Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-02-03

l
nor be silent while his fellow men
were being cut down by a hated SOL
diery, and the glorious principles of
the Declaration were violated by a
relentless foe. His decision made,
the probabilities of ultimate and ut
ter ruin could not disuade him, and
the terrors of the struggle could not
shake his indomitable will. He could
not rest, till upon her own sacred
highways, he had wrested from Eng
land her time honored naval suprem-
aey.
The work that lay before him call
ed for man of iron will, patience,
and genius as a leader. He must
arouse a powerless Congress to
prompt action, raise funds from a
! bankrupt people; and make leaders
| from undrllled men-a condition that
might we'll make the bravest tremble,
and the mightiest give up in despair.
But Paul Jones possessed a courage,
a zeal, that nothing could daunt, and
! fearlessly began the task. He came
before Congress, and with impassion-
ed oratory, with unassailable logic,
with an unquenchable enthusiasm,
won them to his cause Laboring now
as leader, not as workman, he
created small navy within year.
But the merited leadership was given
into incompetent hands, and Jones
received little credit for his work.
Yet he toiled on, and said: ct am
working for the rights of man; not
to advance the fortunes of John Paul
Jones. If either must suffer, let it
be the latter!' He accepted sub
ordinate position, and without hope
of reward, and with failure confront
ing him, sailed boldly forth to meet
the foe. Scarcely had he begun the
cruise, when his name became ter
ror to British shipping. But his am
bition was not satisfied by the de-
struction of commerce. He longed
for the clash of battle. In vain he
plead for larger squadron. Then,
bearing the glorious news of .Sarato-
ga, he turned to France, pleading for
recognition. But here also, amid
the intrigues of French mobiles, his
plans thwarted by technicalities, sue
cess seemed impossible.
He did not abandon the effort,
however. Overpowering opposition
by sheer persistence, and outfanking
intrigue by matchless diplomacy, he
finally won his cause. After a brief
cruise in small vessel he was so sue
cessful, that he was given the "Bon-
homme Richard,'' reftted old mer-
chairman, rotten from stem to stern,
but the largest he had yet command
ed. Into the very heart of English
waters he sailed, sweeping the ship
ping from the seas, and leaving ter
ror and devastation in his wake. Cir
cling Scotland in search of an oppo-
nent worthy Of his steel, at last, in
the White Sea, he met the "Serapis' -
face to face. "One Of the most pow
erful vessels of her day, far superb
or to the Richard" and manned by
veterans Of many a battle, she was
the pride Of England. But in the
heart of John Paul Jones was nc
fear. Confronted with ruin he was
yet resolved to conquer; for on the
outcome of this conflict hung the fate
Of his nation. Should he conquer
French aid was assured; should he
lose, no aid might reach the suffering
patriots in their hour Of direst need
and the cause Of Liberty would be
forever crushed. There, in the 81.
lent twilight Of that summer evening
Freedom and Tyranny closed in NOR.
tai combat.
| The full moor is just mounting the
horizon as the grim ships creep slow
ly on. A hail rings out across the
silent water from the "Serapis. y
There is no reply. They are almost
together. Again the cry; and loud
as thunder echoes back the answer in
a mighty broadside. The silence is
followed by the battle roar, and to
the heavens mount the fire and
smoke. The Orchards" largest
batteries have burst. Her sides
cannot withstand the terrific blows
Her rotten planks/ are shattered
Her decks are slippery with blood
q They have become a seething hell
where to venture is to die. Dying
groans mingled with the shouts OF
the living; but ever above the roar
and groans and curses, can be hearG
the cheers Of the dauntless commo
| doro The NRichard,, iS sinking