The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-10-16

Scarborough. Forming q triangle of
Flameborough Head and the cl1ff-bound
coast, in the middle of the hypotheneuse
less than half mile from the head and
the shore, is the identical locality On the
water where this great battle was fought.
On the hilltop is shown an ancient cot
tage, through whose roof a cannon ball
fell in the conflict, from the careoning of
one of the ships before they grappled
and anchored.
On the evening of Sept. %, 1779, the
harvest moon then rising in her full
splendor, Commodore Paul Jones and
his vessels doubled Marlborough Head,
and suddenly beheld fleet of merchant
men bound to the Baltic, and leaving
Scarborough harbor under the convoy OF
two British vessels of war. The full
moon rising, quickly developed the
character of the combatants, and the
merchant fleet flew in every direction.
The larger of the English ships proved
to be a new man-of war, the Scraps, OF
80 guns and 32O men, commanded by
Capt. Richard Pearson, distinguished
officer and seaman, who regarded the
'srebels'' as traitors. The Bon Homme
Richard had 10 cannon and a motley
crew of 227 of several nations, and also,
as an encumbrance, nearly 200 prisoners,
taken in the Ranger fight, etc. The
Bon Homme Richard commenced the
fight by firing the first shot, which was
answered by distant broadside from
the Serapis without damage, as the
rough tide careened the ship at the mo-
ment of firing.
The two ships of war gradually ap-
preached each other, and at last the bow
spirit of the Scraps, forming right
angle with the Bon Homme Richard,
passed over the quarter deck. Then
Paul Jones quick as flash, with the
very genius of action, and with his own
hands, lashed and secured the bowsprit
to his own mizzenmast He then drop
ped anchors fore and aft. The Scraps
foated around, and the vessels came
close together, broadside to broadside.
Paul Jones then grappled, and both
ships were as one vessel, firmly fixed to
each other, while the anchors held them
in one place. This extraordinary naval
combat was then begun. The manner
of the conflict was entirely different In
the minds Of the two comanders. Capt.
Pearson perceiving the decayed condi-
ton of the rebel ship brought his guns
to bear upon the hull, SO as to destroy
the timbers and sink the Bon Homme
Richard and all on board. Paul Jones
attempted nothing of that kind, but had
fixed his mind on capturing this new
shin -of-war. though his own vessel naight
be shattered and find a watery grave.
To this result be gave orders to clear the
deck tops &C., of his adversary's officers
and men; and this to considerable ex-
tent was effected. The portfolios of each
vessel, when grappled, were opposite
each other, and as the cannon were load
ed, the ramrods of each protruded into
the embrasures of the other. This con-
slant firing into the hull of the Bon
Homme Richard made "destruction's
splinters" as fatal as cannon balls to the
crew, who fell dead and wounded in
great numbers. A small magazine ex-
ploded, killing thirty-two men and
wounding others, as well as disabling
several cannon. After the fight had been
kept up for more than an hour, the car
penter came on deck afrighted and shout
ed, "The ship is on fire and sinking !"
"Well," said the commodore, "the water
will put out the fire Go back to your
duty !" The combat was continued with
mutual fury. Yet amid the wreck and
ruin around him, Paul Jones was un-
daunted and resolute, and gave with
calmness his orders to Lieut.. Dale, who
ably seconded his chiefs commands.
Many of the prisoners escaped through
the portfolios of the two vessels, and at
one time they threatened to rise in mu-
tiny, but were quickly quelled by a
message from Jones that, if they did
forfeit their parole, not q prisoner should
be left alive.
Again the panic stricken carpenter
rushed upon the quarter deck, shouting,
''The ships on fire !" and, passing Paul
Jones on the aft halliards, suddenly haul
ed down the American flag, whereupon
the commodore instantly drew his pistol
and shot him dead. And before the flag
was re-raised, Captain Pearson, seeing it
was down, shouted through his speaking
trumpet: "Ship ahoyl You internal
rebel, have you surrendered a'' To which
question while rehoisting the flag, Paul
Jones replied, with sailor animation,
surrender surrender be damned7 I've
not begun to fight yeti" And this. after
nearly two hours of continued conflict,
the dead and dying around him, the
decks slippery with human blood, his
ship twice on fire, and gradually sinking!
Believing that Capt. Pearson might
attempt to ungrapple the two ships, and
then with broadsides actually sink the
Bon Homme Richard, Paul Jones resol-
we'd to cripple his adversary, and make a
wreck of his ship, SO that he could not
move it. Consequently, for this purpose
he took charge of and continually loaded
and fred ten pound cannonade, and
constantly aimed at the mainmast of the