Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-01-27


latter contributed, by their want o.
} naval skill and knowledge of the
English language, TO depress rather
than elevate a just hope of success:
in a combat under such circum.
stances. Neither the consideration
of the relative !orce of the ships, the
fact of the blowing up of the gun
deck above them by the bursting Of
two Of the eighteen-pounders, nor
the alarm that the ship was sinking,
could depress the ardor or change
the determination OF the brave Cap
tain Jones, his officers and men,
Neither the repeated broadsides oi
the Alliance. given with the view OF
sinking or disabling the Bon Homme
Richard, the frequent necessity Of
suspending the combat to extinguish
the flames, which several times were
within few inches Of the magazine,
nor the liberation by the master-at-
arms of nearly five hundred prison.
ers, could weaken or change the
purpose OF the American COM
mander.
At the moment of the liberation ol
the prisoners, one OF them, a com.
mander OF a twenty gun ship taken
a lew DAYS before, passed through
the ports on board the Scraps, and
informed Captain Pearson that if he
would hold out little while longer,
the ship alongside would either strike
OF sink, and that all the prisoners
had been released to save their lives.
The combat was accordingly con-
tinued with renewed ardor by the
Scraps.
The fire from the tops OF the Bon
Homme Richard was conducted with
so much skill and effect as 10 destroy
ultimately every man who appeared
upon the quarter deck of the Scraps,
and induced the commander to order
the survivors TO go below. Nor
even under the shelter Of the decks
were they more secure.
The powder-monkeys OF tn e
Scraps, finding no officer to receive
the eighteen. pound cartridges brought
from the magazine. threw them on
the main deck, and went for more.
These cartridges, being scattered
along the deck, and numbers OF
them broken, it so happened that
some OF the hand grenades thrown
from the main yard OF the Bon
Homme Richard. which was directly
over the main hatch OF the Scraps,
fell upon this powder, and produced
a most awful explosion. The effect
was tremendous; more than twenty
Of the enemy were blown TO pieces,
and many stood with only the collars
of their shirts upon their bodies.
In less than an hour alterward
the flag of England, which had been
nailed 10 the mast OF the Scraps,
was struck by Captain Pearson's
own hand, as none of his people
would venture aloit on this duty
and this, too, when more than 500
persons were witnessing the conflict,
and the humiliating termination o:
it, from Scarborough and Flambor
ough head. Upon finding that the
flag Of the Scraps had been struck,
| went 10 Captain Jones, and asked
whether l might board the Serapisl
to which he consented; and jumping
upon the gun vale seized the main
brace pennant, and swung myself
upon her quarter deck. Midship-
man Mayrant followed with a party
of men, and was Immediately run
through the thigh with boarding
pike by some Of the enemy in the
waist, who were not informed Of
the surrender of their ship.
| found Captain Pearson standing
on The leeward side Of the quarter
deck, and addressing myself to him,
said, "Sir, | have orders to send you
on board the ship alon side" The
first lieutenant of the Scraps, COM
ing up at this moment, inquired of
Captain Pearson whether the ship
alongside had struck to himi To
which | replied, mo sir, the con-
trary; he has struck TO u.s." The
lieutenant renewing his inquiry,
"Have you strunk, sirl" was an
swered, "Yes, ] have" The lieu
tenant replied, 81 have nothing
more to say" and was about TO re-
turn below, when | informed Ian
that he must accompany Captain
Pearson on board the ship alongside.
He said, "If you will permit me to
go below, will silence the firing of
the lower-deck guns" This request
was refused, and with Captain Pear
son he was passed over TO the deck
of the Bon Homme Richard
Orders being sent below 10 cease
firing, the engagement terminated
after a most obstinate contest oil
three hours and half. re
Upon receiving Captain Pearson
on board the Bon Homme Richard,
Captain Jones gave orders TO cut
F. "