Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-22

page go 1T says that the flag was Sc
cured when the Ron Homme Richard
was sinking-which was at 10 o'clock in
the morning of September -. 1879. On
page $50 it says that the flag was res
cued during the battle between the Bon
Homme Richard and the Scraps, which
occurred thirtysiX hours bcfore--on
September %. That Paul Jones carried
this flag. as stated. from the Schuykill
river. which he left on June ii, 11i1, to
the Bon Homme Richard is II glarinG
error, as he meantime took the Ranger
to Europe, sailed into the Northern seas
by Great Britain. and captured the
Drake. sloop of war. before he saw the
Bon Homme Richard.
That one James Bayard Stafford did
allegc that he had seen service on the
Bon Momme Richard and that the sec
rotary pro tenn of the Marine Commit
tee of Congress In 1884 (whcn Paul
Jones was In EuroHe) did. in response
apparently, to an application from stat
ford. give him n flag that had been
worn by the Alliance is true. as the
following authentic records prove be-
yond n doubt:
philadelphia. Monday. Dec. Is. 1854.
James Bayard Stafford-Sir: ! am
directed by the Marine Committee to
inform you that on last Thursday. the
9Th. they decided to bestoW unon YOU
for your mertorious services through
the late war. Paul Jones starry flag
or the Bon Homme Richard, which was
transferred to the Alliance: n boarding
sword of said ship. and n musket cap
tured from the Seraois. If you write
TO Captain John Brown, of the Navy
yard, what ship you wish them sent by
to New York they will be forwarded 10
YOU OUT hUmbfr servant.
JAMES MEYLER. Sec'y Pro Tenn
A VITAL FACT.
That letter is taken from the records
OF the Secretary of State for the State
OF New Jersey. and is authentic. 1t
may be noted that no reference is made
In MEYERS letter to the astounding act
or Stafford in leaping overheard after
the fag-a part of the story added
later. no doubt. But here is the vital
fact which casts doubt upon S,affords
story. 1t Is not likely that Captain
Landais, the treacherous Trenchman.
who turned all of Paul Jones officers
out of the Alliance and ran away with
net TO France, would be likely to want;
much less to preserve. a Nag used by
his mortal enemy more than five years
before. And in Il certificate from the
Notwithstanding office of the State
of New Jersey. Stafford is first spoken
OF as midshioman on the Alliance,
ana then as the same on the Bon
Homme Richard, a physical mpossi-
bihty, as all who are familiar with that
glorious cruiser must know
The fact seems to be that the Ma
rine Committee. which was q continu-
ally varying and loosely constructed
body, was fooled in the first instance.
And afterwards, so was the Adju-
tant-General's office of New Jersey. And
so was the United States Government.
There can be no doubt, however. that
James Bayard Stafford manufactured
considerable evidence in New Jersey to
prove that he had served on the Bon
Hcmme Richard. but there Is conclusive
proof here in the archives al Washing
ton that every allegation he made is
false.
THE assertion that Stafford WI, cap
tuTed from Il British cruiser. witch had
previously taken the Kitty, an armed
merchantmen. can be disproved BY the
log of the Bon Homme Richard. Paul
Jones never captured more than one
British cruiser. which was the Scraps.
Nor is there is any mention of such
cruiser or such Il vessel as the kitty
in the official report OF the cruise. now
on file at the Navy Department. There
Is no record OF such person as stat
ford among the officers. men, marines
or volunteers in the Bon Homme Rich
ard or any Of the navy lists OF the
time. There is no mention OF him
among the wounded In both arms. Nor
is there any record OF prize money. due
claimed or paid TO stafford as there is
record OF that paid TO all other ohi-
GERS and men.
PAUL JONES ACCOUNT
EN- Paul Jones' official account of the
battle he says nothing OF the unprece-