The Irish standard., 1898-01-22

ANVIL AAOul vi oO IuC ClCW VI IIlC oCl q
pis" had been working their port bat
terry. When they ran across to work
their starboard guns they were unable
to open their ports amid-ships because
the ships were touching each other,
30 they fired through their own closed
ports, blowing the port lids off.
On the "Bonhomme Richard" the men
were no less determined. Their remain
Ing guns were fought even with cheer
ful vigor. E. q. The ships were side
to side, and the guns were muzzle-load-
ers. Each crew, to get Its charge set
home, had to poke Its long-ilanded RAM
mer through the enemy's port before it
could be inserted into the guns bore.
Fair play, you damned Yankee"
roared an English gunner, poking his
rammer through the Yankees port.
Mind your eye, Johnny Bull" replied
the Yankee following the same move
ment
Alas! the Johnny Bull" had been
trif1e ahead of the damned Yankee"
and firing his gun. he dismounted thai
on the "Bonhomme Richard"
The British were, in fact, soon quite as
successful in their handling Of the MAIN
deck battery as they had been with that
on the lower deck. Every twelve
FOUNDER but one on the "Bonhomme
Richard was sienced in one way and
another, and so, too, were the little
nine-pounders on the forecastle. There
were then but two cannon left in service
on the "Bonhomme Richard" the two
nine Founders on the fighting side of the
quarterback.
John Paul Jones had been working
these two with his own hands, loading
one with double shot to cut down the
enemy's mainmast, and the other with
grape and canister to sweep away the
crew on her deck.
In this desperate strait and when just
In the act Of ordering another nine-
FOUNDER brought from the off side that
he might use it on the crew of the
Scraps" his chief surgeon came up
from below to announce that the water
was coming in so fast as to float tho
wounded, and to ask that the ship be
surrendered before she sank with all
hands.
Turning on the surgeon with perfect
self-possession, Captain Jones replied
as if astounded at the request:
What, doctor! would you have me
strike to a drop of water? Here, help
ME get this gun over"
The doctor ran back to the wounded
without delay. but Jones got the gun
over. and he served it, too.
The enemy made an attempt to board.
John Paul Jones. with few men, pixies
in hand. stopped him. The moonlight
was now bright. and seeing this man
before them = this pirate" - they
quailed.
Meantime matters had been going
from bad to worse below decks on the
"Bonhomme Richard Not only was
she steadily filling with water, the
blazing wads from the enemy's guns had
set her atre in several places. These
fires spread rapidly in spite of the efforts
of some men sent below.
And then came the alliance" under
Captain Landais Sailing across the
bow of the "Bonhommc Richard" he
fired broadside The forecastle Of the
''Bonhomme Richard" received the
greater part Of the projectiles, and Mid
shipman Caswell was killed, while zen
or a dozen seamen were killed and
voices yeiiea 10 the alliance"
~ were firing into the wrong
%. ss,. coming down on the broad
side OF the "Bonhomme Richard" sh,,
nred again. SO that the cry arose:
THE Alliance has been captured by
Inc British and Is now attacking lis.
1t is likely that this was the only
moment when John Paul Jones thought
OF yielding. but as the ''Alliance drew
off he continued to fight not only
against the enemy, but against tho fro
and water In his own shin.
And more to be feared We're the fire
and water. Tho ship WIS filling and
when the carpenter tried the water hn
found it five feet deep In her hold. while
the fire was rapidly approaching Tho
magazine. On coming from the we'll hc
said disconsolately that the ship would
sink. AT that the master at arms lLrr
ated the prisoners two or three hum
dred in number. who were confined bc-
low, and told them to save themselves.
The struggle and confusion that fol-
lowed as these men came from thejr
quarters were frightful. Here were, in
deed, many more English subjects run
ming free than all the crew of the Bon
homme Richard" who were below
decks There were almost as many az
the entire crew. Then the gunner, who
had heard the remark about sinking.
and had seen the prisoners liberated,
ran to the poopdeck and in a panic of
fear strove to find the signal halliar,ls
that he might haul down the flag in
token Of surrender. He was shouting
as he ran:
"Quarter for Gods sake, quarter,
Our shin Ia sinkinpin Inf Toi,,, D,,,,