Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1848-01-29


touched mazzies-and The gunners, in
ramming home their cartridges were con
PEELED frequently 10 thrust their hammers
into the enemy's ports. Never before
had an English commander met such a
foeman. nor fought such a battle. The
,imbers rem, at every explosion, and hinge
gaps opened in the sides Of each vessel,
| while they rembIed at every discharge as
in The mouth of volcano. With his
heaviest guns bursted and par, Of his deck
blown up. Jones sill kept up the uneqnal
fight with bravery unparalleled in naval
warfare. He with his own hands helped
TO work The guns, and blackened with
powder and smoke, moved among his
men with a stern expression never 10
yield, written on hi, delicate features in
Hines not to be mistaken.
To compensate for The superiority Of
the enemv's guns. he had TO discharge
his own with greater rapidity, 50 that al
Ter short lime they became 50 hot that
they bounded like mad creatures in their
iastenngs; and at every discharge the
gallant ship trombled like smiiten OK,
from kelson 10 bow aud keeed over
ill her yard arms almost touched the va
ter.
In the meantime his top-men did tert-
BILE execution. Ten times was the Sera-
pis on fire, and rs often were the flames
extinguished. Never did man struggle
harder than the English commander, bat
a still Drawer heart opposed him. At this
jnncture the Alliance came np, and in
stead of pouring her broadsides into the
Scraps. hurled them at poor Ricbard-
now poor indeed. Jones was in a trans.
port Of rage, but he could not help HIM
self.
In This awful crisis. fighting BY The
ligh, Of the moon, the gunner and the car
penter both rushed in declaring she was
ceiyed between wind and water had al
ready sunk her below The sarface. and the
water was pouring in like stream. The
carpenter ran 70 pull down the coIors.
which were still flying amid the smoke Of
battle, while The gunner cried,
Quarters. for Gods sake, quarters
Keeping up the cry. Jones hurled bis
pistols, which he had Just fred at the en-
envy, 1t his head, which fractured his
skull, and sent him beadlong down tie
hatcbway. Captain Pearson hailed 70
know if he had struck. and was answered
with a : Mo- accompanied with an en-
phatic phrase tina, told the latter, with his
coiors flying, he would go down if he
could do no better.
The masler-at arms hearing the gun
ner's cry. and thinking the ship was 60
ing to the bottom, released hundred
English prisoners into The midst Of the
confusion. One Of these passing through
the fire Of bis own ship, told Capt. Pear
son that the Richard was sinking and if he
would hold out few minutes longer, she
must 90 down.
Imagine the condition ofJones at this
moment; with every battery alenced,
save the one at which he stood unshaken,
his ship gradually settling beneath him,
hundred prisoners swarming his decks,
and his own Censor. rakiug him with bis
broadsides. his last hope seemed about 10
expire. Sill he would rot yield. His Of
ficers urged him 10 surrender. while cries
Of quarter rose on every side. Undlsmay-
cd and resolule 10 the last, he ordered the
prisoners 10 the pumps, telling them if
they refused TO work he would lake them
10 the bottom with him. Thus making
panic hgh, panic, he continued the con-
fict. The spectacle at this momen, was
awful, both vessels looked like wrecks,
and both were on fire.
The flames shot heavenward around
the masts of the Scraps, and at half past
ten she struck. For time the inferior
officers did not know which had yielded,
such perfect tumult had the fight become.
For three and half hours this incessant
cannonade, within yard-arm of each other
continued, and nothing but the courage
and Stern resolution of Jones no! to sur
render, saved him from defeat.
When the morning dawned the Bon
Homme Richard presented the most de-
plorable spectacle. She lay perfect
wreck upon the sea, riddIed through and
literally stove TO pieces. There was six
fee, of water in her hold, while above she
was on fire in two places. Jones put
forth every efor, 10 save the vessel in
which he had won such renown, but In
vain. He KEEP, her ahoat all the follow
ing day and night, but next morning she
was found TO be going. The waves roll
ed through her, she swayed from side 10
side like dying man, then gave lurch
forward aud went down headforemost.-
Jones stood on the deck of the English
ship and watched her as he would dying
friend and finally with sueliinn heart