The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-11-09
PAUL JONES.

| The Virginia Inde1 is publishing a serie
of interesting sketches, by Mr.. Thoma
Chase of Chesterfield, of "The Life, Charac
ter and Times of Paul Jones" They throw
much light on the character of Paul Jones
and give, we doubt not, most faithful ac
count of the famous battle of his ship, th'
Bon Homme Richard, with the Serapis,-
After stating that the ships were locked TO
gether, which was effected by Jones, be
cause he saw that to keep off at fair gun
shot, with a new and strong frigate like the
Serapis, would never do for such a crazy
old hulk as the Bon Homme Richard, MIR
Chase proceeds:
"The working of the big guns had beer
suspended during the time of lashing the
ships together, but was now resumed. o.
course neither ship could use but her guns
on one side, and these were nearly mnzzle
TO muzzle-so near that those who handled
the ramrods sometimes hit each other. Fail
play you damned Yankee y an Englishmar
would exclaim. "Mind your eye, John
Bull, or I'll &c."
"The firing was not rapid, particularly on
Johns par, for it could do the ships no hur
except 10 knock the guns about little, and
knock off the gunwales, and occasionally
raise cloud of splinters, from each others
deck. Jones and his men kept a sharp
lookout that Pearson and his men did moi
cut the lashings and sever the ships. Nei.
ther Of these ships was damaged "between
wind and water," nor could they now be
by any use of the big guns. Both had men
in the rigging doing all the mischief they
could. In this kind of play, Jones had the
best of it; for his men were more terrible
and his spars and yards were longer, still
Pearson would not surrender, insisting thai
Jones ought TO.
Capt. Lands, with the Alliance, came
up to help Jones, and fired broadside; but
of necessity it hurt Jones as much as it did
Pearson. Jones Immediately cried ou
Capt. Lands, let lis alore; 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 thi:
was one of the safest sea. fights, SO far a:
those on deck was concerned, that almos
ever happened-I mean after the ship:
were launched together The flash OF The
guns would go clear across each deck, anc
the men, by keeping good lookout, coult
avoid being hurt, only by stepping little
aside.
"Had the Bon Homme Richard been
new, strong ship, as was the Serapis, botl
might have lain there and burned powde
and thrown shot until they rotted,as to sink
ing either with the guns OF the other. Blu
the Bon Homme Richard was old and rot.
ten, and was leaking badly before Jone:
made her fast TO the Scraps; and thus fast
the strain upon her against the other shiF
and from the explosion of the guns made
her leak worse, and it was evident that she
must ere long so down.,
"Some of Jones' men and one of his off.
GERS told him she must soon go down, anc
suggested surrender. "You never minc
that, you shall have better ship to go home
in" said Jones, pleasantly. Jones and al
his men, and Pearson and his crew, very
well knew that if the Bon Homme Richart
was about to sink, she would capsize the
Scraps, and both must go down together
1t was, therefore, likely 10 be test between
for tha 10
saving his men from watery grave, woulc
strike first.
"But Jones had recourse 10 a stratagem
which was completely successful. He Sc
cretly sent his men below, one by one, will
the strictest possible orders TO be fully pre-
pared for boarding, and a given signal t,
rush on deck, and he would lead them OF
to the deck of the Scraps, and clear it. s.
Jones' men seemed to diminish, though no
very fast. until only about thirty were lei
on deck. Pearson supposing they were kill
ed or badly wounded, and that Jones mus
soon strike, was completely off his guard
This was Jones' time. Giving the signal
his men were ready in an instant, and wit
Jones ahead, with his deadly sword, rushed
like "hell hounds" upon the deck of tn
Serapis, killing everything they could reacI
and in short time would have killed ev
ery,hing on board but Capt. Pearson, see
ing his time had come, cried with lou
voice, "Capt. Jones, surrender"-at tn
same time taking his sword by the blade
and presenting the handle 10 Jones, an
with the next breath ordered the colors t
be taken down.
"This was in the night. The next even
ing the Bon Homme Richard went dow
head foremost. Thus terminated the strong
est naval fight on record. Paul Jones too
the Scraps, but Capt. Pearson sunk tn
Bon Homme Richard"
ET A hare footed vounoster was fishin