Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-17

favor OF q well manned British Shil
seemed to render the contest hopeless.
The fight was at close quarters. and
Jones soon saw that the splendid gun
merry OF his own crew could not avail
against the great difference in the
weight OF metal, especially as the guns
of the British ship were handled with
remarkable effect The ships came to-
gether. and Jones attempted To Crap
pie them to each other. but the lines
separated, and they fell apart. BY this
time more than half OF the remaining
guns of the Richard had been put out
of action, and the total weight of her
broadside had been reduced TO less
than a hundred pounds. while the fire
Of the Scraps seemed as heavy as
ever
More than one half of his crew on
the gun deck had been killed or wound
ed. while the ship was rapidly filling
with water II the battle was 10 be
fought out with cannon il was clear
that Jones must either surrender or
go TO the bottom, for the Richard had
practically no cannon in action. while
she was 81 safe and easy target for the
guns of the Scraps. only hundred
feet away. At this point the Alliance.
one of the ships in the American
squadron. appeared in the darkness
and held out to Jones the hope of
rescue, but she fred two brOadsides
into the Richard and then sailed away.
And now at this desperate stage
lucky rise in the wind and a clever
81.
a-foul of each other, and this time be
was able TO grapple them securely to-
getler. This circumstance changed the
fortunes Of the battle. The British
captain was deprived of the advantage
which his heavy battery had given him
over the silenced guns of the Richard.
He made every effort TO cut the fasten-
ings which bound the ships together.
The result of the battle depended upon
the success of that effort. 1t was deS-
perateIy pressed and desperately re-
sisted. The captain and two lieuten-
ants of the French marines and sol
dierS had been wounded, and Jones
himself directed their fire. He urged
OH the French in their own tongue.
He exhausted and probably enlarged
the resources OF their language by the
most dreadful imprecatiOns against the
foe He would seize loaded musketS
from the hands OF the marines and
fire them himself. His manner COM
pletely won the French They became
almost delirious with enthusiasm. Hen
~ Gardner, who took part. in the bat
tie. wrote that 1.-The commodore had
every Frenchman who was not killed
stark crazy. At first il was all he
could do to get them to stand. Toward
tl1p last he had trouble to keep them
from boarding the enemy before he
was ready. 1t took them several days
to cool off,
The Richard took fire, and her mag
azines were threatened. She appeared
to be sinking at the same time. The
English prisoners were set to work the
pumps and also TO put out the flames.
At about this time Jones was asked
from the British ship if he had sur
rendered. He replied. Il have only
begun to fight" A hand grenade drop
ped by Midshipman Tanning through
the hatch of the Scraps inflicted great
damage.
When the time for boarding came
Jones gave the signal. and the colors
of the Scraps were soon struck. AS
the Richard could not long be kept
af1oat. Jones transferred his crew and
prisoners TO the Scraps, but he left
his flag flying above the Richard. which
was to he the sepulcher of so many
heroes. The last ever seen OF the Bon
homme Richard was, to use the words
Of Jones, the defiant waving of her
unconQueTed and unstricken flag as
she went down.
The capture of the Scraps formed
the climax OF Jones career. He had
little opportunity for service during the
rest of the war.
SO far as he was permitted Jones
laid the foundation OF the sea power of
his country upon broad lines. His bril-
liant career has been an inspiration to
the service 10 which he belonged from
the day he won for ii it's first victory.
AS an illustration of the systematic
thorOughness of Jones and his almost
marvellous foresight 1t may be mention
ed that during the winter preceding the
outbreak of hostilities Jones was in
close communication with Washington,
jefferson and other leaders and assur-
ed them that his services were at the
disposal Of the colonies whenever they
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