Morris tribune., 1905-03-18


gan. but their place was taken by pri
vateers and their prizes or a ship from
France. bringing large consignments OF
war material from the famous house OF
Rodrigo Hortalez & Co.. of which tho
versatile and ingenious NJ de Beau
marchais was the deus ex machina,
and once in awhile one of the few
ships of war of the Continental navy
or some Of the galleys or gunboats OF
Commodore Hazelwoous Pennsylvania
state defense fleet. But the approach
ing, sshp was evidently neither a pri-
vateer nor Il vessel of war; neither did
she present the appearance of peace.
full merchantmen.
There was something curious and
noteworthy in her aspect which excit-
ed the attention Of the port warden,
and then of the loungers along Front
street and the wharfs, and speedily
communicated itself to the citizens Of
the town, so that they began to hasten
down to the river in the cold of the late
afternoon. Finally no less a person
than the military commander of the
city himself appeared, followed by one
or two aids and attended by various
bewigged and beruff1ed gentlemen of
condition and substance, among whose
fnery the black coat of clergyman
and the sober attire of many of the
thrifty Quakers were 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 Continent
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 fieldpiece mounted
and dashed on the quarter deck as a
stern chaser. The fore royal was furl-
ed, and two flags were hanging Imply
from the masthead, the light breeze
from time to time futtering 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 ag1 naaned /
by four stout seamen, into which two I
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.
$50 he did. 1 wonder where the
Ranger is now"
'Who is the one next to him?" said a
third.
That's the young Continental from
General Washingtons staff who went
with him." answered fourth voice
Back, gentlemen, backr'
"Way for the general commanding
the town.
Here. men, don't crowd this way
On the honorable committee Of con
gressr' cried one and another as
stout, burly, red faced, honest, genial
looking man, whose uniform of a gen
eral officer could not disguise his plain
,armer-like appearance, attended by
,wo or three staff officers and followed
~ several white wtgged gentlemen Of
great dignity, the rich attire and the
evident respect in which they were
held proclaiming them the committee
If congress, slowly forced their way
through the crowd.
"Now, sirs," cried the general officer
% the two men who had stepped out
m the wharf, what ship is that? We
ire prepared for good news, seeing
hose two flags, and the Lord knows
We need it."
"That Is the transport Mellish, sir; a.
'rize of the American Continental ship
Ranger Captain John Paul Jones'"
"Hurrah! Hurrahw cried the crowd,
which had eagerly pressed near to
lear the news.
f'Good, good!' replied the general. 81
congratulate you. How is the Ran
er?'
1--WE left her about 100 leagues off
jape Sable about a week ago She
ad just sunk the British sloop Of war