The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-05-08

on his third voyage killed a mutinous
mulatto with a Delaying pin. Jones
satisfactorily cleared himself Of the re-
suIting charge OF murder and gave, dur
ing his trial, one of the earliest evidences
of his power to express himself, almost
as clearly and strongly in speech as in
action. The rough llfe that Jones led
associated with common seamen from
his 18th year, and his lack OF previous
education made it difficult for him to
become what he desired-a cultivated
gentleman. But in some way he man
aged to educate himself not only in
seamanship and navigation, but also in
naval history and in French and Span
ish.
In 1873 when Capt. John Paul, as
he still was, reached Virginia on q mer
chant voyage he found his elder brother
dying. This brother had, several years
before, come into the property of a
Virginia planter named Jones, who had
previously adopted him, and Capt. Paul
was named as the next in succession.
Therefore John Paul, in accordance with
the old planters will, took the name
bv which he Is famous and became the
owner Of the plantation. AS the war for
independence now approached, Jones
grew active in promoting it. Service
| in the cause Of the colonies could not
be renluneratiye aud Jones, who was in
financial straits, knew it. But though
privateering would have paid better
than regular commission, when the
war came on Jones sought the latter.
Yet he has been called bueeaneer and
pirate by many writers, including such
recent ones as Ruydard Kipling, John
Morley and Theodore Roosevelt, the
latter of whom viii doubtless soon have
something more eulogistic TO say of
him. But it is not likely that feeling
OF patriotism led Jones to serve the
colonies against his native land. The
reason lay rather in his overpowering
desire for action and fame. There was
! his best and largest opportunity for
glory. Service in the British in an
important capacity was impossible for
man with no family or position. Jones
| therefore went in on the side offering
him the best chance and on that side
| he at lcaet served well and faithfully,
despite much i'll usage and seant recog-
milton.
At the beginning OF the war there
was no American navy. In the creation
on one Paul Jones, with his practical
knowledge and his instructive genius for
naval strategy in its widest sense, prov
ed the most valuable of all men. Com
gress asked him for advice and in an
swer he prepared two remarkable re-
ports, clear and logical and strangely
| foreshadowing the results of his own
after exploits. His special point was
| the moral effect to be gained If one
Of our ships could defeat a superior
British ship and the British prestige be
so dispelled. In q report on the quail
/ tieations of naval officers Jones showed
himself abreast of these present days
III the philosophy Of naval organization
and won Washington's special admira-
ton. Jones was appointed first lieuten-
ant in the infantry on December 22,
1875, being sixth on the list OF appoin-
tees, though he should have been first.
However, he FASTENED aboard ship and
was the first man to hoist an American
flag on man-of war-the kind OF spec
4 tacIlar triAe that swelled his pride.
| Following this he took part in cruises
wholly lacking in historical Importance.
October 10, 1776, he was made captain
| in the navy, but only 18th on the list,
d piece of rank injustice, which Jones
never forgot but which it is to be re-
| membered that he had to bear and
bore. Rank to him was a passion, not
i merely because II would enable him
| to be more effective but for its own
sake. He liked all the signs of dis
play-busts. epaulets. medals, marks Of
| honor Of all kinds. How near toS the
! heart" he wrote "of every military of
/ tfcer, is rank which opens the door OF
glory
On June IA, 177T, Congress appointed
Jones to the command Of the sloop OF
war Ranger, and on the same day the
4 permanent flag of the United States, the
stars and stripes, was decided upon
Jones again had his spectacular oppor-
tunity and having been the first to
raise that flag on a war vessel, as be
had been the first to raise the old rattle
snake flag, he said, "That flag and | are
| twins, born the same hour from the
same womb OF destiny" Following his
theory that the greatest moral advan-
tage was to be gained by striking Eng
land at home, Jones sailed across in
the little Ranger and made his famous
descent upon the town of Whitehaven,
setting fire to the shipping there. The
same day he made descent upon the
estate of the earl of Selkirk, near his
own home and birthplace in Kircud-
bright. In this descent, Jones' crew,
who were unruly, carried off the Selkirk
family plate, which Jones himself later
Ireturned with much trouble and expense,
| 1t was on the next day that he met
fought and captured the British sloop
of war, Drake, an even match for the
Ranger This was the first sea victory
for the Americans and as blow to the
English pride it was beyond words,