Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-09-06
Paul Jones.

series of interesting sketches, by Mr..
Thomas Chase Of Chesterfield, OF The
Life Character, and Times of Paul Jones"
They throw much lIgh, on the character
of Paul Jones, and give, we DOUBT not, a
most faithful account of the famous battle
of his ship, the Bon Homme Richard,
with the Scraps. After stating that the
ships were locked together, which was
effected by Jones, because be saw tha, to
keep off at fair gun-shot, with new and
strong frIgate Ike the Scraps, would
never do for such a crazy old hulk as the
Bon Homme Richard, Mr. Chase pro-
ceeds:
The working of the big guns had
been suspended during the time of lashing
the ships together, but was now resumed.
Of course neither ships could use but her
guns on one side, and those who handled
the ramrods sometimes hit each other
: Fair play, You damned Yankee an
Engllshman would exclaim. Mind your
eye, John Bull, or H. sc.
The firing was not rapid, particularly
on Jones's part for it could do the ships
no hurt, except TO knock the gunwales
and occasionally raise cloud of splnters
men kept a very sharp lookout that
Pearson and his men did not cut the lash
ings and sever the ships. Neither of
these ships was damaged between wind
and water nor could they now be by any
use of the big guns. Both mad men in
the rigging doing all the mischief they
could. Ia this kind of play, Jones had
the best of II; for his men were more
terrible, and his spars and yards were Ion
ger, stIll Pearson would not surrend er, in
slstlng that Jones ought 10.
Capt. Landais, with the Alliance,
came up to help Jones, aud fired broad
side: but OF necessity 1t hurt Jones as
much as it did Pearson. Jones immedi-
alely cried out, Capt Landais, let Us
alone; | can handle him Both ships
were often on fire, and as often was the
fire extinguished. Had il not been for
the men in the rigging, this was one of
the safest sea-fghts, so far as those on
deck were concerned, that almost ever
happened-l mean after The ships were
lashed together. The fash of the guns
would go clear across each deck, and the
men, by keeping good look-ou. could
avoid being hurt. only by stepping 1T
tie aside
Had the Bon Homme Richard been
new, strong ship as was the Scraps,
both might have lain there and burned
powder and thrown shot until they rotted.
as TO sinking either with the guns of the
other. But The Bon Honme Richard
was old and rotten. and was leaking badly
before Jones made her fas, 10 the Scraps
and thus fast, the strain upon her against
the other ship and from the explosion Of
the guns made her leak worse, and 1t
was evident that she must ere long go
down.
"Some Of Jones's men and one Of his
officers told him she must soon go down,
and suggested a surrender. on never
mind that; you shall have better ship
10 go home IN said Jones, pleasantly
Jones and all his men, and Pearson and
his crew, very well known that if the Bon
Homme Richard was about 10 sink, she
would capslze the Scraps. and totn mus,
60 down together. IL was, therefore,
likely TO be test between Jones and
Pearson-which, for the sake Of saving
himself and men from q watery grave,
would strike first
BW Jones had recourse to a STRATA
gem, which was completely successful.
He secretly sen, his men below, one by
one, with the sirictest possible orders 10
be fully PREPARED for boarding, and at 4
given signal to ruch on deck, and he
would lead them on 10 the deck of the
Scraps. and clear it. So Joness men
seemed to diminish, though not very
fast, until only about thirty were left on
his deck. Pearson, supposIng they were
killed or badly wounded, and thar Jones
must soon strike, was thrown completely
off his guard. This was Jones's time. Civ
ing his signal, his men were ready IN an
instant, and with Jones ahead, with his
deadly sword, rushed ike hell-houndS,
upon the deck cs the Scraps, killing
everything they could reach, and in a
very short time would have killed every
thing on board bat Captain Pearson,
seeing his time had come, cried with a
loud voice, Captain Jones, surrender
at the same time taking his sword by the
blade, and presenting the handle to jones,
and with the next breath ordered the COL
ors to be taken down
This was in the night The next day
evening, the Bon Homme Richard went
down head foremost. Thus terminated
the slrangest naval fight on record. Paul
Jones took the Scraps, but Captain Pear
son sunk the Bon Homme Richard"