Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-22
FLAG OF PAUL JONES
Some Boust Cast Upon the Au.
thenticity ola Relic.
Richard Saved by stafford Reasons for
Believing Stafords Story Not rrue-A
Vital Fact Paul Jones' Account,

There has recently been presented to
the government flag alleged to be the
flag OF the Bon Iiomme Richard, John
Paul Jones flagship, in the famous
fight with the Scraps. While the per-
son presenting this flag to the govern
mcnt was doubtless actuated by gener-
Gus and patriotic motives. it is asserted
by officials of the Navy Department
that it is impossible that this flag was
ever on the Bon Homme Richard. and
there is grave reason to suspect that
the first person who so asserted, one
james Bayard Stafford, practiced a
fraud rms flag Il; now treasured as
one OF the most valuable relies in the
Navy Department in spite of the doubts
cast upon its Senuneness. The mat
Ter however, promises to cause an in
Nestigation. as 4 result of the re-
searches made By the Navy Depart
mcnt.
The flag is of red, white and blue.
WIN only thirteen stars in the blue
field and the same number of strines
For nearly Il century this flag has been
accepted as genuine. 1t was unfurled
with great fervor at the United States
Centennial Exposition at PHILADELPHIA
In 1876. James Bayard Stafford. of New
Jersey, in 1854 appeared before the Ma
rine Committee OF the Centennial Con-
sresS with this flag, asserting that he
had taken ii from the staff of the Bon
Homme Richard just before that vessel
sank, after the memorable battle. On
the strength OF his assertions the flag
was presented TO him for bravery. This
was In 1854. five years after the fight
The relic wds preserved by Stafford and
his widow until her death, August o
1861. when 1t came into the possession
Of their daughter. Miss Sarah Smith
stafford, who died recently and wilJed
1t TO her brother. Samuel Bayard staff
ford. by whom 1t has been presented to
the Government.
THE TEST MADE.
So long as the flag belonged to pri
waite persons no searching test of it's
authencity had been made Now
that 1t is Government property n care
1ul investigation has been made to find
out ii it is the original flag, and II is
asserted gravcly that it is not. Doubt
is even cast upon the fact of Stafford
being in the naval fight at all. The
facts OF the investigation are best set
forth in the language of one who has
looked into the matter:
Besides the allegation Of Stafford
himself. sworn to before a notary pub-
lie and the Marine Committee of the
Continental Congress, there are only
two authorities availa bile which affirm
that Stafford was on the Bon Homme
Richard. In Peoples History of the
Flags of America page 2S2, is a state
ment that ten days before the battle
between the Bon Homme Richard and
the Scraps Paul Jones captured n
British vessel of war and her prize. an
armed ship. called the Kitty, command
ed by Capt Philip Stafford. The Eng
ltshmcn had put the I[itty's crew i'm
irons. The crew of the Kitty volun
teered to serve on board the Richard.
and in the service of Paul Jones. in
gratitude at their release. Among these
volunteers was James Bayard STAFF
ford, Il nephew OF the captain of the
Kitty. Being educated. he was made
an officer on board the Richard. When
the Bon Homme Richard was sinking
transferred by Jones to the Scraps and
he assumed command of that frigate.'
THE PRESENCE OF STAFFORD.
"This accounts. apparently, for the
presence of Stafford on board the Rich
ard, when IL is not shown by any rec
ords at the Navy Department. This
presence of Stafford. however, can be
proved Is be a mistake. since there is
TO evidence that he was on the Rich
ard. on the very next page of this
same Preble's history is the statement
that the flag was shot away during the
fight and that Stafford plunged over
board and recovered it, There are
many mis-statcments in this history
which was compiled more or less ac-
cording to tradition and hearsay. On