Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-10-19

thrust ther gun into the enemy's ports
Never before had English cOmmanfar
mo, such n foeman nor fought such a bat
tie. The timbers rent Mt every explosion,
and hugo gnps opened in the sides of each
vessel, whiIc they trembod at each dis
charge as in tho mouth Of volcano. With
his heaviest guns bursted and part Of his
deck blown up. Jones still kept up this un-
equal fight with bravery unparalleled IN
naval warfare. Ho with his own hand
hoIped to work the guns, and blackened
with powder and smoke, moved about
among his men with a stern expression
nevor TO yiold, written on his delicate fea-
tures in lines not to be mistaken.
/ To compensate for tho superiority of
tho enemy's guns, he had to discharge his
own with greater rnpidity, So that after
short ,ime they became SO hot that they
bounded like mad creatures in thelr fast
ching; and at every discharge the gallant
shin trembcd like a smitten OK, from KEEL
sen to cross trees, and keeled over till her
ward arms almost touched the wator.
In the mean,imo his top-men did terrible
execution. Ten times was the Serapis on
fire. and na often were tho flames extin-
guished. Never did man struggle harder
then tho English commander, but still
braver heart opposed him. AT this juno
ture tho Alliance came up. and instead Of
pouring his broadsidos into tho Scraps.
hurled them at poor Richard-now poor
indeed. Jones was i'll transport of rage,
but no could not help himself.
In this awful crisis. fighting by the light
Of tho moon, the gamer and the carpenter
both rushed up, declaring she was sinking.
Tho shots tho Richard had received be-
tween wind and wa,er had already sunk
her below tho surface, and tho wnter was
pouring in like a stream. The cnrpehier
run to pull down the colors. which were
still fyino amid the smoke Of battle, wi l Q
tho gunner cried
Quarters, for Gods sake, quarters
keepny up tho ory. Joreo hu-il bio
pistol, which he had Just firod at the enc
my, a, his head. which fractured his skull,
and sent him headlong down the hatch
way. Capt. Pearson hailed to know II he
had struck, and was answered with No,
accompanied with an emphatic phrase
tha, told the latter, with his colors flying,
he would go down if no could do no bettor.
The master at arms hearing tho gun
ner's cry. and thinking tho ship was going
to tho bottom, released hundred English
prisoners into the mids, Of tho confusion.
Ono Of these passing through tho fire Of his
own ship, told Capt. Pearson thntthe Rich.
ard was sinking, and If he would hold out
a fewminu,os longer she mus. go down.
Imagine the condition of Jones at this
moment; with every battery si'enced, save
tho ono at which he stood mistaken. his
ship gradually settling beneath nun, nun
bred prisoners swarm ng his decks, and III
own consort raking him with his broac-
sides, his last hope seemed about to expire.
Sill he would not Weld. HIS officers ur-
yed HIM 10 surrender while cries of quar-
ter roso on overy side. Cndismayed ami
rosouto to the last, he ordered the prison
ors to tho pumps, telling thom if they re-
fused to work, he would take them 10 the
bottom with him. Thus making panic
fight panic he continued tho conflict
The spectacle at thi. moment was awful,
both vessels looked like wrecks and both
were on fire.
The flames shot heavenward around the
mas,s Of tho Scraps. and a. hair past ter"
she struck For q timo the inferior OH
GERS did not know which had yielded. such .
a perfect tumult had the fight become
For three hours and a half this incessant
within yard arm of each other,
and nothing but the courage
and stern resolution of Jones not to sur
render saved him from defeat.
Whom the morning dawned, the Bon
Homno Richard presented the most de-
plorable spectacle; she lay perfect wreck :
upon tho sea, riddled through. and litter !
ally stove to pieces. There was six feet
Of water in her hold, while above she was
on fire in two places. Jones put forth /
every effort to save the vessel IN which he
had won such rcnown. but in vain. He
kept her afloat all the following day and
night. but next morning she was found to
be going. The waves rolled through her,
she swayed from side to side like dying
man. then gave a lurch forward and went
down headforemost. Jones stood on the deck
Of the English ship and watched her as he ;
would dying friend. and finally, with
swelling heart, he saw the last mast disnp-
pear, amid tho eddying waves which c'o-
sed with a rushing sound over her as she
sank with the dead who had so nobly fa'- /
len on her decks. They could have wish
ed no better coffin or burial.
Capt. Pearson was made knight for
tho bravery with which he had defended
his ship-what honor. then. did Jones de-
scrve.
Landias. of the Alliance. who had evil /
IDENTIFY designed to kill Jones. then take (
the English vessel and claim the honor Of /
tho ,yo. d,rnr,ooJ 70, b,a .o16,ot