Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-27


fN7HE battle had been maintain
ed with the utmost fury for
H-S-.S nearly three-Quarters of an
GsssEJ hour, and both ships had s'is-
tanned severe injuries. the Richard being
in much the worse condition. The heavy
shot from the long IS Founders of
the Scraps had played havoc with her.
Pearson naturally thought that it was
about time for Jones to surrender,
though the hour when Jones thought
it time to surrender would never strike.
The sudden silence which had fallen
upon the conflict was broken by voice
from the British ship. In high inter
rogation it rang over the waters in the
moonlight.
Have you struck" was the ques-
ton Of the Scraps. From the shattcr-
ed Richard came Jones immortal an
swer:
Il have not yet begun to fightn'
A roar of wild eXultation, gigantic
Homeric laugh, broke from the throats
of the crew of the Richard as the reply
of the captain was passed from deck
to deck until the whole ship from
truck to keelson quiyered with re-
sponsive joy. 1t was joke the char
acter of which those blood stained ruff
fans could well appreciate, but the
captain was In no mood for Joking.
He was serious, and in the simplicity
Of the answer lay its greatness. Strike.
Not now nor ever, Beaten, The fight.
ing is but just begun. The preposter-
Gus possibility Of surrender cannot
even be considered. What manner OF
man this with whom you battle in the
moonlight. brave Pearson? An unfa
m,liar Kind to you and to most such
rs has not been before nor shall be
ngain. Yet all the world shall see and
understand at this time.
Il have not Yet begun to fight"
Surprising answer. ON a ship shat
tered beyond repair, her best guns eX'
ploded and useless, her crew dccimat
ed hinged about with dead and dying
the captain has not yet begun to fight
But there was no delay after the an
swer no philOsophizing no hcroics
The man of action was there. He
meant business Every moment wher
the guns were silent was u wasted
one.
The helm was shifted to starboard
and the hcadsails shivered The Rich,
ard slowly swung off to port and gath.
cred Roadway again. The Scraps had
lost an opportunity of lacking and
raiine. In order more quickly tc
bring his guns to bear and perhaps
to prevent raking by the enemy, Cap
tain Pearson threw all aback. And
the two ships, one backing and the
other reaching ahead, slowly drew
abreast each other, the batteries speak
Ing again as soon as the guns bore
The wind was very light, and the mo
lion of both ships was SLUGGISH in the
extreme, so that they practically lay
side by side, steerage way almost gone
slowly drifting in for long minutes, un
til there came sudden, temporary
breath Of wind.
The position was most advantageous
for the Scraps. as with her heavie,
and more numerous guns she could de
Hberately knock the Richard into
''cocked hat" She was much tn,
spcedier and handler ship, and Nigh
reasonably hope to choose her owl
distance, and, having selected a poin
of vantage maintain it to the end
Pearson's game was to fight at Ions
range untll he nau sunk ms enemy. ri
difficult task that last-she was hal
sinking now, But what the Richard
lacked in mobility and direction, she
made up in her captain. Jones die
things instinctvely Pearson had tC
think about them. Jones' only hope
was in getting TO close quarters ant