Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-05-15
NUMBER Is.

VI '"o uIusSVW lHto INcWpOTt' III
variety OF commands which Jones un.
derlook about this time, he psfticulsfly
distinguished himself BY his promptness
of oction, and the ability which he dis.
play ed in seizing OF once on the modes
Of extracting himself from impending
Janger
1t was under command Of John Paul
Jones that the American vessel, the Bon
Homme Richard, fought the French bat.
leship Scropia, on Marlborough Head.
This action was particularly noted for
the fury with which it was conducted on
both sides. Before noting any Of tho
incidents Of this engagement, il will be
we'll 10 mention the strength OF the two
vessels engaged. sss.rL
The Bon Hommc Richard was former.
y an Iadiaman belonging to the Frsach,
and was called the Due dc Dufas. Sho
was fourteen wears old, although bought
for fast sailer and sound hull, prov.
ed 10 be dull under sail and rotten in
timber. She was a long, single.decksd
ship. Her armament, all told, was for.
y.iwo guns. The Serapia was new
ship carrying fony.four guns. and about
three hundred and fifty men. las
The engagement took place on the 23l
Of September, 1910. A! on early hou,
the ships became entansled with each
other aud continued lashed side by side
during tho whole action. They were 80
close together that the gunnsrs we're oh.
liged to pass the rammers into the mouth
Of the hostile ports TO get them inlo their
guns, of course the execution done at
this short range was terrific. Every.
where resoundcd with intermiDgled
cheers and groans. The dead were slrsw.
ed about in every direction, and the
most awful confusion prevailed. Tho
. Richard was frequently on FIRE. and at
the close Of the action was in sinking
condition. Her side was almost destroy.
cd by the guns the Serapia, and nothing
prevented the quaher and main deck
from falling down upon.ihe lower deck
but few top timbsrs that fortunately
remained standing. This left Jones and
his companions fighting on sort Of
stage, upheld by slanchious that were
liable al any moment 10 give way. ,..;q
The Ioss on both sides was fearfully
great. Full one bundled and fifty Of
the Richards men we're killed, and the
Serapia lost one hundred and seventeen.
: The Sefapia finally struck her colors,
and the bloody carnage ceased, and upon
the heavins wave Aoa,ed The shattered
hulls, freighted with the MANNED, the dy.
ing and the dead. Great efforts were
: mede 10 keep the Bon Homme Richard
: aaoat, but after toiling whole day snd
: night, it became evident that she had,
"(ought her last batlle.' Her mon. and
such articles as it was desirable or pos.
sibe 10 save, were transferred 10 the Ser.
: apa, and at ten o'clock the old Due
. de Duras settled majestically into the
bosom Of the sea. ,.,. .s..s4ossi
Paul Jones arrived at the Texel, Hol.
land. with his prize. Hero he was
blocked by British feet from tho
Downs. This acet consisted Of twenty
one line 'o('batlle ships. which we're dis.
posed in such manner as to threaten
complete destruction to Jones should he
altempt,o leave his anchorage. A reward
of ten thousand guineas was offered fot
the head of the famous John Paul. This
much soughl.aner the Individual deter.
mined 10 run the guantlet and escape if
possible. Having fully instructed his /,
men, he avaled himself Of day when
the wind was blowing gale Of shore.
and weighing anchor, came down under
easy sail to the center Of the British feet.
He directed his course so as TO come
under the lee Of the battle.ship from
whence the Admiral's flag was flying.
: His motions were watched by the 8
whole feet who supposed he had come
out to surrender. When Jones gave tho
word, his ship, the Alliance. was
cloud OF canvas, and he few past
the sAonished admiral, delivering 1
. full broad side as she passed! Onward
he flew, delivering and receiving broad.
side after broad.side,and escaped without
, the loss of mast or spar. Jones sailed
at once for the Bres,, in France, and
whils in the channel captured two valua.
| uto PIiLCo uoHuo iot AOuuVus Win W0tcW
, he arrived safely in port. s
On the 18Th Of October. 1887, Con.
: srcss voted him gold medal in honor
: Of his services. Jones quilted America
in November, 1857, and neve. sgsini
visited its shores. He was aftefward
engaged in the Russian service. ,bsing
:, sent to the Black Sea by the Empress
= Calharine as rear. admifal, Immediately
. after his arrival in st. Petersburg. .-
: April IL, 1888, he ejoined Prince Potem.
;. kin, who had the command Of the Rus.
. san force in the Black Sea. His con.
4 ! nsction with the Russian service i. q
E complex history Of disappointment and
a intrigue. S. 81
4 While in this sevice he wss ia many
q severe engagements and showed great
:. personal courage, though the opportunity
never seemed 10 present itself fof the
exhibition Of lny remarkable exploit
or quality worthy Of his previous e..
- feer. ssa "a
r He resided for some time proceeding
). ). his death in Paris. where hs died on the
= n eighteenth Of July, 1892, at the 80 u
" (orty.6ve. !