Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-10-19
nliscella,1eons.
PAUL JONES.

PAUL JONES.
The Virginia Inder is publishing series
of interesting sketches by Mr. Thomas Chase
of Chesterfield, of The Life. Character, and
Times of Paul Jones'" They throw much
| light on the character of Paul Jones, and
give, we doubt not. most faith full account
of the famous battle of the Bon Homme
Richard, with the Seraphis. After stating
| that the ships were locked together. which
was effected by Jones, because he saw that
to keep of at fair gun shot, with new and
| strong rigate like the Scraps. would never
do for such crazy old hulk as the Bon
Homme Richard, Mr.. Chase proceeds:
1.-The working of the guns had been sus--
pended during the time oflasbing the ships
together, but was now resumed. Of course
neither ship could use her guns but on one
side, and these were rearly muzzle to muzzle
so near that those who handled the ram
rods sometimes hit each other. ''Fair play,
you Yankee an Englishman would ex
claim. Mind your eye, John Bull, or
I'll," &c.
The firing was not rapid, particularly on
Jones part, for it would do the ships no hurt,
except to knock the guns about little ,and
knock off the gunwales, and OCCASIONAL y
raise cloud Of splinters from each others
decks. Jones and his men kept sharp
look out that Pearson and his men did not
cut the lashings and sever the ships. Neither
of these ships were damaged "between
wind and water" nor could there 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
sars and ards were longer, still Pearson
would not surrender, insisting that Jones
ought to.
Captain Landais. with the Alliance. came
| up to he'll Jones, and fired broadside; but
of necessity it hurt Jones as much as it did
Pearson. Jones Immediately cried out Cap
tain Landais, let us alone; can handle him.
Both ships were often on fire. and as often
was the fire extinguished. Had it not been
for tue men in the rigging, this was one Of
the safest sea Fl ghts, SO far those on deck
were concerned, that almost ever happened
I mean after the ships were ashed together,
The fash of the guns would 90 clear across
each deck, AMI the by keeping a good
lookout. could avoid being hurt, by only
stepping little aside.
Ii ad the Bon Homme Richard been new
strong ship, as was-the Scraps, both might
have lain there and burned powder and
thr own shot until they rotted, as TO sinking
either with the guns of the other. But the
Bon Homme Richard was old and rotton, and
was leaking badly before Jones made her
fast to the Scraps; and thus fast the strain
upon her against the other ship, aud from
the explosion of the guns, made her leak
worse, and it was evident that she must ere
long 90 down.
| Some of Jones' men, and one of his Off
GERS, told him she must go down, and sug-
| gested surrender. You never mind that
| you shall have better ship to go home in, -
said Jones, pleasantly. Jones and all his
men, and Pearson aud all his crew. very
we'll knew that if the Bon Homme Richard
was about to sink she would capsize the Se-
rapis, and both must 60 down together. 1t
was, therefore, likely to be test between
Jones and Pearson; which, for the sake of
! saving himself and men from a watery grave,
| would strike first
but Jones had recourse to a stratagem,
| which was completely successful He secret
ly sent his men below, one by one, with the
strictest possible orders to be fully prepared
for boarding, and at giving signal to rush
| on deck, and be would lead them on to the
deck of the Scraps, and clear it, So Jones
men seemed to imEish, though not very
fast, until about only thirty were left on his
deck. Pearson, supposing they were killed
or badly wounded, and that Jones must soon
strike. was thrown completely off his guard
This was Jones' time. Giving his signal,
his men were ready in an instant. and with
Jones ahead, with his deadly sword, rushed
like "hell-hounds" upon the deck of the Sc,
rapis, killing everything they could reach
and in very short time would have killed
everything on board; but Captain Pearson
seeing his time had come cried with a LOUD
voice. Captain Jones, L surrender at the
same moment taking his sword by the blade
and presenting the handle to Joues, and
with the next breath ordered his oolors to bt
taken down.
''This was in the night. The next eve
ming, the Bon Homme Richard went dowr
{ head foremost. Thus terminated the stran
gest naval fight on record.
Paul Jones took the Scraps, but Captain
Pearson sunk the Bon Homme Richard.