Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-25
AONlRAI PlRRRI LANDAlA.
Bern . Coune ef France and Oy1Dg IN
Bellevue D0spaeAl.

Bellevue UOapaeAl.
A crumbling tombstone in the church.
yard Of the old st. Patrick's Cathedral
nov ST. Patrick's Church. in New York
bears this inscription, written BY the
man who was buried under it more than
SIXTY years ago:
A la nemOrie de
PIERRE DE LANDAIs.
:Ancien Centre Admiral an Service.
des Flats Unis,
:Qui disparut Jane. ISIS, an 81 ans:
| Very few except attentive readers of
history know anything of the man. Yet
Admiral Landais made \ good deal of
noise In his time. His story is fall of
interest. Much of it is fossilized in the
early records of Congress. Benjamin
Franklin knew i. we'll. Paul Jones had
| reason to know it still better. A. the
beginning of the century it was fa-
mlliar story in France and the United
States.
Landais went to his grave with a
sense OF bitter wrong ranking In his
heart. His name was tarnished, his ca
reer blasted, b 8 life ruined, and all, as
he maintained to the last, by none 9th
or than Admiral Paul Jones. The hero
of tho famous fight with the Scraps
and the Duchess % Scarborough was
undoubtedly his evil genius. And it
was IN that memorable fight that the
star of Landais passed under a cloud,
from which it never again fully
emerged. Paul Jones and Pierre Ian
dais were thenceforth at enmity as in
tense and unrelenting as any two men
could feel.
When the struggle of the American
patriots began, Landais was an officer
OF the Freuch navy, commanding a
man-of-war. Born a Count of France,
he was as proud of his social as of his
public rank. During the many years
OF his long life he never forgot that he
was noble by birth, es he believed he
was by merit. OhivalrOus, ambitious,
patriotic, he had rendered his country
faithful service, and he was highly es-
teemed for Asnor and sterling ability.
That esteem did not diminish when, as
later day and in another service,
stigma of dishOnOr was put on him-a
stigma that his cOuntrymen did not be-
lieve he deserved, and which he indi2-
nantly branded az foul and wicked In
justice.
The first sounds of the American war
had hardly boon borne across the sea
when Pierre Lsndais relinquished the
command Of his war ship and offered
his sword to the patriots who had risen
up for freedom in the new world. Such
men as he were needed, and his offer
was promptly accepted. The first post
OF duty to which Landais was assigned
% Nl~v.p
mand, commissioned to convey q cargo
of stores from France to the patriots.
Il was no light undertaking. for Eng
in search of vessels possibly carrying
AID to the enemy. The time was March.
1777, eight months after the memorable
Landais brought his ship and cargo
was cordially welcomed in the name of
the cause hs had % eallantly joined.
Few men were then held moro worthy
Of honor than Commandant Landais.
More than a year passed, and Lafay-
long delay in building, a fine 36-guu
recognition Of the relations between
France and Amerioa) Was launched Ut
Salisbury. Mass. It was decided that
ON her frat voyage she should have the
honor of carrying Lafayette and his
suite, and az a fitting compliment to
Landais be was made her commander.
duly commissioned by Congress. He
and Lafayette were friends as we'll as
Oompatriots. The voyage Of the Al
lance was an eventful one. She had a
motley. and it may be said n monQrel
crew. partly composed of shipwrecked
English sailors. A mutiny occurred
wnen the ship nsared the English coast
Laudais was equal to the occasion. By
prompt and energetic measures he over
came the Inutineers and brought the
ship safely to Brest. That was in the
summer of 177S.
1t WAS in Brest. in August of the year
following, that Pierre Landais and Paul
Jones first met. They did not take
kindly to each Other. Both held CON-
missions from the American Congress.
Landais was still in command Of the
Allisnce. Jones. AZ Comm ,nder of the
Bon Homme Richard, clairned seniority
of rank. His brusqueness and strong
self-assertiOn irriiated the Frenchman,
who WAS somewhat testy and punctili-
Ous. The little squadron that was to
seek and interceptt 9 British merchant.
men coming from the Baltic, under cOu-
voy, was waiting at Brest for the signal
for departure. Jones claimed the right
to nm..nd it, and Lsndais demurred.
He had an equal right with Jones, he
maintained, to take the command. This
dispute developed bitter fec ing, and
there was danger that the intended ex-
poditiOn wO aid have to be abandoned.
Il was averted. however, and on the
18th of August the squadron sailed,
With the understanding that the several
Commanders, while free to use their in
dividual judgment. should cooperate.
Five weeks later, on the 23d OF Septem-
Der, the feet that was sought came in
lew, under protection Of the Serapis
and the Duchess of Scarborough.
Il was an evil altar that led Landais to
the famous encounter that followed.
His i'll feeling toward Jones had not
abated. and the feeling Of Jones toward
him certainly was not friendly. The
charge made against him by Jones after
the fight vas undoubtedly colored BY
animosity, Though possibly not inspired
BY il. A RraveI charge could hardly
have been conceived. Jones openly 40
oused Landais Of treaohery and coward
iCc. A. to tho alleged tyeachery, Opin-
IONS differed, and may still differ. But
the accusation Of oowardice Vas untrue.
Pierre Landais vas no coward. He had
voluntarily imperilled his life too often
for such . charge to stand against him
He challenged Jones himself for the
stigma pot upon him, after first thrust
ing his sword torough another officer OF
the squadren, Captain Cottineau, fol
accusing him a. Jones had done. Jsnss
however, did not accept the challenge.
The. chief accusation vas that Ian
dais, ont Of hostility to Jones, and fol
tie purpose Of winning the Aurels o.
.. the dQht for himsslf, had 6re(
repeatedly at Jones' ship, instead Of a
the enemy. His object, a. alleged b,
Jones, vas 70 sink the Bon Homm,
Richard, and to accomplish il he sen
| broadside after broadside into her. I'M
. der pretsnse of firing across her decks q
the Ssrapis. Jones made the charge il
an official report Other officers RAv
it partial o0rrob0ration, but il never Va
! proved. Landais met Il With An aner,
and indignant denial. Is vas, be enid
l ~. ~aA vn~vS~~