Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-20
CHATTER XIX
TWEEN DECKS With THE Mrv

L
this and other manifeeta-
EES,Cy tons Of bearry spirit which
SSszkD had met him on every hand.
mounted the ladders and resumed his
station on the high poop deck of the
frigate.
Anything less like war vessel could
hardly be imagined. The Bon Homme
Richard had been an old fashioned.
high popped East Indaman with a
towering forecastle This antiquated
makeshift, formerly called the Due de
Duras, had been turned over to Jones
for a ship of war through the grudg-
ing kindness of France. 1t was the
best ship Franklin and the other COM
miSsioners of the new American re-
public could procure for their greatest
sea captain. Jones out of compliment
TO Franklin, author of the Poor Rich
ard papers. had renamed her. The
name was the only thing new about
hor. She had been pierced for thirty
six guns, twenty-eight 10 Founders
on the main deck and eight 8
Founders on the quarter deck and fore
castle. In utter desperation at her
entire inadequacy, Jones had recourse
TO the dangerous experiment. not
often resorted to- of mounting six
IS FOUNDERS in ports pierced for
them on the berth deck. and of course
very near the water line. The guns
were all of an obsolete pattern and
much worn by use, the Is Founders
being especially bad: as dangerous.
in fact to friends as foes. Bad as they
were. they We're all he could obtain,
and. with characteristic determination.
Jones resolved to make the best of
them.
The ship herself was so old and rot
ten that she was not even fit for an
ordinary merchant cruise, much less
prepared for the shocks of battle
Through an unfortunate combination
of circumstances. all of her senior OIL
GERS were absent except Dale, the first
lieutenant, Stacey, the sailing master,
and Measc, the purser. Among that
half of her crew who were soldiers
many had scarcely yet acquired their
sea legs" and some Of them were
actually seasick during the battle! The
Scraps, with which they We're about
TO engage and 10 which they were
rapidly drawing near. was a brand
new, double banked frigate mounting
fifty guns on one uncovered and two
covered decks, twenty is pound
crs, twenty 9's and ten 6's. She
was manned by $50 we'll drilled able
seamen and commanded by one of the
best officers in the English navy, who
was ably seconded by a full quota OF
capable and experienced supordinates.
Pearson had no more doubt Of win
ming the victory than he had Of the
rising of the sun next morning. Leav-
ing one factor out of a comparison OF
the opposing forces, his confidence was
absolutely warranted. But Jones had
no more doubt of winning the victory
than Pearson had. Pearson knew his
ship and his crew; Jones knew himself.
He was the unconscious factor which
vitiated Pearsons conclusions. When
man like the little Scotch American
captain makes up his mind to do
thing there is only one thing 10 prevent
his doing it, and that is TO remove the
man. Jones intended 10 conquer.
There never was a man who had more
of the spirit of absolute determination,
of unconquerabe, unsuitable, I'M
brealabie pertnacity in continuing a
conflict, than he. He never knew when
he was beaten, perhaps because he
never was. There was something in
the sheer determined, persistent pug
nacity of the man which absolutely
compelled success. He wrenched vic
tory from overwhelming odds, superior
force. fortuitofs thing.
The men unda-st"~d +his too Thara
is nothing that your real hard bitten
daredevil, your imprudent ruthan, likes
so much as a man who is not afraid Of
him and who will be his master. Your
ruffan curses and swears at your man.
plots against him, rebels, mutinies,
conspires, and IN the moment q action
follows him like a devotee. The little
man standing at the break Of the poop,
cool, calm, thoughtful, with his stu
dent face and somewhat poetic,
dreamy smile, did not look like the iron
handed. iron willed. indonitable mas
ter OF the motley ruttisn band which