Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-02-25
INDEPENDENCE, IOWA, FRIDAY, FEB Is, 1876.

out: elias your ship struck" Il
haven't begun to fight yet" was the
answer.
The ships yawned apart for a mo-
ment, and then lay broadside to
broadside, the muzzlcs Of the guns
touching Jones lfshed his ship to
the Scraps, and in this fierce embrace
the fearful cannonade went on. The
fight ragged with fiendlsh fury. The
crew Of the Richard suffered terrible
loss, and their ship leaked badly. To
add to their danger, the treacherous
Alliance now came up, and poured
broadsido after broadsidc into them.
There could be no mistake or excuse
for this dreadful villainy; the moon
light was bright, the position Of the
combatants clear. The courage Of
Zones did not falter, although his
position was so critical, and his ship
was slowly sinking. The hand -gren-
AIDES of his marines had set the Sera-
pis on fire. Capt. Pearson had not
the obstinacy of his foe, though he
had fought with great bravery, and
at la surrendered to his really weak
er foe. cit is painful" he said to
Jones, in a surly manner, to deliver
up my sword to man who has fought
with a halter around his neck. -
Jones preserved his temper, and cour-
teously replied, as he returned the
weapon: Sir, You have fought ike
a hero; and | make no doubt your
sovereign will reward you in the
most ample manner" He said right
ly, George Third knighted Pearson
for the bravery he had displayed
When Jones heard Of this, he re-
marked: =" Well, he deserved it; and
if | fall in with HIM again, l will
make Il lord of him." The battle
Lad ragged three hours. flames were
now rapidly devouring both vessels.
The Bon Homme Richard was dam,
aged past recovery. The flames were
extinguished on the Scraps, prison
ers and men were all transferred to
her, and the shattered wreck Of the
Richard went down beneath the bill
lows.
The merchantmen under convoy
had escaped, through the criminal
conduct Of the commanders of the
Alliance and the Vengeance; but the
Countess of Scarborough had yielded
to the Pallas after an hours fight,
Notwithstanding the nefauous Landis
had fired into the latter, as he did
into the Richard. After tossing about
Oh the North Sea for ten days, Jones
ran into the Texcl with his little
squadron and prizes, only few hours
before eleven British ships of war
that had been sent after him appeared
in the ofiing. His brilliant exploit
excited great admiration at Amster-
dam, and afterwards at Paris The
French King gave him a sword of
honor and Il cross Of the military
order of merit The American Con
gress, eight years later, voted him a
gold medal
After the conclusion Of peace,
Jones, restless and longing for action
and adventure, accepted the post Of
rear-admiral IN the Russian navy in
l7SS, and was employed against the
Turks on the Black Sea. He soon,
however, fell into distlvor with Po-
temkin, the favorite Of Catharine, was
granted leave of absence, and new
er recalled into service. He died, of
dropsy in the chest, July 18th, 1892,
at Paris, aged only forty-five. His
grave is unknown. He was man
Of dauntless courage, and Of great
service to his adopted country
Among his most marked traits an
oycrweening vanity was conspicuous.