He was engaged in various duties and in October, 1891, he arrived in command of the _Yorktown_ at Valparaiso, directly after the attack of a mob of Chilians upon the sailors of the _Baltimore_.

When some of the refugees fled for safety to the _Yorktown_ and the Chilians demanded their surrender "Fighting Bob" replied that he would defend them until the _Yorktown_ went to the bottom.

Some time later the captain's launch was stoned, for the Chilians hated the Americans as intensely as did the Spaniards.

Captain Evans placed a rapid fire gun in the bow of the launch, filled her with armed men and went ashore.

Hunting out the authorities, he notified them that if any more stones were thrown at his launch he would make life a burden for every Chilian within reach of the Yorktown's guns.