Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-03-11
DESPERATE NAVAL BATTLE.
The Duel Between the Bon Homms ruch
ard and Scraps

ard ana Scraps
On the 22d OF September, IT'S, oc-
Cured. off the coast Of Scotland, that
unexampled sea-fight which gave to
the name of Paul Jones such wonder
full eclat. Jones was a native of Scot
land and had followed the sea since
the age OF II. He was for while
engaged IN the slave trade but left 1T
in disgust. He afterward accumu-
lated a considerable fortune in the
West India trade. At the beginning
of the Revolution he was in Virginia
and at once entered the navy as
lieutenant. To him is given the
honor of displaying the first Ameri-
can flag ever made. After number
of successful cruises he was appointed
to the command of the ship Duras, an
old Indiaman converted into ship
of war. In compliment to DR.. Frank
lin Jones changed her name to the
Bon Homme Richard. August IA,
Jones sailed with this shin and four
Others and by the middle OF Septem-
Der he had captured or DESTROYED 26
vessels. September 23, when off
Flam borough Head, he fell in with
British merchant feet on its return
from the Baltic, conveyed by Capt.
Pearson with the frigate Scraps of
A guns and the Countess Of Scarboro
OF 20. Pearson had no sooner per-
ceivcd Jones' squadron than he bore
down to engage him, while the mer-
chantmen made haste to gain the
coast The American flotilla formed
to receive him. The two enemies
joined battle about o'clock IN the
evening. The British had the ad-
vantage in cannon of longer range
which led Jones to fight closer. He
brought up his ships until the muzzleS
of his guns actually came in contact
manner the frenzied combatants
fought from I o'clock until 10,
when Jones found his vessel so
shattered that only three effective
guns remained. He then assailed his
enemy with grenades, which falling
into the Scraps, set her on tire in
several places. Finally her magazine
blew up and killed every one who was
near it. His crew then asked Pear.
son to surrender but he refused and
ordered them to board. Jones, at the
head of his crew, received them al
the point of the pike and compelled {
retreat. By this time the flames haC
communicated to the Bon Hommt
Richard and both vessels were on fire
Amidst this tremendous night scene
the American frigate Alliance came
up, and mistaking herpartner for hel
enemy fired broadside into the yes
sci of Jones. BY the broad glare OF
the burning ships she discovered he
mistake and turned her guns against
her exhausted foe. Nearly all Pear
sons crew were either killed o
wounded and with his ship on fire HI
could no longer resist At 10 p. m
the Scraps struck.
The appearance presented by TIT
Bon Homme Richard next morning
was dreads.A. She was on fire III twt
places ad had seven feet of water il
her hold. Her counters and quarter:
on the lower decks were driven in, tn,
whole of her main battery was dis
mounted, and she was cut to piece
in most extraordinary manner Tn,
afterpart of the ship, in line with tn
guns of the Scraps, was so compile tel,
beaten in that the upper deck wa
only sustained by few frames whicl
had been missed by shot. Tn
mangled remains of her crew wer
hardly removed to the conquered shij
when the hulk went down 1t wa
the first really important victory eve
gained by the American navy and wa
one of the most desperate and blood
fights ever known in history. OF tn
275 on board the Bon Homme Rich
ard at the beginning Of the actiol
only 6S left il unframed