Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-01-09
CHAPTER XIX.
TWEEN DECKS WITH THE MEN.

this and other manifesto
fSzsNsSS lions of hearty spirit which
VSE2y 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 Indiaman with a
, towering forecastle. This Anticipated
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
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
her. She had been pierced for thirty
, six guns, twenty-eight IL Founders
on the main deck and eight
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
18 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 were 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 combinati ton
of circumstances, all Of her senior off,
GERS were absent except Dale. the first
lieutenant, Stacey, the sailing master,
and Mease. 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 were about
to engage and to which they were
rapidly drawing near, was brand
new, double banked frigate, mounting
dfty guns on one uncovered and two
covered decks, twenty Is pound
ers, twenty 9's and ten 6's. She
was manned by $50 well 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 subordinates.
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 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 Pearson's conclusions. When
a man like the little otch-American
captain makes up his mind to do a
thing there is only one thing to prevent
his doing it, and that is to remove the
man! Jones intended to conquer.
There never was a man who had more
of the spirit of absolute determination,
of unconquerable, unshakable, I'M
breakable pertinacity in continuing a
conflict, than be- He never knew when
= h0o hnpQnS0
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, fortuitous chance-everything
The men understood this too. There
Is nothing that your real hard oltcen
daredevil, your imprudent rufian, likes
so much as man who is not afraid or
him and who will be his master. Your
rufflan curses and swears at your man,
plots against him, rebels, mutinies.
conspires, and in the moment Of action
follows him like a devotee. The little
man standing at the break Of the poop,
cool, calm, thoughtful, with his stu
| OenC lace, anu SOulc" udI 1VOIAc,
dreamy smile, did not look like the iron
handed, iron willed, indomitable mas
ter of the motley ruffian band which
had been dumped upon his deck
which he certainly was. With the
dainty manner Of a Frenchman, the
courteous Difference of gentleman
of the oldest and best school, the calm
ness Of an ancient. philosopher, there
was in his appearance no outward evi.
dence of the tremendous qualities in
herent in the man save i'm the spar.
f, Killing, flashing. piercing eye, which
plunged through and through those
upon whom it's glances were fastened
with the keenness Of a sword blade.
His men were wont to say that nc
I could look even frigate into striking
her colors IL given an opportunity
The hardest ruffian cringed like cul
before him, and this when he, was
peaceful and quiet When he grew
angry, which was rare, his passion was
like Washington's, blasting and appall
ing. He was perfectly quiet now
! - n lzSeS esffI In