The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-28

matoes. about the size of . football,
brought frosts Bermuda In the middle
oi winter, with mayonnai-e dressing
The recently achieved success OF
Comomdore Porter's long search for
the remains of John Paul Joaes. which
have been exhumed from their scpul-
.hre in Paris. and positively identified.
will make interesting just now n brief
sketch Of his life and. his services TO
lis adopted country, fer his naval
achievements have hardly been ex-
pIoitei in American history commen-
snrahly with their merits. 4 poet,
whoae name ! do not recall, has euso-
gized him in the following stanxa.
though much cannot he said for the
mer1ts OF the verse:
"InsuItrd Freedom bled.
The hero felt her cause.
And drew his sword TO vindicate her
laws:
He did his best. s~elf-inteTest far apart.
and self-reproach e stranger To his
heart"
His name was John Paul. and he all.
ded Jones after coming fo this country.
though for what reason. if he assigned
any reason. ! have forgotten. IL I eve
knew. He was born ut Arbipxiand, n
small town in Scotland. July 9Th. 11I1.
II his father was n gardener. having
charge Of the conseryatories and
grounds Of a wealthy Scotch laird.
With the national high estimate OF q
ucation his parents gave him all b
advantages OF schooling In his boy.
hood: but. countryhred as he was his
eyes and hopes were turned to the SEA
from an early age.
Before he was ID years old he ship
ped III n merchant vessel trading liz
the south seas. and made several yoy-
ages TO the Indies. He afterward en-
gagged for some time I'm the slave trade
and finally came to America, whittier n
Scotch relative had already emigrated,
and made his residence at Fredericks-
burg. Va. When the American Revolu-
ton broke II he offered his services
To the colonies. and was given the posi-
ton OF first lieutenant on the sioop-of-
war Alfred. In l1I1 he was placed an
command Of a squadron. his flagship
Icing II brig of Is guns. aud he raw
aged the British coast. making "a hos
tile demonstration against the shores
of Solway Firth. The story of this
part of his career il finely old In one
Of tie sen stories of the novelist Coop
CT. The engagement OF John Paul
Jones Oh his ship the Bon Homme
Richard. with the British man-of-war
Scraps. off Marlborough Head on the
23rd of September. 1910. is ore of the
finest achievements in ancient or mod
ern naval warfare. The victory re-
maine with the American commander,
but both vessels were destroyed.
At the conclusion of peace. John
Paul Jones. in company with the IN.
nous traveller. John Lejyard. endeav-
oreu to establish the fur trade between
the northwest coast of America aud
China. but the enterprise resulted In
failure. On the seizure of the Crimea
by Catherine H.. Empress of Russia,
and the declaration of war with Tur-
key. John Paul Jones solicited and re-
ceived a command i'm the Russian navy
and was in the engagement in the
Black Sea, where the Turkish feet was
but Russian autocracy did not suit
the high-mettled ScOtchman-he was
too autocratic himself: and. resigninc
his commission in the Russian navy I'm
1877. he went to Paris, where France
was on the eve of the terrible revolu-
ton. Though Louis XVI. granted him
audience. treated him with princely
courtesy, and made him n Chevaiier of
I the Order of Military Merit. his appli-
cation for employment was disregard
ed-chiefiy. il is said. through the in
fiuence OF the Russian empress, who
resented his independence in quitting
| her service.
2 John Paul Jones. poor and disap
l pointed in life, died in Paris In ths
prime of manhood, A. years of z sis
months before Louis XVI. was sent Il
: the guillotine. His funeral was attend
4 ed by a large deputation from the leg
. ~islative assembly.
|. Fayetteville, April Is. ]. III. M.