Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-02-18
AYE, aye, Jack, it's true came
dann toned chnr11s of annrnval

aye, aye, OdCh, lIo LUG CAME Il
deep toned chorus of approval.
"Besides,'' went on the forecastle
orator, 1--WE all know'd wot kind of a
officer he is Fightin and prize money
is wot we all want, and here's where
well git it, you'll see, eh, mates?"
"Aye, aye; Jacks right, Bill
''Then blow the dissyplin', say l. I'll
take orders from a man wot amt
afraid O. nothin', wot hates the red rag
we knows Of, wot won't send me
where he won't go himself. Fightin'
and prize money, he's our man. Be
sides, wot's the use O. kickin'? We got
to do it; we're bound by them articles
OF war we signed" continued this deep
sea philosopher "Now, pass me my
can O. grog, Tom. I'm dry as a cod.
Here's to America, and hang the Brit
ish, too" continued this sea lawyer,
drinking his toast amid shouts of ap-
prevail from the men.
Left to himself, Seymour, after the
men had received their grog and other
necessary duties had been attended to,
turned the deck over to Lieutenant
Wallingford, whose watch it was with
Philip Wilton, and, descending the
poop deck ladder, disappeared through
the same door which had received the
two officers into the cabin.
Three weeks had elapsed since the
raid upon the Wilton place, and the
scene had shifted from Virginia to the
sea, or rather to the great bay which
gives entrance to it from the De,a
ware river 1t was clear, cold day in
| the early part of December, and the
| American Continental ship Ranger had
just left her mornings off Philadelphia,
with orders to proceed to English wa
tiers, stopping at Brest to receive the
I orders Of the commissioners in Paris.
| and then, in case no better ship could
| be found, to ravage the English chan
mel and coast as a warning that like
processes on the part of England on
our own shores should not go unpun-
| ished.
John Paul Jones, who had already
| given evidence, not only Of that desper-
ate courage and unyielding tenacity
which had marked him as among the
most notable Of sea officers the world
has seen-lacking nothing but oppor-
tunity to have equaled, If not sur
passed, a Nelson-but Of cOnsummate
seamanship and great executive ability
as well, had been appointed to COM
mand the ship. Before proceeding on
the mission, however, an important un
dertaking had been allotted to him.
The commissioners had sent word
from France, by a fast sailing armed
packet, of the near departure Of a
transport from England called the Mel
ish, laden with 1900 muskets, twenty
feldpieces, powder and other NUM-
tions Of war and 10000 suits Of winter
clothes destined for the army that was
assembling at Halifax and Quebec for
the invasion of the colonies by way Of !
the st. Lawrence river and Lake |
Champlain
Congress had transmitted the letter |
rections that he endeavor to intercept |
and capture this transport. The desti- |
tuition of the American army at this |
period of the war was frightful. De |
void of clothes, arms, provisions, |
powder-everything in fact. which is
apparently vital to the existence of an
army; continually beaten, menaced by
a confident, well equipped and disci
plined enemy in overwhelming force.
and before whom they had been habit
ually retrea ting, they were only held
together by the indomitable will and
heroic resolution of one man, George
Washington. The fortunes Of the
colonies were never at lower ebb
than at that moment, and there was
apparently nothing further to look for
ward to but continuation Of the dis
Indignation until the end came. The
meager resources of the lax confeder-
acy were already strained to the ut
most, and the capture of ship laden
as this one was reported to be would
be Of incalculable service. Clothes and
shoes to cover the nakedness of the
sodiery and protect them from the in
clemency of the winter, now fast ap-
preaching, and arms to put in their
hands, by means of which they could
assume the offensive and attack the (
enemy, or at least defend themselves
what more could they desire!
The desperate nature Of the situa-
ton, the dire need Of just such addi-
tons to the equipment Of the army.
had been plainly communicated to Cap
tain Jones, and he was resolved to eff
feet the capture If it were humanity
possible. The matter had also been
reported to General Washington. and {
such was his opinion of the necessity
of prompt distribution and a speedy i
of the supplies, if they
could be secured by the blessing Of
and so little was his faith \
In the inefficient commissariat, which. ,
had to endeavor to keep the I
balance between different colonies and