Connecticut western news., 1886-06-30
VOL. XVI.

"A citizen, probably" said the other, laughing. "We all said that some one had hold of you, but couldn't make out who it was in the darkness.
 t'Just then the boatswain's mate, Wright, who had been an unseen wit ness of the struggle toward its termina- ton, but who, in the gloom, had not been able to obtain good view of the strangers face, made his appearance, coming from the same direction in which the man had vanished.
 "It was l." he whispered to the cox swain, who brought Wilson. 'He at' tackled me near the Dolphin, because l requested him to go to the boat. Ihad to let him loose when I got him most here; and run, as you saw me, for l was afraid-he W ould stab me-"
 ''Ha!" said the coxswain, Git will go hard with Wilson for striking boat. swain's mate. He will be court-mar- tialed and fogged."
 'I am afraid so," said the hypocrite, while in his heart he congratulated him. self on this occurrence, which so well favored his evil designs.
 The boats crew were soon aboard, when Wright lost no time in reporting that he had been attacked and struck by Wilson. This the latter denied, of course, saying it was citizen and a stranger with whom he had his combat, but he was not believed, and was, there fore, ironed and put into the brig to await the sentence of a court martial. The co,lrt-martial was held the next day, when Jones arrived on aboard, Wilson being still kept in the brig, whence he could not s>e the commodore. There was a singular expression in the face of Paul Jones when the court-martial was ended, and the sentence of the prisoner "a hundred lashes on the bare back with the cat-was pronounced. The next morning was appointed for the ex- ecution of the sentence. When the time came, the boatswain gave long blow as at his call and shouted:
 "All hands on deck to witness punish. mentp
 The master-at-arms brought up the prisoner and took off his irons. On one of the gratings, placed just forward of the gangway, he was made to stand, his feet being fastened with rope and his hands secured, wide apart, to the bull. warks. There he stood, his back barred, his check red with anger and shame, his eyes flashed indignation at the unmerlted punishment he was about to suffer. Along came Wright, scarcely able to con- ceal his exultation as he drew the cat from its sheath and lovingly stroked the strings.
 ''Go on, boatswain's mate," said the captain.
 Wright lifted the lash on high, but at that moment the voice of Paul Jones, who now appeared, boomed like thunder on his startled ear:
 'Hold2 Avast, you rascalw
 And he stepped round, so that Wilson could see him. The young sailor looked up at him with start, then colored, then turned pa,e.
 "Commodore," he stammered, q T. my God, sir!-I was little in liquor on that night, but recognize your face. Il was you who took hold of me there by the Dolphin tavern, and carried me al- most to the boat. Aye, aye, sir, and God knows I would not have struck at you had I known who it was-that il was Commodore Paul Jones'"
 Enough" answered the latter; q forgive you."
 Then he turned his eagle-eyes or Wright, who turned deadly pale and covered, trembling like leaf. "The court-martial was a mere farce, , continued Paul Jones. 'I wanted tt see if this rascally Wright would really have the heart to carry out his accurse6 | falsehood. Now cut loose that mar Wilson and put Wright in his place Give him round dozen, then let him b. broken and put in the after-guard. Hi chief punishment will be that of his hay ing made an enemy, by his dastardl. conduct, of every man aboard this shipr
 The commodore's orders were obeyed Wright, with every man against him after this, led such an unhappy Tiff aboard the Ariel that he attempted on night to desert from the ship. When il the water he was seen by a marine o1 guard and ordered to come back, but no obeying, he was shot through the hea' and killed.
 As to Wilson, the fact of his havin struck, under the influence of liquor, man, who proved to be Commodore Pau Jones, had such an effect on him, that never after that, greatly to the joy of hi pretty wife, Susan, would he touch an other drop of alcohol.-NeW York NeUs | Apciouf prohihifinniSfc,