New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
In the Civil War.


dian fighting and big game hunting.
In the Civil War.
In 1861 the fourteen-year-ol midshipman
faced the momentous crisis of a choice
between his family and his flag He talked
it over with Captain &. r. p. Rodgers the
commandant OF cadets. and promised him
to stick by the old flag and let family
ties take care of themselves"
But his mother was so determined that
he should fight for the South that she sent
his resignation to the Navy Department.
IT was accepted, but the loyal young cadet
repudiated it so strenuously that within
twenty-four hours he was restored to the
service. His brother. however, followed
family sentiment and became chief OF
scouts on General Lees staff.
Bob found himself in actual service as
Naval Academy graduate in 1853. His first
official act was to leap from an upper deck
into a group of enlisted men and with a
brass trumpet beat sense into one of them
who thought the little ensign neither old
nor large enough to enforce orders.
The years following his Fort Fisher episode
were mostly routine. They put him on the
retired list, on the ground of physical disa-
bility but he fought IT out with Congress
and was reinstated After recovering from
his wounds in 1866 he received a commits
sion as lieutenant and was stationed on
ordnance duty at the Washington Navy
Yard, and later with the Piscataqua, flag
ship of the North Atlantic Squadron. In
1868 he became lieutenant commander. and
after some shore duty went to the Shenan-
doah and the Congress. of the European
"a In nd of ba mi
ship Saratoga from 1877 to 1878, and in the
latter year became commander. Then he
saw more service at the Washington Navy
YARD. and from 1882 TO 1856 was a light
house INSPECTOR. The following year he be-
came chief inspector Of the steel used on
the new cruisers.
Upheld American Dignity.
But in 1891. as commander of the York
town Commander Evans again came into
his own when ne preserved the dignity
of the United States in Valparaiso harbor
Chill was resounding with hostility to the
United States. Two of the crew of the
Baltimore, stationed at Valparaiso, had
been killed by Chilians. The Yorktown
Evans in command, was sent to relieve the
Baltimore. Surrounded by nine Gillian
WdrShlpS, ne 1ed1leSSly TOOK up MS POSI-
ton in the harbor. The Cnilians began an
moving him. one trick was TO see how
close they could maneuvre their torpedo
boats to the Yorktown. one Of them missed
the Yankee vessels stern by a bare six
feet. Evans protested. He was told that
the harbor belonged 10 the Chillans to use
as they pleased.
Evans retorted that the Yorktown be-
longed TO the United States government
and that If so much as her paint should be
damaged the Chilisns would pay dearly
for it.
The trouble ceased promptly.
Nothing more happened until the war
with Spain. Meantime. in 1893, he had re-
ceived his captains commission. When It
seemed certain that war would be declared
he offered his services to President McKin-
ley. with the remark that II any fighting
was going to be done he wanted to be in it.
II is also said that ne added later "Once
let me at the spaniards and Spanish will
be the prevailing language in Hell FOR the
next ten years"
Thanked for GalIantry at Santiago.
He was soon afterward appointed to the
command of the Iowa. How we'll he lived
familiar story of the part played by the
Iowa in the battle of Santiago. For his
gallantry In that ffty-mile running fight
be-received the thanks OF Congress and
was promoted TO the rank OF rear admiral
Since then ne had been twice president of
the Board of Inspection and Survey, COM
mander in chief of the Asiatc station, COM
mander OF the Atlantic feet and comman-
III In Of he
tour OF the world in 1907 and 1898, just be-
fore his retirement.
Ready to fight or frolic." was his com
ment as he started on that last memorable
cruise. D
The Cruise Around the World.
That brilliant achievement the first world
cruise OF an armored fleet Of that size and
power, fully tested Admiral Evans's ability
as an organizer and commander. All that
the public knew was that sixteen battle
ships had made a 25.000-mile cruise. They
could not imagine what that meant to the
directing mind Of the feet. of the many
hours OF anxiety spent in porlng over
charts Of harbors or reefs, of planning for
supplies Of fuel and food and Of keeping
together IN contented and happy mood the
thousands of men who made up the crews
OF the warships.
BY the time he had reached San Fran
cisco the strain had become so severe that
ne was unable to leave his bed. and 1t was
necessary to relieve him from the COM
mand at that place.
Active duty terminated for Admiral
Evans at that point. 1t Is true that he
did not 60 on the retired list until few
months afterward, but never again was
ne called on to direct the movements OF
ship or fleet. He retired TO his quaint, old
fashioned home In Washington, and. sur
rounded by his family, spent the few re-
maining years OF his life in happiness. His
leisure gave him opportunity to execute his
long cherished idea OF telling some OF his
wonderful experiences, and these he had
set out I'm some books which are to be found
IN the libraries of every American naval
vessel and wherever men Ike TO read OF
gallant exploits on the sea.
One Of the iron links that bound the old
navy 10 the new commanding figure in
each was Robley ID. Evans. With the
ending Of the Civil War there came a
period OF stagnation. which marked the
Passing OF the old wooden navy. Evans
drifted for time into civil pursuits. AL
though never relinquishing his connection
with the service. In fact, az soon as Con-
gress manifested it's purpose to meet the
insistent demand OF Secretaries Chandler
and whitney for renovation OF the navy,
Evans came back into the service and was
one Of the leading spirits In planning the
rudments OF what Is now the American
modern navy.