The Washington herald., 1912-01-04


Csnncn, was as gentle as a woman when
little Dorothy was around A familiar
picture to visitors at the Evans house
hold was the little girl perched on
Fighting Bob's'' good knee, and tire
lcSsly beseeching him 10 tell her one
more story" Around the world this
strange couple-the veteran of two wars
and the little girl-went In the fairy
craft Of wonder tales.
Dorthy had not cried last night. Her
childlike wonderment when she was
told that "granddaddy'' had gone away
spoke volumes of the sorrow that is 70
come when slowly but irreststioiy
there is unfolded before her the story
OF death and the grave.
In describing the death last nlght,
DR.. Adams was unable to assign definite
cause for the sudden attack OF heart
failure. in the attack last April the first
symptoms were even more severe than
they were to-day, and the relief did not
come as readily. Yet a short time after
the attack Admiral Evans was appar-
entity as well as ever.
'When / left the home the patient
was apparently much improved. SAID
Or. Adams, "and though I left the fam
lily the telephone number Of residence
In GEORGETOWN where I might be gotten
in case of a relapse, felt assured that
by Z o'clock he would have completely
recovered.
Funeral Arrangements.
Arrangements for the funeral will be
made to-day by the officials Of the Navy
Department, probably under the per-
sonal direction of Secretary Of the Navy
Meyer. The honorary pallbearers will
be chosen from the most distinguished
officers in the American navy.
As the word of Admiral Evans death
spread through the city last night prom
inent men In every walk of life Joined in
expressions of sorrow. President Taft
was at the dinner table when word came
to him over the telephone. his tribute
was:
Admiral Evans was one Of the most
successful squadron commanders We
have had in the navy for a long time.
He was a rigid disciplinarian, Of quick
decision, and admirably advised in the
intricacy of the machinery Of cruisers
and battle ships, and skilled in drilling
and msneuvering them am very sorry
to hear Of his death"
Secretary Meyers Tribute.
Only a few moments after this the
news was received by Secretary OF the
Navy Meyer.
BY the sudden death Of Admiral
Evans" he said. ''the country loses one
of its most brilliant and able officers. II
was on account of his ability that Presi-
dent Roosevelt selected him as COM
mander-in-chief Of the feet that cruised
around the world The admiral com
manded the feet from Hampton Roads
to San Francisco, relipQuishing the COM
mand there because Of illness. Although
on the retired list, he had kept up his ac-
tive interest in the service, and his un-
expected death comes as a shock to the
navy.
Former Secretary of the Navy Met
calf, who is stopping at the New Willard,
declared that Admiral Evans was one of
the most valued officers in the American
navy. He spoke briefly Of his achieve
ments.
Fishers Point during the civil war, said
Mr.. Metcaif. He was the man who
commanded the Iowa, which fired the
first gun in the memorable engagement
on Santiago. He was an officer, a gen.
tleman. and a man Though his death
has come as blow &c this nation, his
immemorial deeds remain, and his life
Will always furnish the youthS of this
country an inspiration and an ideal OF
courage"
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy Beck
man winthrop said:
1T is with deep grief that I have heard
OF the death OF Rear Admiral Evans.
He was known among US all as a man
of splendid character, Of indomftable de-
termination and iron nerve. He was one
OF the most splendid naval officers Amer
lean history has ever known"
Dewey's Statement.
Admiral George Dewey's tribute to Rear
Admiral Evans was made brief by the
very fact of his own grief.
'T am shocked beyond measure" said
he. by the news Of Rear Admiral
Evans death. He was a friend of mine
since the time when,. as young officers,
we prepared ourselves for the future.
He was one of the most magnificent OF
all the officers of the American navy"
Rear Admiral Wainwright, when told
of Fighting Bob's" death, said:
Every officer in the United States
navy will grieve as this message comes
10 him There was not an officer or man
who did not love Robley d. Evans"
The one ailment that had caused the
famous hero pain was the old game
leg so terribly wounded during the civil
war. Those who visited the White House
when Admiral Evans returned three
years ago after safely guiding sixteen
battle ships around the world recall the
gaunt face and the set jaws first notice
able when Fighting Bob" walking on
crutches, entered the Executive Mansion.
Recently the leg had seemed better. II
was only few weeks ago that the war
rior declared to a friend that he felt At
10 take charge Of another feet"
KfpIinE Pays Tribute.
Three years ago last August, after near
ly fifty years Of able service, Rear Ad-
miral Evans retired from active duty to
a well-earned rest at the age of sixty
two, and II was said then and has been
said ever since that there never was a
sailor who more fully embodied the ira
ditions of the sea in his makeup, nor
who served his country with more dis
tinction and more bravery than Fight
ing Bob Evans"
Upon one occasion Rudyard KipIing pre-
sented Evans with some Of his books In
the hyleaf of one he wrote poem to the
sea captain. Two stanzas ran like this:
Zogbsum draws with a pencil
And do things with pen;
But you SIT up IN coming tower
Bossing eight hundred men.
To him that hath shan be given;
And that's why these books are sent
To the nan who has lived more stories
Than Zogbaum I could invent
Evans had lived" many stories. His
life was a romance In his lifetime he
probably sailed more seas, met more
people, had more strange experiences.
and met more close calls for his life than
any other official in the American navy.
But whether lying dangerously wounded
IN g watery dit before Fort Fisher or en-