Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-07-05

Gus cheers of rejoicing. Immediately
after the field gun on the quarter deck
was fired. and the report reverberated
over the water and across the island on
the one side and through the streets of
the town on the other with sufficient
volume to call every belated and idle
citizen to the river front at once.
Immediately after a small boat was
dropped into the water and manned
by four stout seamen. into which two
officers rapidly descended-one In the
uniform of q soldier and the other In
naval attire. When they reached the
wharf ut the foot of High street they
found themselves confronted by an ex-
cited. shouting mass Of anxious men.
eager to hear the news they were
without doubt bringing.
Its Lieutenant Seymour cried
one.
"Yes. he went off in the Ranger
about two weeks ago" answered an
other.
$50 he did. l wonder where the
Ranger is now."
who Is the one next to him?' said a
third.
That's the young Continental from
General Washington's staff who went
with him." answered a fourth voice.
Back. gentlemen, back"
"Way for the general commanding
the town.
Here. men. don't crowd this way
on the honorable committee OF con-
gressw cried one and another, as a
stout, burly, red faced, honest, genial
looking man. whose uniform Of gen.
eral officer could not disguise his plain
farmer-like appearance, attended by
two or three staff officers and followed
by several white wigged gentlemen OF
great dignity. the rich attire and the
evident respect in which they were
held proclaiming them the committee
of congress. slowly forced their way
through the crowd.
Now, sirs," cried the general officer
to the two men who had stepped out
ON the wharf, what ship Is that: We
are prepared for good news, seeing
those two flags, and the Lord knows
we need it.
THAT is the transport Mellish, sir; a
prize of the American Continental ship
Ranger, Captain John Paul Jones'
"Hurrah. Hurrah" cried the crowd,
which had eagerly pressed near to
hear the news.
Good. good" replied the general. II
congratulate you. How is the Ran
ger?"
I'VE left her about 100 leagues OF
Cape Sable about week ago. she
had lust srllk the British slOop OF war
Juno. twenty-five guns, after night
action of about forty minutes. we lett
the Ranger bound for France and ap-
parcntly not much injured"
What. what. God bless ME, young
man, YOU don't mean it! Sunk her, did
you say, and in forty minutes! Cen
tlemen. gentlemen, do YOU hear that
Three cheers for Captain John Paul
Jones"
Just then one of the committee OF
congress and evidently its chairman,
a man whose probity and honor shone
out from his open. pleasant face. inter
rupted:
"But tell me. young sir-Lieutenart
Seymour OF the navy, is it not? All,
thought so What is her lading? Is II
the transport we have hoped for?'
"Yes, sir. Lieutenant Talbot here
has her bills of lading and her mani
fest also"
"Where is it. Mr.. Talbot" interrupt
ed the officer. Let me see 1t, sir.
am General Putnam. in command of
the city"
The general took the paper in his ca
gerness. but as he had neglected to
bring his glasses with him he was un'
able to read it.
Here. here" he cried impatiently
handing it back. Read 1t yourself or
better, tell us quickly what 1t is.'
''Two thousand stand Of arms. twen
ty fieldpieces, powder, shot and other
munitions of war. 10000 suits OF
winter clothes, blankets, shoes, Colo
mel Seaton and three officers and hfty
men of the Seaforth highlanders ana
their baggage. all en- route for que
bee" said Talbot promptly.
The crowd was one seething mass OF
excitement. Robert Norris turned
about and, lifting his hat from his
head, waved it high in the air amid
frantic cheers. Putnam and his ON
GERS and the other gentlemen OF the
committee of congress seized the hands
of the two young officers in hearty
eongratulation.
But there is something still more to
tell" cried Mr.. Morris-''your ship
her battered and dismantled cOndi'
tion. the rents in the sails! You were
chased?
"Yes sir" replied Seymour. "and
nearly recaptured. We escaped. how
ever, through narrow channel ex
tending across Georges shoal, off Cape
Cod, with which l was familiar. Ant
the English ship, pursuing recklessly
ran upon the shoal in gale OF vino
and was wrecked, lost with all OF
board"
'Is 1t possible, sir-is 1t possible
Did you find out the name of the ship!
Eyes. sir; one of our seamen who hat
served aboard her recognized her. sh'
was the Radnor. thirty-six guns
That's the ship that Lord Dunmor'
ia reported to have returned to Europe
in," said Mr.. Clymer, another membe
of the committee. A shudder passe'
over the two young men at this con
firmation Of their misfOrtunes. Sey
mour continued with great gravity:
1--WE have reason to believe that SOM
one else In whom you have deeper In
terest than in Lord Dunmore was ol
board of her-Colonel Wilton. one
our commissioners to France. and III
daughter also. They must lave pei
ished with the rest"
There was moment OF silence Il
the full extent of this calamity wa
made known TO the multitude, and the
| A clergyman was seen pushing his wa
nearer to them.