Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-01-10
ADMIRAL EVANS DIED SUDDENLY
Fatal Illness Quickly Closes Career
of Brilliant Officer.

late To-Day, at MS nome IN tnlS CITY.
Acute indigestion ended the career
of one Of the most popular officers in
the navy. He was Ill less than two
hours.
Admiral Evans, born 65 years ago
in Floyd county, Virginia, arose to-
day apparently in better health & I'd
spirits than he had enjoyed in some
time For years sufferer from
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 hearty
luncheon at noon.
Stricken in Library.
While in his library at 2 o'clock
the admiral was stricken. Instantly
his family sent for Dr. s. S. Adams,
who, on his arrival, found the pa
tient In great pain. After treatment,
Admiral Evans fell into restless
sleep, and 1t was thought the danger
had passed. Shortly after 1 o'clock,
however, he awakened, and, raising
himself with difficulty, announced
that he was choking.
II cannot get my BREATH" he said ;,
and sank back. At 4.45 o'clock he
died, conscious to the end
Family at Bedside.
At his bedside at the time OF his
death were his wife, his daughter,
Mrs. H. |. Scwall, and his daughter
in-law, Mrs. f. E. Evans, wife Of the
admirals only son, a lieutenant COM
mander in the navy, now on duty OF
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 Capt Chas. G. Marsh,
commanding the armored cruiser
North Carolina.
Around-thc-World Cruise.
Former Secretary Of the Navy Met
calf, who happened to be in Wash
ington to-day, pointed out that he
himself had given Admiral Evans
command of the Atlantic fleet in it's
cruise around the world, the choicest
assignment ever extended to an
American naval officer in time of
peace.
"He was practically an i'll man
when he was selected for this i'm.
portant duty" said MI. Metcalf, "but
his splendid record justified the de-
partment in giving him this recog-
milton Of his long and efficient SER
vice. He was one Of the most ef1i-
cient and capable officers the navy
has known, and his name has been
household word for many years"
Dislikcd His Nickname.
One OF the iron links that bound
the old navy to the new, command
ing figure in each, was Robley ID.
Evans. He did not take kindly to
the sobriquet Of "Fighting Bob" for,
although OF gruff exterior, he was
man of tho kindlicst impulses.
Thus 1t never was used in his pres
ence by his friends. But his daunt-
less courage in times of great cmer-
gency, the grim determination with
which he faced overwhelming odds,
and the stOicism with which he bore
his wounds and gaZed unfinchingly
in the face Of death, made the title
so appropriate that as "Fighting
Bob he was known wherever the
English language Is spoken.
Wounded at Fort Fisher.
Evans was mere boy when he
was sent to the Naval Academy at
Annapolis. Before he had got far
with his studies the Civil War broke
out, and throwing his books to the
winds, he went to sea and was as
signed to blockade duty. 1t was in
one OF the two attacks made by the
Northern navy upon powerful de-
lenses at Fort Fisher, N. c., that
young Evans received tho wound
through the thigh that made him a
cripple for life. He suffered three
other wounds. but as soon as he was
discharged from the hospital he again
plunged into the fighting and served
until the end OF the Civil War with
great credit
Incident at Valparaiso.
1t happened that with the gunboat
yorktown he dropped in at Valpa-
raiso, Chile, in 1891, and found an
opportunity to display all of the de-
termination and courage he possess
cd. Some Of the American sailnrs