Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-07-06

light. Each adversary could plainly
follow the movements of the other
The Scraps" again tried to get into
position for a broadside. Jones saw
that his only hops was in fighting at
close quarters. He put his helm
hard down, and as the Scraps" came
around, her jib-bOom became entan-
gled in the mizzen.rigging OF the
Richard And then followed An.
other exhibition of daring and deter
minstion on the part of the Yankee
captain. With his own hands he
helped lash the vessels together.
There was to be no more Vancouver
ing now. 1t was to be fight to the
death.
The vessels now lay together, their
starboard sides touching. Jones was
everywhere. BE directed the FIRE Of
one of the nlne-pounders at the main
mast of the English frigate, and with
another he raked her decks. The
British attempted TO board, but were
driven back. Marines stationed in
the rigging shot down the English
sailors on the deck.
But on the lower decks Of the
Richard" was quite different story.
Matters were going from bad to worse.
Guns had burst and been dismounted.
The sides of the vessel were literally
shot away. The old vessel wallowed
in the sea as if at any moment she
might sink. Yet Richard Dale stuck
valiantly to his guns.
But now came new danger. Out
of the gray whiteness OF the night
came vessel it was the Alliance,
one of Jones squadron but she did
not help. Sailing twice around the
combatants, she delivered two broad
sides, which did more destruction to
her sister-ship than to the Scraps.
Fire added another terror to the scene.
The Scraps" had been on fire sever
al times, the Richard" almost contin-
ually. Bursting flame, cannon-roar'
the cries of the wounded-the vicious
crack of musket-sll played their
part in the terrible drama.
Some one reported ak feet of wa
ter in the Richards" hold. 1t SEEM
ed that the vessel was sinking The
master-at-arms gave orders to release
the prisoners. All these and a part
of the crew rushed to the upper deck.
1t was period Of wild confusion. A
number of officers begged Jones to
strike. He shook his head.
Then rose the cry of "Quarter
Quarter"
A gunner, believing that the ship
was sinking, had jumped on the rail,
and was endeavoring to surrender a
ship that he did not command. The
next instant a pistol hurled through
the air and knot ked him senseless.
John Paul Jones could throw as well
shoot. The moment was q decisive
one. Jones and Dale met the dan
ger with characteristic coolness. The
prisoners we're told that both ships
were sinking, and that their only hope
lay in keeping the Richard" afost.
They were hurried to the pumps.
Jones had been given another chance;
as long as he had deck to stand on
he could fight. And so the night
wore on. Above decks the Yankees
had the best Of it. Below decks the
Richard" was doomed. One by one
her guns had been put out Of action.
The marines had added another
daring attempt to their already effect
i've work. From the main rigging
they were hurliDg hand-grenades at
the deck of the Scraps One Of
these went through the hstch-way,
fell upon pile of cartridges on the
lower deck, and exploded them.
Nearly two score of the English gun
ners were blown TO pieces. 1t gave
the Americans new hope Almost
alone Pearson was left on his quarter
deck. He knew nothing Of the state
of affairs below. Jones, with cock
ed pistol in one hand, was urging on
his men, and with nine-pounder he
was storming away at Pearson's main.
mast. At last it began to totter. The
EDglishman saw his peril, and tore
down his oolors with his own hands.
A little later he surrendered bis
sword to John Paul Jones, who had
won the fight after he had been beat
en-; with fOrty-two light guns he had
silenced fifty heavy ones, and with
sinking ship he had captured one that
would float.