Morris tribune., 1904-01-23

Two or three of the boarding parties
closed around them.
"Sir,' asked the lieutenant, turning
to his captain, lis it true that we have
struckT'
Eyes. SIR" answered Pearson hoarse.
ly.
"My God'' cried Pascoe. There was
momentary silence.
81 have nothing more to say, sir"
he added. Il will go below and call
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 to
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 a little
man in tattered uniform, hatless,
covered with dust and smoke powder
stained and grimy with the soil of the
battle. Blood SCATTERING from a wound
in his forehead had coagulated upon
his cheek. He was a hideous looking
spectacle. The red fire light played H.
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. s.
as it, .a.
captain John Paul Jones, at your
service. gentlemen" f."
"My sword" said Pearson, rendering
it to him formally. Il regret" be
added ungraciously, "at being COM
PEELED to strike to man who has
fought with a halter around his neck"
Sir said Jones, with magma
nimity as great as his valor, you
have fought like hero and l make no
doubt that your sovereign will reward
you in the most ample manner. Mr..
Brooks, escort these gentlemen to my
cabin ..-
4ALC WV "ClC lO" Cut duIllL.
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. ...,a 49,;
By the most heroic efforts of the
prize crew on the Scraps and the re-
naming men on the Richard the Eng
fish prisoners were driven back into the |
hold, the flames subdued and some sem
blance of order restored. Cottineau had |
captured the Scarborough after an hour +
of good hard fighting. and the victory !
was entirely with the Americans. But
it had been purchased at fearful cost :
There is no battle on land or sea in the
worlds history where the percentage ,
Of loss was greater than the battle
between the Scraps and the Richard.
About topper cent on the Scraps and
over so per cent on the Richard had !
been killed or wounded, and the Bon /
Homme Richard was in a sinking con-
ditiOn. She had been literally beaten
to pieces. 1t was not safe to remain
upon her decks. Consequently the
prisoners and the wounded grooming I
and crying in anguish. were removed
to the Scraps. In the early morning
If the day following, the brave ship
which had earned undying Immortality t
IN her wornOut old age, because for +
-hree brief hours John Paul Jones and
mis- men had battled upon her decks, +
|ank forever beneath the sea.
The refitting Of the prizes for the
voyage was at once. begun.
To anticipate events, it is recorded |
hat Captain Landais. the jealous and
,alse hearted Frenchman who had so
rea cherousy Unanswered the Alliance,
vas subsequently court martialed and
dismissed from the service. /