Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-08-11

luCI OTuCIc, III ot1 " = Vim
mand the Ranger when Jones should
get a better ship in France.
The Ranger was a small sloop of
war, a corvet of perhaps 600 tons,
with a raised poop and a topgallant
forecastle, built at Portsmouth, \. H.;
a new ship and one Of the first of
those built especially for naval pur-
poses. She was originally intended
for tyenty-siX guns, but the number,
through the wisdom of her captain,
who had fathomed the qualifications
of the ship, had been reduced to eight
cen, -four long twelves and the rest six
Founders and smaller, with one long
eighteen forward. She had been some
days in commission, and the effect of
Jones iron discipline was already APP
parent in the absence of confusion
and in the cleanness and order of the
ship. The vessel had been very popu-
lar with the good people OF Philadel-
phia, her commander and officers like
wise, many of the latter. like Sey-
mour, being natives of the town, and
a constant stream of visitors had in
spected her at all permitted hours
The presence of these visitors. OF
course, including many ladies. coupled
with an inherent vanity and owe OF
finery and neatness on the part of the
captain-and. to do him justice, his ap-
probation of the necessity for order
and neatness-had caused him to
maintain his ship in the handsomest
possible trim, and he had not scrupled
to employ his private fortune to beau
tify the vessel in many small ways,
the details of which would have es-
capped any eye but that of a seaman.
though the general results were ap-
parent.
should always distinguish a trim and
well ordered vessel of war from the
clumsy and disorderly trader was due
entirely to his efforts. The crew.
as we have seen, had chafed under the
unusual restraints of this stern disci-
pline, but they were unable, as, in
deed in the last resort they would
have been unwilling. to oppose II.
Some of the older men, too. and some
Of those who had sailed with Jones
In his already famous cruises. held out
the hope of large prize money, and.
what was better with many Of them,
the chance Of n blow at the enemy, If
any of her cruisers Of anything like
equal force appeared-a chance sure to
come about in the frequented waters
Of the English channel.
The crew of an American man-of-
war at that period, at least the native
portion of it, always in Overwhelming
majority, was of much higher class
than the general run of seafaring men.
Among those in the Ranger were sew
eral who had been mates Of merchant
men-Bentley again among the num-
ber-men of some education and able
to serve their country as officers with
credit, had the navy been increased as
ii should have been, and whose subor-
dinate positions only indicated their
intense patriotism. The low and de-
graded element which sometimes is
such a source of mischief and disaster
In ships crews was conspicuous by its
absence. The reputation of Captain
Jones as a disciplinarian was very well
known among sailors generally, and
only his reputation as a fighter and a
successful prize taker would have en-
abled him to assemble the remarkable
crew to which he had spoken and
which was to back him up so CALAMITY
In many desperate undertakings and
wonderful sea fights of this and his
succeeding phenomenal cruise.
Seymour had rapidly recovered from
his wounds under Madam Talbot's
careful nursing and ministrations, and
when his orders reached him he had
been ready. accompanied by Philip
Wilton and Bentley, to join his ship
at once.
He still carried the blood stained
handkerchief, and many and many a
time had laid il, with its initials, tx.
w." embroidered by her own hand,
upon his lips. This was not his only
treasure, however. In a wallet in the
breast pocket of his coat he carried
and treasured a letter, only the veriest
scrap of paper, with these few lines
hastily written upon ii;
These by a friendly hand. We are TO
accompany Lord Dunmore 10 England
next week as prisoners in the ship Rad
nor, Both well, but very unhappy. ! love
you. KATHARINE.
This note had been brought to him,
the day before his departure from
Fairview Hall, by one of the slaves
from the Wilton place, who had in
turn received it from a stranger who
had handed it to him with the orders
that il be given to Lieutenant Sey-
mour If he we're within the neighbor-
hood; if not, it was to be destroyed.
There was no address on the outside
of the letter, which, indeed, was only
a soiled and tori bit Of paper, and UNI
sealed. Seymour had hitherto com
municated this news TO no one, and
was hesitating whether or no to tell
Talbot. who had that day joined the
ship.
Seymour found Talbot and the cap
tain together, when, after giving his
name to the negro boy, Joe, who wait