The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-02-04
9Misfella1eolrs,
PAUL JONES.
Bx. JAMES PARTON

Paul Jones was the first man that ever
hoisted the Stars and Stripes on ship OF
war. When the revolutionary war broke
out he was living in Philadelphia, in ex-
treme poverty Indeed, he was almost PEN
niless and had scarcely friend in the col
onies. He was born on the southern coast
of Scotland, where he lived till he was
twelve years old, and then, having pas
sion for the sea, he served regular ap-
premiership of seven years on board q ship
trading to America. He learned his busi-
ness thoroughly as great men always do
There never lived a better sailor than Paul
Joues, and he knew the British coast asia
miliarly as newsboy knows Nassau. At
ter following the sea until he was twenty
one wears old. he settled merchant in the
West Indies where he acquired little
property, and had good prospects of max
ing a fortune. But in l774 when he was
but twenty -four years of age, he was obllg
ed. for some reason be would never tell, to
suddenly leave the island of Tobago, and
he sailed for Philadelphia with just fifty
pounds in his pocket; and that was all the
money be ever received from his property
in Tobago. There is said to be woman
ut the bottom Of every mischief. This, as
our readers we'll know, is SANDER on the
fair sex. But the intimate friends of Paul
Jones always supposed that it was some al
fair Of love that caused him to abandon
his home and property in the west Indies;
| He was always noted for his chivalrlc and
respectful devotion to the ladies.
In Philadelphia he lived year and eight
months on his fifty pounds, since commerce
was nearly suspended by the refusal OF the
colonists to consume British manufactures,
| and he could get no birth on ships or
| shore. Just as he was getting to his last
| guinea, living almost on bread and water
| Congress resolved 10 have navy. Then
he came forward and made known hissitua.
| ton and past history to member Of Con
press. who saw the stuff he was made OF
I took his cause in earnest, and got him q
lieutenants commission in the navy of the
| United States. Letus say, however that
Paul Jones was not needy adventurer
! He was wholly devoted to the cause OF his
adopted country, He understood the quar-
rel between the colonies and the mother
country. and embraced the right side OF tbs
dispute with all his heart and mind. 1a
His success on the sea was wonderful
/ In one short cruise on the American coast
he took sixteen prizes, of which he burnt
eight that were not worth saving, and sen
in eight He did not refuse battle ever
with the Kings ships, one ofwhich he cap
tured that had on board a company o
troops and ten thousand suits of clothes
which we're worth to Congress, just theT
! their weight in silver. In about eigh
months he made fortune in prize money
and had absolutely swept the coast clea
of all the British vessels sailing without {
powerful convoy. .aaas
Congress was prompt in rewarding him
July IA, 1776, when he was not yet thlrt!
years old, he was appointed to commant
the Rangers" the best vessel OF our in
FAINT navy, ranking as sloop OF war. A
the mast head of this immortal ship, thu
Stars and Stripes, were first flung to th'
breeze; il was on this ship that the ensigr
of the Union first received salute from
the guns Of friendly nation. This occur
red in. the French harbor of Brest in Feb
ruary, l778, just one week after DR.. Frank
lin had signed the treaty OF alliance will
II France. 4.. e fa,ftl sis e
A new and brilliant scene now opened II
: the career of this heroic sailor. Closin!
the ports Of the Rangers and removing
every other trace of her warlike character
he sailed boldly into the Channel, and mad
his way to that part of the coast upol
which he was born, and to the town iron
which he had sailed ten years before, ever,
wharf and lane of which he knew. 1t wa
Whitehaven place of several thousand in
lhabitants, and the harbor of which con
tained 900 vessels fastened close together
| AT daybreak, with two bcatsand thirty-on
men he landed on wharf o fthe town, provi
ded with lantern and two barrels. He wen
alone to fort defending the town, and
finding it deserted, climbed over the wall
and spiked every gun, without alarminl
the garrison, who where all asleep in tn
E.,ruard- house near by. Then he surrounde
/ the guard house, and took every man prii
ouer. Next he sprapg into the only remain