The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-09-08
PAUL JONES.

They throw much light on tho character
ct Paul Jones, and give, we doubt not,
most faithful account of the famous bat
lie of his ship, the Bon IIomme Richard,
with the Scraps. After stating that the
ships were locked together which was cf.
fec'cd by Jones, because he saw that to
keep oil ut fair nn,shot, with new and
strong i,igale like the Scraps, would ner.
cr do for such II crazy old hulk as the
Bon llomme Richard, Mr.. Chase pro.
cceds:
The working of the hig guns had
been suspended during the time Of lasl.
ing the ships together, but was now re-
sumed. OF course neither ship could use
but her guns Oh one side, and these
were nearly muzzle to muzzle-so near
that those who handled the ramrods
sometimes hit each other. Fair play,
You damned Yankee!' an Englishnan
would exclaim. Mind your eye, John
Bull, or ILL., dc.
The firing was not rapid, especially
on Jones' part, for it could do the ships
no hurt, except TO knock the guns about
Il little, aud knock off the gunwales, and
occasionally raise Il cloud Of splintcrs from
eaci others decks. Jones and his men
kept very sharp lookout that Pearson
and sever the ships. Neither Of these
slips was damaged between wind and
water nor could they now be hy any use
of the big guns. Both had men in the
rigging doing ail the mischief they could.
In this kind Of play Jones had the lest
of it; for his men We're more terrible,
md his spars and yards were longer, still
Pearson would not surrender, insisting that
Jones ought to.
Capt. LandaiS, with the Alliance, came
up to help Jones, and fired broadside
but Of necessity it hur, Jones rs much as
it did Pearson. Jones Immediately cried
out, Capt. Lanlais, let us alone; ! can
handle linn Both ships were often on
fire, and rs often was the fire cxlinguished.
Had it not leen for the men in the rigging,
this WAS one Of the sSfcst sea fights, so far
as those on deck We're concerned, that al.
most ever happcncd-l mean after the
ships were lasllcd together. The flash Of
The guns would so clear across each others
decks, a:'! the men, hy kcepinga a good
lookout, could avoid being hurt, only by
stepping a little aside.
Had the Bon Homme Richard been Il
new, strong ship, us 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 tie Eon lIomme Richard was old and
rotten, and was leaking badly before Jones
made her fast 10 the Scraps; and thus
fast, tie strain upon her against the other
ship and 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 ard one Of his Of
iicers told him she must soon 60 down, and
suggested 4 surrender. You never mind
that YOU shall have better ship to 60
home in Jones pleasantly, replied. Jones
anL AL his men, and Pearson and his crew
knew that if the Bon IIommc Richard
WAS about to sink, she would capsize the
Scraps. and both must 60 dowa tog,her.
1t was therefore, likely TO be test between
.Iones aud Pearson, which, for the sake of
saving himself and men from watery
grave would strike first.
But Jones had recourse to a s,ratarem,
which was completely successful. He SO.
crctly sent his men below one bv one, witt.
the st'ictcst possible orders to Lc fully pre-
pared for boarding. and at given signal to
lu,h oh deck, and he would lead them Oh
10 the deck Of the Scraps, and clear it.
SO Jones men seemed t" diminish, though
not very fast, until only about thirty were
left on deck. Pearson, ,supposing they wcrc
killed or badly wounded, and that Jones
must soon strike, was thrown com.
pletely off his guard. This was Jones'
! tilns.ssGiving his signal, his men were
! readyin an instant, and with Jones ahead,
,withshis ready sword, rushed like hell
houndssppon the deck of the Scraps, xii.
ling evsfylhing they could reach, and in a
very short time would have killed every
thing8n board; but Capt. Pearson, seeing
thatshistime had come, cried with loud
yoie ept. Jones, surreuder'-at the
sagtS taking his sword by the blade
Iald senting the handle to Jones, and
witkahe next breath ordered the coIors to
: bsasken down.
'@@ This was in the night. The next day
theGBon Homme Richard went down
head foremost. Thus terminated the