The Princeton union., 1905-09-14

condition ana substance, among whose
fnery the black coat Of clergyman
and the sober attire of many Of the
thrifty Quakers We're conspicuous.
Here and there the crowd was light
ened by the uniform Of militiaman or
home guard or the faded buff and blue
Of some invalid or wounded Continen-
tai. In the doorways Of some of the
spacious residences facing the river
many Of the fair danes for which
Philadelphia was justly famous noted
eagerly the approaching ship AS she
came slowly up against the ebb tide it
was seen that her bulwarks had been
cut away; all her boats but one ap-
peared to be lost; her mizzen topgallant
mast was gone; several great patches
in her sails also attracted attention.
There, too was a feldpiece mounted
and lashed on the quarter deck as q
stern chaser. The fore royal was furl-
ed. and two flags We're hanging Imply
from the masthead, the light breeze
from time to time fluttering them lit
tie, but not sufficiently to disclose what
they were until just opposite High
street. where she dropped her only re-
naming anchor, when a sudden gust of
wind lifted the two flags before the
anxious spectators, who saw that one
was British and the other their own
ensign. AS soon as the eager watch
ers grasped the fact that the red cross
Of st. George was beneath the stars
and stripes they broke into spontane-
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 small boat was
dropped into the water and manned
by four stout seamen, into which two
officers rapidly descended-one in the
uniform of soldier and the other in
naval attire. When they reached the
wharf at 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.
Eyes, he went off in the Ranger
about two weeks ago." answered an
other. 1,&&at v
$50 he did. I wonder where the
Ranger is now
"Who is the one next to him ?" said
third.
'That's the young Continental from
General Washington's staff who went
with him." answered 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-
gress!' cried one and another, as q
stout, burly, red faced, honest, genial
looking man, whose uniform of a 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;
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?"
1--WE left her about 100 leagues off
Cape Sable about week ago. She
had just sunk the British sloop Of war
Juno, twenty-five guns, after a night
action of about forty minutes. We left
the Ranger bound for France and ap-
parently not much injured"
''What, what! God bless me, young
man, you don't mean it! Sunk her, did
you say, and in forty minutes? Gen
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-Lieutenant
Seymour Of the navy, is it not? All, 1
thought so. What is her lading? Is it
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 it, sir.
am General Putnam. in command Of
the city"
/