Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-05
ADMIRAL ROBLEY EVANS
IS CONQUERED BY DEATH
"Fighting Bob" of World Wide
Fame Tlies Suddenly at
Washington

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4-Rear Admiral
Robley D. Evans. Fighting Bob" to an
admiring nation, died suddenly late
wednesday at his home in this city.
Acute indigestion ended the career of
one OF the most popular officers in the
navy. He was I'll less than two hours.
Admiral Evans, bern s. years ago in
Floyd county, Va, arose Wednesday
apparently in better health and spirits
than he had enjoyed in some time. For
years a sufferer from old wounds sus-
tanned in the civil war and fEom recur-
rent attacks Of rheumatic govt, the aged
fighter seemed to have shaken off the
burden of his advancing days. He dis
played high spirits at breakfast and ate
a hearty luncheon at noon.
While in his library at 2 o'clock the
admiral was stricken. Instantly his
family sent for DIR. S. 8. Adams, who,
on his arrival. found the patient in great
pain. After treatment, Admiral Evans
fell into a restless sleep, and it was
thought that the danger had passed.
Shortly after o'clock, however, he
awakened and, raising himself with
dificulty,, announced that he was chok-
ing.
IT cannot get my BREATH" he said and
sank back At 4:45 o'clock he died, con-
scious to the end.
At his bedside at the time of his death
were his wife, his daughter, Mrs. H.
/. Sewall and his daughter-in-law, Mrs.
Frank T. Evans, wife Of the admiral S
only son, a neutenant-commander in the
navy, now on iuty on the torpedo boat
destroyer Monshan at Boston. The only
other member of his immediate family
who was not present was Mrs. Marsh,
wife of Capt. Charles c. Marsh, COM
handing the armored cruiser North
Carolina.
One of the iron links that bound the
old navy to the new, a commanding fig-
ure in each, was Robley D. Evans. He
did not take kindly to the sobriquet of
Fighting Bob" for, although of grufr
exterior, he was a man of the kindliest
impulses. Thus it never was used in
his presence by his friends. But his
dauntless courage in times of great
emergency, the grim determination with
which he faced overwhelming odds and
the stoicism with which he bore his
wounds and gazed unhinching in tho
face of death made the title so appro-
pirate that as Fighting Bob he was
known wherever the English language
is spoken.
Most of official Washington did not
learn of the sudden demise last evening
of Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans until
today. 1t caused a great shock and
many were the expressions of sorrow and
of sympathy for the aged wife and fam
lily of the brave old sailor.
1t had happened that Lieutenant Com
mander Evans, only son Of the deceased
who was supposed to have sailed
yesterday for the West Indies on the
torpedo boat destroyer Monaghan, had
been detained in Boston and consequently
the telegraph dispatched to him
last night informing him of his fathers
death He caught a night train and
reached home this morning.
Captain Marsh, who married one of
Admiral Evans daughters, was reached
by wireless on the battleship Michigan
but was unable to interrupt his cruise
to the West Indies and return to Wash
ington.
Funeral arrangements were well ad-
vanced this morning. There will be serv-
ices at 2;80 o'clock tomorrow afternoon
at All Souls Unitarian church here. The
have not yet been selected,
but will be chosen from among the ma
val officers who had served under Ad-
miral Evans. The funeral cortege will
be four companies of marines, two or
three companies of blue Jackets from the
Washington navy yard, one battery OF
artillery from the Washington navy yard
and the entire battalion of midshipmen
from the naval academy at Annapolis.