The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-20
ONCE A CAPTIVE PIRATE
ADVENTURES OF AN OLD MAN WHEN
LAD ON HIS UNCLE'S SHIP.
Taken to Mexico, He Joined the
American Army and Became a
Friend of Taylor and Davis.
Columbus (O.) Dispatch.

Columbus co. Dispatch.
| One of the quaintest and most interesting
| characters in Franklin county is Hugh Z.
| Jones-farmer sculptor, erstwhile sailor
| and adventurer-who lives quietly on his
broad acres about six miles south or the
| city on the Lockbourne road.
All his neighbors admire the venerable
man for his sterling qualities, they smile
at his eccentrcity which has won for him
reputation that extends for beyond the
| shores of the United States-across seas
| in fact This peculiar and unique hobby
| is the craving of animals, reptiles and gro
| tesque figures from wood, and for years he
has had his lawn in front of his comforta-
bic farmhouse fairly filled with the speci-
mems of his handiwork.
To show his loyalty to his adopted coun-
try he has painted his house chimneys in
! alternate stripes of red and white, and on
one side of each is a blue field bearing
! white stars.
In this comfortable, but strangely decor
ated home, Hugh Jones has lived for forty
years and reared a family, His good wife
remains to comfort him in his old age,
| and together they have seen their two sons
and three daughters grow up and marry.
| In the interval of forty years, however
| the old sailor found that his failing health
| demanded a change, and he went back TO
| the sea on which he was born, and twice
circled the globe. These journeyings have
| taken him to nearly every seaport in the
! old and new worlds, and he is as familiar
| with some of the ancient countries over
which he has travelled as he is with his
own neighborhood
Increasing infirmties of old age and an
attack of sickness which has left him in
| sad plight, have rendered his mind less
| clear concerning dates and places incident
| to his journeyings, but he can recall some
| of the most remarkable adventures that
| ever marked the life of soldier of for
| tune.
He was born in 1880 board a fruit YES
sci belonging to his father in the port of
Alexandria, Egypt. His father and mother
were both of the hardy Welsh race, and
they lived aboard their vessel, which
sailed regularly between London and ports
of the Mediterranean, carrying tropical
fruits into the English metropolis and car
| rying back such cargoes of merchandise as
it could pick up.
But he was not destined to live the
prosaic life of sailor in the narrow con-
fines of the land-locked sea, nor was his
to be the experience of an overworked and
underpaid laborer before the mast Of a
| fruit-carrying craft
The summer preceding the arrival of
his tenth birthday anniversary Hugh Jones,
lad large and strong for his size. left his
| mothers side and the protecting influence
of home ties OH board mis- fathers fruiter,
and shipped OH his uncles sailing vessel
bound for the China seas. An irresistible
| longing drew him into the venture, and
| the fact that the uncleS ship was of a
rather doubtful character even in those
peaceful waters, created no element OF hesi-
tation in the boys mind.
Little can be said of that long, narrow,
| swift sailing vessel that came into port
for no particular purpose and went again
! no one knew where. 1t is sufficient to
| know that the commander. the cabin boys
uncle, was the then world-famous Pirate
| King, Captain Harry Jones' Those were
days when freebooting was the profession
dangerous calling. that sailing under the
| black flag with its hideous skull and cross
| bones. Men-of-war of all the sea-faring
nations piled the waters Of the seas and
| oceans seeking to purge the maritime high
| ways of the common terror and wreak
| vengeance upon the bold buccaneers thus
captured. Many was the battle royal be-
tween the men-of-war and the pirates, for
| the latter could fight to the last ditch when
| cornered, for capture meant death on the
| yardarm at all events
And this tent ear-Old sailed away
| with Captain Harry Jones, the Pirate
| King" and il was a merry chase they had
| across the rolling waters TO the east. The
| lad saw many sights that made his blood
is the. simple language in which he de-
| scribed the terrible fate of many brave
sea dog-the walking of the plank.
Prizes, rich prizes, We're captured and
the booty bid fair TO be the best in sea-
sons, when suddenly 4 British man-of-war
| was sighted not far off the coast of Cey-
lon. Then came a grand race. the black
flag leading in an effort 10 reach the open
sea and escape under the cover of the
| night; the cross of ST. George following
in a fierce endeavor to put the rope about
| the neck of "Pirte King" for his ship
| was quickly recognized. But the chase
was not TO result in voctory for the
pirate nor was such to be the result Of the
| fight which was to follow.
Finding escape out of the question owing
to the better sailing qualities of the Brit
Ceyion, and attempted to sail up the stream
which was too shallow for the heavier
man-of-war. At the mouth Of the stream
and the fight began. The Britisher poured
in the. solid shot and the pirate answ,. led
against him and knowing that he s was
about TO be captured, Captain Jones started
| for the magazine to blow up his craft. but
| shot cut MIN down and he fell wounded
TO the deck The ten-year-old lad ran to
| the Long Tom which had been deserted,
| and single-handed gave the Britisher one
last parting shot. That was all; the battle
| was over. and the following day the pirate
| ship was destroyed where she lay, and the
captain and the crew were on their way
to Hong-Kong in irons. They were to be
CAPTAIN KIND TO HIM.
1t so happened that the British captain
was a just and fair-minded man, and he
gave the crew of the black flag vessel the
alternative of trial in Hong-Kong or re-
main in irons on board until the man-of-
war should return to London The cap
tives decided that they preferred to be tried
| in Hong-Kong and were glad enough TO
| escape being strung up at the yardarm
without formality.
During the course of the trip from Cey-
long TO Hong Kong, the British captain
| took a fancy to the boy among the pris-
| oners. and by the time the port was
| reached he determined 10 take him back to
old England. there set him free under the
| influence Of his relatives with the hope of
| weaving him from the inclination TO rove
the high seas In such questionable COM
! pany. In psite OF this determination. how