Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-06-21

on the rail. from whence Il moment lat.
er lie fell back dead, with bullet In
his breast.
Poor fellow. murmured Jones and
then called out: "Give 1t to them. lads.
They have lost their main topmast" A
cheer was the answer. But the matter
must be ended at once.
/Johnson," said Jones to the young
midshipman by his side, run forward
and have the main yard hauled. Give
her good full, quartermaster," he said
to the veteran seaman at the helm and
then watched the water over the side
to see when she gathered headway
through it. Now. Hard up with the
helm. Flatten in the head sheets!
Round In the weather braces. Cease
firing aid load all.'
The ship gathered way. forged ahead
slowly, fell off when the helm WAS put
up and in trice was standing across
the stern Of the Juno, which endeavor-
ed to meet the maneuver rs soon Us 1t
was seen; but, owing to the loss Of the
lib and main topsail and the foulng Of
the gear. she did not answer the helm
rapidly enough to escape the threaten
ing danger.
"Stand by to rake her! Ready! Fire!
Stand by to board"'
The effect OF this raking broadside
delivered at short range was awful.
The whole stern OF the Juno was beat
ell in, and the deadly projectiles had
free range the full length Of the devoted
ship, which reeled and trembled under
the terrible shock. A moment OF 81
lence followed, broken by shrieks and
groans and few feeble cheers from
some undaunted spirits. Then, the
Ranger still falling OF. rank sheer
Of the helm brought her beam against
the stern OF the Juno. when eager
hands hove the grapnels which bound
the two ships together.
away. boarders"'
Certain Of the men left their quar-.
ters at the guns and, cutlass and pistol
In hand, led by Jones himself, swarmed
over the rail and on the poop Of the
Juno. Two or three men were stand
.ng there among the dead and wound
ed men, half dazed by the sudden ca
tastrophe, but they bravely sprang
forward.
"Do you surrender" cried Jones.
mo, you rebel. answered the fore
most, in the uniform of an officer,
crossing swords with him gallantly,
but In moment the sword OF the i'm
petuous American beat down his guard
md was buried in his breast. With
hollow groan he fell dying on the deck
Of the ship he had so calamity de-
Tended, while his men, borne back by
the determined rush Of the Rangers
gallant crew. after feeble resistance
threw down their arms, crying. Quar-
ter, quarter"
All this time the guns Of that ship
had been firing, one or two of them de-
pressed by simpsons orders so as to
pierce the hull below the water line,
the rest sending their heavy shot rip
ping and tearing through the length of
the Juno, which was unable to bring
single gun to bear in reply.
"DO you strike" called Jones from
the break of the poop, his men massed
behind him for rush through the
gangways, to one or two of the off,
GERS who were stationed there.
"Yes, yes; God help us" cried
wounded officer. what else can we
doY
where's your captain?"
Dead, SIR" answered one Of the
seamen who had been seized by the
boarders Him you killed whsh you
boarded"
Poor fellow! He was brave man
and fought his ship we'll"
Captain, the frigate Is bearing down
upon us.' cried one Of the Rangers
men.
"Aye. aye. Well, gentlemen, we can
not take possession, SO we will have to
leave you to your cOnsort," he said to
Tile bTlllSu OulCcIS. ulNC thS SoPe"AA
Of the >Acasta the compliments OF Cap
tain John Paul Jones of the American
Continental ship Ranger and say that
he will find me in the British channel.
Thank him for our entertainment to-
night he said. bowling courteOusly,
and then: Back to the ship. all you
Rangers. Let that mans sword alone,
sirrah! He used 1t well. Let 1t re-
main with him on his own ship. But
first haul down and bring the Juno's
flag with u.s."
The men hastily scrambled over the
rails to their own ship, the grapnels
were cut loose, and none too soon the
ship slowly gathered way and slipped
by the stern of the Juno, whose miz-
zenmast fell moment after, and she
lay rolling. ghastly, shattered hulk
on the waters, fire breaking out for
ward.
The -frigate, coming down rapidly on
the starboard tack, luffed up into the
wind and fred broadside ut the rap