Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-07-11
PAUL JONES.
Commander of Bon HOmme Rich
ard-History.

read of the terrible conflict be-
tween the Bon Homme Richard
under command of Captain John
Paul Jones of the American navy
(if one is entitled to speak of an
American navy at that time) and
the Seraphis of Great Britain.
This was one Of the great naval
battles of the world. Now, after
many years, the body of this
famous sympathizer of the Amer
ican colonies has been found and
is enroute to this country. An
exchange prints the following on
Jones, which is worthy of perusal:
According to modern psycholo-
gists, the sublimina1 consciousness
of individuals has a perfect men,
orv. Nothing that has ever been
experienced is forgotten. Men
say that their memories are
treacherous, that they play them
false, but every man has a mem
orv that has learned the art of
never forgetting, and under GER
tain conditions it may be placed
in evidence.
The same truth may be said to
apply to nations. We find that
nations often forget their heroes.
And yet, sooner or later, the sub
consciousness of the nation will
whisper, as it were, its memory
of hero into the peoples ear.
One of these heroes, forgotten
by the American people, to whom
he was SO loyal during the dark,
gloomy days of the Revolution
ary War was John Paul Jones.
He was not an Americans but a
Scotchman. Nor was Jones his
family name. When he left
Scotland for Virginia his name
was John Paul, but he took the
Welsh name of Jones for reasons
that were doubtless satisfactory to
him. The colonies at the out
break of the Revolution were
feeble, yet John Paul Jones freely
offered his services, though his
capture would have meant hang.
ing for him. He held several
commands, but it was as com.
mander of the Bon Homme Rich
ard that he won his most famou.
victory. He was not content tt
hug the American shore, but
with his ship, and accompanied
by several other ships, he swep
the coasts of Ireland and Scot
land, inhicting much damag
upon British commerce. At las
two of the finest vessels of th
British navy met him. Jone
threw himself upon the Scraps
The contest was sadly unequal
The Scraps was in fine condi
ton. The Bon Homme Richar
was a rotten old hulk. In a sho1
time the vessel began to sink
The British FIRE threatened ami
hilation. Then the captain {
the Scraps roared out, "Hav
you struck?' to which Jones re
piled, ~ haven't begun to fgt
yet" Nor had he. By an almos
superhuman effort, Jones mar
aged to lash his and the Britis
ship together. @ ~ Then came
sharp and decisive contest. Th
Scraps surrendered, and none to
soon, for it was not long befo1
the Bon Homme Richard went I
the bottom of the sea.
Later Jones entered the Frenc
navy, and it was in Paris that /
died. In Paris he was buried
Then he was forgotten. At scho'
the American boy read of b
bold exploits, but there were fe
who knew that he died and W;
buried IN Paris. The patriot
fervor of General Porter, our la
Ambassador to France, was stir
ed, and he resolved to find II
body of the old hero. The scare
was long and arduous. But
was found at last, identifcatic
being made complete by Frenc
savants, while the body is sa
to be in a most remarkable sta
of preservation.
Now all that was mortal of Il
old hero is being brought to Il
land for which he fought
brave1y, and with such sign
success. The French ackno,
ledge the justice of America