Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-10-19
PAUL JONES.
BATTLE BETWEEN THE HoaME RICHARD
AND THE SCRAPS.

by J. r. HEADLEY.


Stretching from thence along the Enc
lish coast, Jones cruised about for awhile
and at length fell in with the Alliance
which had parted company with him :
short time previous. With this vessel. the
Palp1is and Vengeance. making wi h the
Richard four ships, no stood for tho north
when on the afternoon Of September % J
1879, he saw n fleet Of forty sail hugg ne
tho coast. This was tho Battle flee, con
voyed Of tho Sarapis. Of Al guns, and the
Countess Of Scarborough, Of II guns.
Jones Immediately issued his orders tc
form limo Of bat,lo. whlc with his shiI
he gave chase. The convoy scattered like
Wild pigeons. md ran for tho shore 10 place
themselves under tho protection Of n fort
whilo the two ships advanced to tho con
hict. Ii was n beautiful day. tho wind
was light. so that no, a wave broke tho
surface Of tho soa, and all was smiling
and tranquil on land. as tho hostile foe.s
approached each other. The pier Of Scar
borough was crowded with spectators
while tho old promontory Of Flamborough.
over three miles distant, was black with
tho multitude assembled to witness the en-
sngemen'.
Tho breeze was go light that the vessels
approached each other slowly, as If re-
luctant to come to tho mor,ni struggle, and
mar that p'acid scene. nni that beau.i-
ful evening with tho sound Of battle. 1t
was a thrilling spectacle, those bold ships
with their sails all sot, boaring STORMY up
TO each other.
At length the c:o,dIe.- sun SINK behind
tho hills, and twilight deepened over tho
waves Tho next moment the full. round
moon pushed is broad disc above tho hori-
zon and shed a flood Of light cvor tho tran
au,I wators, bathing III he. soft beams tho
white sails that seemed like gentle moving
clouds. The PaIPais stood for tho Conn-
tess of Scarborough. while the Aiiance'
afior having como within rnnge. wilhdro"
and took position where she could safely
contemplate the fight.
Jones, now in his clement, paced the
deck to and fro. impatient for the contest;
and al length npproache within shot OF
the Scraps. Tho latter wns n now ship,
with nm excellent crew, and throwing, at
every bro,dsidc. soventy-fivc pounds moro
than tho Richard. Jones, however. rated
this Lightly, and so with his old ha.f worn
out merchantmen, closed foarcssly with
his powerful antagonist. AZ he approach
cd the latter, Captain Pearson hailed him
with
What ship Is tha.'
Il can't hear what you say was tho re-
ply.
what ship is thar rang back, answer
Immediately. or shall fro into you
a sho, from the Richard was the signif
cant answer. md Immediately both ves-
sells opened their brondsdes. Two Of the
Old eighteen Founders Of tho Richard burst
a. tho rst fro. and he was compelled to
close tho lower deck ports which were no,
opened again during tho action. This was
anomious beginning. The broadsides now
became rapid. presentinga strange spcc'a-
clio to the people on shore. The flashes of
guns amid the clouds Of smoke tina, hung
around tho vessels. followed by the roar
that shook the coast. serving to but half
reveal tho struggling vessels, consplrcd to
make it one Of terror and dread.
The vessels kept moving alongside OF
each others track; now passing tho bow
md now passing tho storm; pouring in each
turn n terrible broadsiGe. that made both
friend and foe stagger. Thus fighting aud
'IoJ hcPb OH""Ao' uhNii a.
length tho Richard got nfoul Of tho Scraps.
and Jones gave orders to board. His men
were repulsed. and Captain Pearson hail
ed to know if he had struck.
Il have no, yot begun to fight was tho
short and stern reply Of Jones. backing his
,opsaiIs. while tho Scraps kept full; the
vessels parted and como alongside and
broadside answered broadside with fearful
effect.
But Jones saw that this mode Of fighting
would not answer. The superiority Of the
enemy. in weight Of metal. gave him
great advantage in this broadside firing:
as his vessel was old and rotten.
whiic every timber in that Of his antagon-
ist was new and staunch; and he dcter'nin-
I'd to throw himself aboard Of the enemy.
In dong this. no fell off farther than he in
tended. and his vessel, catching a moment
BY the jib- boom Of the Scraps; carried it
away. and the two ships swung broadside
10 broadsidc. the muzzles Of the guns ;ou-
ching each other. Jones Immediately or
3ered them to DO dashed together. and in
lis eagerncss to secure them, helped with
MS own hands to tie the hastings. Capt.
Pearson did No. like this fighting, for it
a the advantages his superior
milling and heavier guns gave him. and so
he lot drop an anchor to swing his ship
apart.
But the two ships were firmly clenched
q the embaces Of death; for added TO all
he !ashings, the anchor Of tho Scraps had
looked tho quarter Of the Ric ha rd, so that
when the former oheved the c,hia md