The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-07
CAPT. JOHN PAUL JONES.

AmE1SAOA'S GREAT NAVAL HERO.
Thc Proposition to Bring Back His
Remains to the United States-His
Home Was In fredericksburg, Va.
The fredericksburg correspondent
OF the Richmond Dispatch gives the
following informat;o on in regard to John
Paul Jones, which will prove interest
ing to our readers
The announcement that the re-
mains Of tn distinguished naval hero,
John Paul Jones, have been located in
Paris, France, brings to the light that
the deceased was once resident of
this city. According III the records Of
the county court, he came here In 1773 70
administer on the estate Of kis brother,
VIM. Paul, whc lived here until 1772
William camc here in 1850 and shortly
afterwards entered the mercantile bus
iness, in which he was engaged up to
tho time OF his death. The store occu-
pied by them is on the corner of Main
and Market streota, and Ia the same
building in whoa George W9shing,oh
was made q Mason. Tradition also says
that one OF the rooms in tho building
was used by johu Paul during hi6 rest-
dence hero, which was nearly two
years, as his cdsing quarters. 1t was
also during his citizenship hero that
he received his appointment from the
Colonial Congress Us lieutenant in the
navy.
ut was here, too, that he added
Jones to his patronymic, which, it is
said, was in token OF the friendly act
Of Col. Willie Jones, OF North Carolina,
who became his bond5man for $500
whom he administered on his brothers
estate. His first assignment after re-
ceiving his appointment as lieutenant,
which occurred ON Dec. %, l775, was to
the Alfred, on this deck Of which, it Ia
averred, he, himself, raised for tho
first time aboard vessel in commits
sion from tho Continental Congre SO, tho
flag OF America. Aboard this vessel
he made the cruise to the Bahama Is
lands. III May, 1776, he was assigned
to the Provldencc, and In October Of
that year WAS given a full commission
as captain. BY this time he had ac-
quired the full confidence and esteem
OF the marine committee of Congress,
and in 1777 sailed in tho Ranger to
Brest. On arriving there, and after
some neg citations, in which he dis.
played much adroitness, he obtained
salute from the commander Of the
French feet, which, 1T Is said, was tho
first notice OF the kind the American
flag had received. All through his hts:
tory the records show that wherever
he was present In battle success at
tended his efforts. At the close Of tho
Revolutionary war he was offered an
important command against the Turks
in the Black Sea blythe Empress OF
Russia, which he accepted with the
nounce the title OF an American citizen
or be called upon to fight against
France. -.
The skill and bravery which he al
ways displayed attracted the attention
of all Europe and America. England,
consequently, became 80 incensed at
the boldness Of his operations, carried
on directly under her own eyes, that
the British minister at tie Hague, and
the press OF Britain generally, endeav-
ored earnestly to suppress his growing
reputation by coarsely but vainly en-
deavoring to brand him with the cpl
Upon his return to the United States,
in 1881, Congress unanimously adopted
the following preamble and resolu-
tiOn:
Whereas, That the Congress en-.
tertaln q high sense Of the distinguish-
ed bravery and military conduct OF
John Paul Jones, Esq., captain in the
navy Of tho United States, and parti-
oularly In his victory over the British
TrlRatc Scraps, on tno COAST OF Eng
land, which was attended with circum-
stances 80 brilliant as to ex tite generSf:
applause and admiration
" Resolved, That the minister p!eif-
potentiary OF these United States COM.
mupicate to his most Christian ma
jesty the high satisfaction Congress-
has received from the conduct and gal
liant behavior OF Capt. John Paul Joncs,
which have meritcd the attention and
appreciation Of his most Christian ma
jesty and, that his majosty's oifor 3f
adorning Capt. Jones with q crossaof
military merit, Is highly acceptable to
Congress" :,
"Tnis was In honor OF the cross or
military merit and magnl ticent gold
mounted sword which was presented to
him before his departure for America
by the King OF France. In 1877 Con-
grcss also voted him, in commemora.
tion OF his brilliant and valuable scr.
vices, q medal Of gold" In Docom-
ber, 1877, he returned to Paris, whore,
after year Of III hoa,th, he dlod On
the 18th Of July, 1892 aged 45 years.
During his residence there he was
given the important trust by President
Washington Of treating with tho Dey
OF Algiers on the subject OF peace and
rans0m OF American captives. So far
as 10 known fredericksburg WAS the