The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04

pointed by Congress to make some provi-
sions for a navy. and when asked his name
he said. Jones" and by that name history
has since known him. The committee ysuld
I have paid little attention 10 his request for
commission had il not happened that one
Of it members. Richard Henry Lee, knew
something Of the career Of the supplieaut
sailor. He was given commission as first
lieutenant of the Alfred. a merchantmen
/ which had been made over into a nan-of-
war and placed under the command OF
Commodore Hopkins. To the masthead OF
Z this vessel Jones' with his own hands
hoisted the first ensign ever shown on an
I American man-of-war. II was the famed
( rattlesnake flag. with the motto Don't
| Tread on Ne" By a remarkable coinci-
/ dence some time later. on the Ranger
! Jones displayed at the peak the first bit Of
stars and Stripes bunting ever flung to the
breeze Of an American man -of-war 4 lit
| tie later he had the honor of hearing fired
| in recognition Of the same flag the first
| salute which II ever received from for
| eign nation the roar Of the guns carrying
with it the acknowledgment by France of
the independence Of the United Colonies.
Undersized and Thin.
John Paul Jones physically was not
heroic looking figure He was only five
feet tall, Of light weight, but in his fight
ing qualities his ounces counted like other
mems pounds. His face was grave and
thoughtful. and his eyes were as sharp
as his cutlass. The fleet in which Jones
sailed under Commodore Hopkins was a
miserable affair, and Hopkins was the
weakest Of commanders. Jones succeeded
In inducing his superior 10 sail for Mas
sau. where, under the direction OF the
junior officer, a vast amount Of British
% haa1 To.
the United States the British frigate Glas-
gov was sighted. but it escaped the
American feet owing to the poor seaman
ship OF Hopkins. court of enquiry was
held. and it was determined that if Jones
suggestions had been carried out the
Glasgow could have been captured or
sunk. Hopkins felt disgraced and became
a bitter enemy Of his subordinate. Short
ly after this Jones was made captain Of
the Providence. carrying twelve guns. He
cruised about, capturing many merchant
men, and finally, when of Nova Scotia. he
fell in with the Milford, a huge British
fTigate which was diguised as a trading
ship. Jones bore down on it until he was
within pistol shot OF the vessel. Then he
discovered his error and. by magnificent
seamanship, succeeded in escaping with
out a scratch. although a single well-di-
rected broadside would have sunk his
ship. The Milford chased the Providence
but was quickly left astern. The British
ship kept firing at the Yankee long after
it was out Of range. In contempt and de-
rision of this act Of the British captain,
knowing that his actions were being
watched through a glass, Jones ordered
single sailor to stand at the stern and
shoot a mus t at the pursuer every
time he fired has big bow chaser.
After serious trouble with the jealous
Hopkins. Jones was finally given command
Of the Ranger, eighteen guns. He took a
number Of prizes on the way. and finally |
put into a French port. AT Paris he met |
the American Commissioners. Silas Dean, /
Benjamin Franklin, and Arthur Lee, and |
they secured him an audience at The |
French Court. By request he aided in !
planning the operations OF D'Estaing's |
fleet, which was shortly to leave for |
America.
The heroic fighting career of Jones was |
just about to begin. though with the fame (
that he had won in the next few months /
came the undying hatred of all the people |
of his native country, and there came also /
the loss of the only woman he ever loved. /
and whom he had hoped one day to make |
his wife.-Boston Journal.