Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-01-20
Paul JOa.. and hi. Great Naval Battle.

Paul Jones and his Great Naval Battle.
The Virginia Index Publishing = series
OF interesting sketches by Mr.. Tho.. Chase.
OF Chesterfield, Of "Ths Life, Character
and times Of Paul Jones" They throw
much light on the character OF Paul Jones,
and give. we doub, not. a most faithful ae-
cpBn, Of the famou, battle OF his ship, the
Bon iIomm. Richard, with the S,rspis.
Alter stating tia, the ships were locked 10.
gsIher. which wa, effected by Jonas, be.
cauf, he saw that 10 keep OF a, fsir gun
shot, with new and strong !r si,' ',s' ,hs
Ssrspi.. Nsa.i never 10 for sac' = ,r,Iy old
bulk a. lhs Bon Homms Richard Mr..
Chass ,ayG
"The working Of the big gln' hsi bOcn
suspended during the time u .-.hing a.,
shin. together, but was 'oOu resumed. ..
course neither ship could u. her gun. bu.
oa one side. and these wero nearly muI-
Ils 10 muIzle-so near that those who
handled tho ramrod. sometimes hit each
o,hJ. Fair play, you Internal Yankee"
An Ensli,hmsn would eIclaim. Mind
your eye, John Bull. or m" &c.
The firing was most rapid, particularly
on Jones' part, Tor it could do shs ships no
hurt, except to knock tho guns about, lit-
tie. ani knock Of the gunv.les. and oeSa-
.ionally raise cloud otspintsrs from each
other. decks. Jonci and hi. men kspis
very sharp look out that Pcaron and bis
men did not Gu, the lashings and sT.r the
ships. Both had msn in the riggin; doing
all the mischief they could. In this kind
Of play Jonc. had a., bs., Of IL; for bis men
were more terrible, and hi, .pir' aud yard,
were longer. 'till Pearson would not sur
render. insisting lba, Jones ought to.
Capt. Landais, with the Alliance, cams
up to help Jones, and frcd brOsd,ids, bui
Of necessity /, hur. Jons. as IL did Pearson.
Jons. imm,diately cried out" Cap, Ian.
dai., 10, u. alone-I can handle him. Both
ships were often on fire. aud as often ~cr,
eItIngul.bed. Had i. not been for the n.n
IN ih, sails. this vas one VI the slfes, sea-
fights. 81 FAR a, the men on deck were con.
ccrned, that almost ever happ,net-l mean
after tie shir. were la'hed together. Tn.
G1sh OF the guns would so clear across the
decks. and the men by keeping good look
out, could avoid beIH: hurt, BY '.epPiuga .
little ASIDE.
Had the Bon IiommO Richard been a new,
strong ship, - vas tue Scraps, both nigh,
have Jain ,hers and wasted powder and
thrown .ho. until they ro,t.i, before sink
ing either with the guns Of the other. But
the Bon Ilomme Richard was old and rotten,
and wa. leaking badly before Jones mals
her fast to the ssrapi., aud thus fast, the
strain upon her against the other ship and
from the explosion Of the guns made her
leak worse. and i, was evident that ere long
che must 20 down.
Some Of Jonos's nss and on, OF bis OIL
Ger. told him she mus, 60 down, aud pro-
posed surrender. "You never mind that;
you shall have better ship 10 20 home In."
said Jones. rieaantly. Jones and all bus
men, and Pearrou and hi, crew, very well
knew that II the Bon llOmme Richard Vas
about "a sink. shs would eap.',s ths Ssra-
pis, and both SO down together. Il was.
therefore, likely 10 b, test 5:;Soen Jsnss
and Pear.oa-vhich. for the sake OF savin.
himself and men from wa,sry grave, ,~oulA
strike fret.
Bu' Jone. had recourse {, sirltassu,
which was completely sucee.'iul. lie se.
ereily sent hls men below, one by one. with
the .tricte.t possible orders 20 Be fully pre-
pared for boarding, and a, 4 given sigma to
rush on deck, and he would lead them on
to the deck OF the Scraps, and clear il. So
Joues's men seemed to diminish, though n0s
very fast, until ouiy about thirty were lsft
on deck. Pearson, supposios they were
killed or badly woundsd, and that Jones
must soon strike his eolors, was thrown
completely OF his guard. This was Jone''s
time. Giving his signal, his men we're
ready in an instant, and with Jones ahead.
with his deadly sword, rushed like hell
hounds upon the deck OF the Scraps, kill