
God and the American dag"
For a moment the CEsr pondered.
Then turning To the field mArshals,
exclaimed:
Let him pass on. Aolest him not.
In that land from whence he came the
government j. by the people. and every