us in trouble with that country.  There was not a word of censure upon his course.  Out of 108 vessels engaged in the illegal trade he captured 98 and of the several hundred seals unlawfully killed he captured every one.  Like all the other officers and sailors who took part in the destruction of Cervera’s fleet, he was energetic, skilful, brave and chivalrous, for when Captain Eulate, of the captured Vizcaya, offered his sword to the Captain of the Iowa that gentleman kindly waved him back and told him to keep the weapon he had used so well.

Captain Evans does not like the name “Fighting Bob”, for he feels he has no more claim to the distinction than the rest of his associates.  Many of the stories told of his roughness of speech and profanity are not true, though it cannot be denied that he has a habit of expressing himself very vigorously when his feelings are stirred.  By his own request, Captain Evans was relieved, September 15, 1898, of the command of the Iowa, he having served more than his regular term of sea service.  At present he is a member of the Board of Inspection and Survey.

John C. Watson was born in Frankfort, Ky., August 24, 1842, and is a member of one of the leading families of the State.  He entered the Naval Academy at the age of fourteen and was graduated near the head of his class in June, 1860.  He was a midshipman on the Susquehanna in Europe, at the breaking out of the war, and was made master in August, 1861.

It is proof of the worth of the man that he was assigned as navigator of the flagship Hartford, commanded by the lion-hearted Farragut.  He became lieutenant in June, 1862, and flag lieutenant to Farragut in January, 1864.

The reader of these pages has learned something of the great battles of New Orleans, Mobile Bay, Vicksburg and Port Hudson.  Watson took part in all of them and none acquitted himself better.  In a letter to his son, Admiral Farragut wrote:  “I am almost as fond of Watson as I am of your own dear self.”  In his report of the battle of Mobile Bay, where Watson was wounded, Farragut wrote:  “Lieutenant Watson has been brought to your attention in former times.  He was on the poop attending to the signals and performed his duty, as might be expected, thoroughly.  He is a scion worthy of the noble stock he springs from, and I commend him to your attention.”

A squadron of invincible power was made up for Watson in the summer of 1898, with which it was intended Commodore Watson should pay a hostile visit to the coast of Spain.  But for the signing of the peace protocol, that visit under its gallant and distinguished commander would have proved one that the decrepit monarchy would remember to the end of time.

Captain John W. Philip, promoted to the rank of commodore for his superb work with the Texas off Santiago, is brave, modest, devout and fond of practical joking.  He is genial, exceedingly popular with his associates and men and one of the finest officers in the navy.  The little incident well illustrates his character, when, in the midst of the wild rejoicing of his men over the destruction of the Spanish fleet, he checked them with the words:  “Don’t cheer, boys; the poor fellows are dying!”