Morris tribune., 1905-03-04
the stern of the Juno. when eager
hands hove the grapnels which bound
the two ships together.

the two ships together.
away, boarders!
Certain of the men left their quar-
! tiers at the guns and, cutlass ana plsto'
in hand, led by Jones himself, sWarmed
over the rail and on the poop OF the
| Juno. Two or three men We're stand
inS there among the dead and wound
ed men, half dazed by the sudden ca
tastrophe, but they bravely sprang
forward.
EDO you surrender" cried Jones.
mo, you rebelp' answered the fore
most, in the uniform of an officer,
crossing swords with him CALAMITY,
but in a moment the sword of the i'm
petuous American beat down his guard
and was buried in his breast. With
hollow groan he fell dying on the deck
of the ship he had so CALAMITY de-
Tended, while his men, borne back by
the determined rush of the Rangers
gallant crew, after a feeble resistance
threw down their arms, crying, GUAR
ter, quarter"
All this time the guns of that ship
had been firing, one or two of them de-
pressed by Simpsons orders so as to
pierce the hull below the water line,
the rest sending their heavy shot rip
ping and tearing through the length of
the Juno, which was unable to bring
a single gun to bear in reply.
"Do you striker" called Jones from
the break of the poop, his men massed
behind him for a rush through the
gangways, to one or two of the Off
GERS who were stationed there.
"Yes, yes; God help us!.' cried a
wounded officer. "What else can we
do?"
where's your captainY'
'Dead, SIR" answered one Of the
seamen who had been seized by the
boarders. .sHim you killed when you
boarded"
"Poor fellow! He was brave man
and fought his ship WELL"
Captain, the frigate is bearing down
upon usv' cried one Of the Rangers
men.
"Aye, aye. Well, gentlemen, we can
not take possession, SO we will have to
leave you to your consort," he said to
the British officers. "Give the captain
Of the Acasta the compliments of Cap
tain John Paul Jones Of the American
Continental ship Ranger and say that
he will find me in the British channel.
Thank him for our entertainment to-
night" he said, bowling courteously,
and then: Back to the ship, all you
Rangers. Let that mans sword alone,
sirrah! He used it well. Let it re-
main with him on his own ship. But
first haul down and bring the Juno's
flag with u.s.
The men hastily scrambled over the
rails to their own ship, the grapnels
were cut loose, and none too soon the
ship slowly gathered way and slipped
by the stern of the Juno, whose miz-
zenmast fell moment after, and she
lay rolling, CHASTITY, shattered hulk
on the waters, fire breaking out for
ward
The frigate, coming down rapidly on
the starboard tack, luffed up into the
wind and fired broadside at the rap
idly disappearing Ranger, which, how
ever, did no harm and was only an
swered by a musket shot in contempt,
and then she ranged down beside her
battered and shattered consort AS
soon as she reached the side of the
Juno she was hove to, and boat was
sent off at once. An officer stepped
on board. He was Mortified at the
scene Of carnage which presented it.
self. The ship aloft was a wreck; the
decks were perfect shambles; wound
ed and dying men lay around in every
position. The masts were gone; the |
ship was full of shot holes; the water
was rushing and gurgling in through
the shot holes below the water line;
flames were breaking out forward.
Where is Captain Burden?' cried |
the officer.
Dead" replied the wounded first
lieutenant in hollow voice.
did you striker"
eyes"
''What was the ship with which you |
foughtY
"The American ship Ranger, Captain
John Paul Jones. He says he will see
you in the English channel Heavens,
Lawless, isn't this awful? Three
'ourths Of ours are dead or wounded!
The cursed rebel captured the Mellish;
We ranged alongside at quarters; they
got in the first broadside; the main top
mast went, then the jib; they fell off,
'aked us through the stern, boarded;
Jones cut down Burden with his
sword; we could not get gun to bear;
hey were pounding through us; we
could not keep the men at quarters;
We struck; they took our flag, too;
hen you came down, and he sheered
III; then the mizzenmast went. l ex-
'ect the fore will go next"
Whats his force? Was it a frig-
lteF' +
~ can answer that" said the brave
master Of the Mellish, who had gained
he Juno and fought. well in the fight.
She's sloop. of eighteen guns
Less. than ours. We have twenty