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

over confines of the narrow seas.
"They have struck! The ship IS
oursr' ran from man to man among
the Americans. Wild cheers broke into
the night in an ever increasing volume
of sound.
Send Mr. Dale to me-" said Jones to
young Brooks as the flag came down.
The midshipman had been wounded,
but still kept his station.
AS Dale came running toward his
captain Jones cried:
Muster boarding party and take
charge Of the prize. The fight is over"
But, no. the battle was not over. A
few moments before an English ship
captain among the prisoners had sue
ceeded in escaping through the rents in
the shattered sides of the two ships
and had told the plight of the Richard
to the first lieutenant of the Scraps.
With this Information the men on the
gun deck had been rallied and, led by
their officers, had returned to their
quarters and resumed the battle. They,
too, were heroes. Mayrant. who ran
aft from the forecastle as he saw
Pearson strike his flag, jumped on the
rail by Jones orders and followed Dale
upon the deck of the English ship.
Such was the confusion of the moment
that as Migrant lcapcd on the deck he
was actually ruin through the thigh by
a pike in the hand of Il wounded Brit
ish sailor. Pearson was standing alone
tl,r ,,.t., Of
his ship, holding one clinched hand
against his breast, with the other
graspng his trailing flag. In his face
was that look of defeat and despair
which is the saddest aspect of batiled,
impotent humanity.
"lIave you struck. sir?" cried Dale,
stopping before the English captain.
YES" was the grim reply. His voice
was broken whisper indicating in the
tones his mental agony.
Il am come TO take possession"
every good, sir" said Pearson bitter
~, as before. and dropping the flag.
Then he reached for his sword.
just at this moment Pascoc. the first
lieutenant of the Scraps. came bound
ing up the hatchwuy from the deck
below
"A few more broalsides. sir and
they are ours" he cried impetuously.
"They are in a sinking
"The ship has struck sir and you
are my prisoner" interrupted Dale
quickly. seeing the necessity of
promptitude.
"Struck. This ship. Your prisoners
cried the astonished Englishman.
Eyes, sir. Your sword demanded
Dale. The man hcsitated.
"Dsarm him." cried the American
Two or three of the boa riding parties
closed around them.
sir asked the lieutenant, turning
to his captain, lis it true that we have
struck"
"Yes, sir" answered Pearson hoarse-
ly.
MY God" cried Pascoc. There was
momcntary silence.
Il have nothing more to say, sir
he added. Il Will 20 below and cal
off the men, said the lieutenant, turn
Ing away.
mo. sir" interrupted Dale. you
will accompany your captain on board
our ship at once. Pass the word &c
cease firing. The ship has struck
AS the English captain and his first
lieutenant stepped over the rail upon
the high poop of the Richard the roar
of the guns died away, this time for
good. Selling dangling rope, they
swung themselves inboard and found
themselves face to face with Il little
man in IA tattcrcd uniform, hatess
covered with dust and smoke, powder
stained and grimy with the soil of the
battle. Blood scattering from wound
in his forehead had coaguated upon
his check. He was hideous looking
spectacle. The red fire light played lu,
ridly upon him. Nothing but the pierre
ing black eyes which burned and
cleaned out of his face in the dark
ness bespoke the high humanity OF
the man.
us it,
Captain John Paul Jones, at your
service, gentlemen"
"Nly sword" said Pearson, rendering
it to him formally. Il regret he
added ungraciously, ''at being coN-
PEELED to strike to n man who has
| fought with halter around his neck.
sir" said Jones, with a magma
nmty as great as his valor, you
| have fought like hero, and l make nc
doubt that your sovereign will reward
YOU in the most ample manner. Mr.
Brooks, escort these gentlemen to my
| cabin"
| The two ships We're now cut adrift
| Dale remaining on the Scraps to take
| command. He had sat down moment
| for rest, and as he attempted to rise
| TO his feet he fell TO the deck, dis
covering only in that way that he had
| been severely wounded.
by the most heroic efforts of the
| prize crew on the Scraps and the re-
naming men on the Richard the Eng
| lish prisoners were driven back into the
| hold, the flames Subdued and some sem
hlance of order restored. Cottineau had
captured the Scarborough after an houl
| of good hard lighting and the victory
| was entirely with the Americans. But
it had been purchased at u fearful cost