Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1912 — STORIES of CAMP AND WAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STORIES of CAMP AND WAR

STollU|s OF “FIGHTING BOB’* Interesting -Tates of Famous dharaoter W&Ue sn Land and at Sea— .3 • . UpPistol Saves Legs. “Figfctbs Boh” HSitaß was sent to Valparaiso, Chile, in 1891, with tho little cruiser Yorktown to protect American interests. He hostility from the start. There hadi -been an insurrection and certain political refugees found asyltmk ; On tho Yorktown; The Chilean government demanded * their surrender and Evans refused' to give them up. What happened was told afterward by Evans in an interview. “The "commanding officer at Valparaiso of the Chilean forces requested! the admiral commanding one of ther European squadrons on that station to say to me that unless these refugee* were surrendered they would follow my ship to sea with three cruisers! and an ffonclad nearly four times her! size and as soon as we got outside the marine league they would heave* to and demand the surrender of th» fugitives. “I told the admiral I would not surrender the men. He informed me if the three big Chilean ships attacked! me my little Yorktown would not last thirty minutes. In reply I requested: the admiral to say to the officer commanding the Chilean squadron thatwhile mg little ship might not last more than thirty minutes, *sho w m make a lot of trouble while die is afloat’ I steamed out of Valparaiso* bay the jmxt noon, with all my refugees on -roard and no ship of the< Chilean squadron followed me.” The Yorktown was made the target: for Chilean torpedo practice and Evans Eimself was nearly mobbed when* he went ashore. He cleared his ship* for action and notified the authoritiesthat if they didn’t protect him h* would protect himself. -They protected him. How Brans gained the sobriquet of “Fighting Bob” is a mooted question.

One writer has dug up a story of his Annapdlif days, which Credits him with having gained the nickname then. According to this version, wreathe youth entered the academy he took with him a framed copy of the Lord’s prayer, a gift of his mother, who told him to fauijjf it over his bed. Bole* forbade decorations m the rooms. Evans calmnly ignored the rules. An Inspector told him to take down the prayer. Evans promptly swore he would smash the face of the llfst man who touched It The inspector referred the matter to the commandant, who took it up with the secretary of the navy. Ehr&ns wrote home about it It got in the papers. An indignation meeting waif held In the town. A special order allowing the prayer to remain was the result And it was "Fighting Bob” after that Evans, in the Civil war, led a charge of marines on Fort Fisher. He was wounded in both legs and left dying on the beach within range of the Confederate guns. He a companion, biding behind a sand dime, to drag him to safety. The companion declined tir risk his life. Evans whipped out a revolver. The marine took the lesser of the risks. Next day the doctor decided to amputate hia leg*. Evans again brought the revolver - into play and the surgeon changed his mind. What Erins told the surgeon fat declared to hate been a classic in its line. He concluded by saying; “These are TOT legs and by the great horn spoon; #® going to keep them.’* He did.

Evans Whipped Out a Revolver.