The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-11-06

,ToHN PAUL JONES.

" Bob Richard and the SeraPiS'
We az approaching the hpndredth
igeFpafyFof Revolutionary exploit
heeftainly deserves place among
iiold subjects of centennial COM
rne' on, although thus far no prepa-
xatib em anywhere to have been
mad honor it. On the 23d OF Sep
seSS o, occurred one of the most
n i'ate Ibslles between single ships
sobIaed ihmodern warfare--a naval
4iueI hardly surpassed, indeed, for bull
loe enacity in the authentic annals OF
ase. The memorable fight off Flam'
osdtgh SAead, in which John Paul
onea with the Bon Homme Richard,
an 81 ill.equipped, and, before the COM
Ant as ended. a sinking ship, conquer
"a ne Serapis, new, more heavily armed
aud more fully manned, was the most
Militant naval engagement of the Revo-
Ihtionary War. Statues have been set
tp to heroes of that day whose careers
we're less uniformly triumphant, and
monuments have perpetuated the men,
oHy,of deeds less valorous.
Indeed, the very luster of this combat
has thrown into partial eclipse the full
record of the services rendered by John
Paul Jones to the American cause. Many
persons, tolerably we'll versed in the
history of the struggle, were wont to
look upon Jones rather as the hero OF
single great achievement than as the
commander in more than score of sue
gesiul naval expeditions and engage
ments. Born in maritime village of
Scotland in 1747, his name being origi-
hally John Paul, and the surname Jones
afterward added, the outbreak of the
Revolution found him in Virginia,
whittier he came in boyhood. Having
almost constantly engaged, from the age
Oftwelve, in seafaring life, he promptly
gave his services to the Colonies, his
commission as lieutenant dating DeCem
ber o. l775--near four years before his
combat with the Serapis. Assigned as
first lieutenant to Captain SaltOnstalls
thirty.gun ship, the Alfred, flagship OF
Commodore Hopkins Delaware river
gauadrOn, he soon after received the
cohmand of the sloop Providence,
twelve guns, with which he made no
fewer than sixteen prizes in short
effise of the North Atlantic coast. He
Wa rewarded with captains commits
ICh August s, l776, and soon after, in
.nmand of the Alfred, ravaged the
sapa Breton coal carrying and fishery
ltade, taking four prizes into Boston.
The following summer he received COM
mand of the Ranger, a new eighteengun
ship (his preceding vessei,) built at
Portsmouth, N. H. In this ship he de
scended upon the coast of Scotland, his
most memorable exploit being bold
swoop upon Whitehaven, and during
the cruise he captured the sloOp ot'war
Drake, with crew Of two hundred men,
largely exceeding the number of his
own, taking his prize and prisoners into
Brest, where he was received with great
honor.
The Ranger having been sent to
America by the American Commission
ers in France, Franklin, Deane and Lee,
Jones, in February, 1873, received the
command of the Duras, an old merchant
vessel converted into war ship, and re-
ohristened by him Bon Homme Rich.
ard, in compliment to DR.. Franklin's
"Poor Richard" already famous in
France as in America. In this ship, af.
ter some alterations to increase her arm
ament, he sailed from L'Orient the fol-
lowing August in command of fleet
Although not a few Of the Office and
men in this feet, made up, as they were,
of various nationaities, mostly Euro.
pean. showed signs of mutiny, his en-
ergy 80 far controlled and inspired them
thai in six weeks time twenty.six prizes
had been made off the east coast OF Eng
land, whose maritime towns and vii
lagos were thoroughly alarmed, The
boldnees of this venture upon British
coasts in two successive years is appa-
rent. Its crowning success was at Flam-
borough Head, on the memorable day
already mentioned, when Jones, in the
Bon Homme Richard, forty.two guns,
accompanied by two French allies, the
Pallas, Captain Cottineau, and the Ali.
anCe, Captain Landais deserted the Sc.
Hapis, carrying fifty guns, and the Count.
0ss of Scarborough, twenty, conveying
large Baltic feet, and gave chase. AC-
kion was Joined on bright moonlight
night, near Scarborough, whose people
witnessed the combat. Weneed not re-
hearse it's famous details, nor do more
than recall Jones' rally, when two Of his
old eighteen Founders being burst caus
ing great loss of life and having been
thereupOn hailed by the Scraps to know
If he surrendered, he answered: 81
haven't yet begun to fight" When the
Scraps, after a combat at close quarters
of nearly three hours, struck soon afrer
ten o'clock at night, the Bon Homme
Richard was on fire in two places, had
seven feet of water in her hold, had
nearly all her guns dismounted and was
little better than wreck. First Lieu
tenant, afterward Commodore, Richard
Dale, took charge of the surrendered
Serapis, to which the remnant of the
crew of the Bon Homme Richard was
transferred next day, and soon after the
eonquering ship sank to the bottom.
The honors showered on John Paul
Jones when he arrived in France with
his two prizes (for the gallant Cottineau
had also captured the Countess of Scar.
borough, whereas the Alliance, under
Landais, had rendered little if any help,
some authorities even claiming that she
had fred Intentionally into the Bon
Homme Richard), the sword and decors.
tion given him by the King, the vote of
thanks, the command of new seventy
four, and the gold medal conferred on
him by Congre, 8, and the letter of praise
from Washington, show in what honor
this sailor was held in that day. 1t
would be strange Of the hundredth an
niversary Of his chief, but by no means
his only, service, should fail to find his
name held in grateful remembrance
remembrance none the less deserved
from the fact that the snbseouent naval