The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-23
TODAY I'M HISTORY
Paul Jones Captured the serapIs.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER as. 1910.


Such an exploit as that performed by
John Paul Jones, on September %. 1fT9
by which, In plain sight OF the English
coast, he hung 10 the breeze the gallant
ensign Of the United States. and, with
| Brtons as witnesses OF his daring,
fought. victoriousy. a battle which has
| always been spoken Of the most OBJ
stinate and sanguinary combat that ever
occurred between single ships. can never
DO read by Americans with other than
the deepest and most enthusiastic inter
est. The victory. too. came at one OF
tne darkest hours Of the revolutionary
campaign: and served to gladden. and en-
courage, for the time being, the despond
enl hearts OF honest patriots.
1t was Paul Jones, who most historians
credit with having been the man who
American naval flag on board the Ameri
can frigate Alfred. the flagship. the ma
tional ensign being thus for the first
flag is said 10 have been OF yellow silk
bearing the figure OF a pine tree and
the significant device OF d rattlesnake
omlnous legend, Don't tread on me-
The battle which Jones fought on Sep
,ember ,,a % wes with the ,seraps when he
Richard. IL was about noon. while Jones
was cruising off the coast OF Yorkshire,
England. that he discovered the ships Of
mediately gave chase, coming UP with
the Scraps about o'clock in the even
Ing, The American ship was much in
ferior TO her antagonist being. In fact,
an old vessel, clumsy and unmanageable.
She was manned by three hundred and
eighty zig me men and boys The Scraps, on
manner, and with much heavier arma-
ment
In the early part of the action, the
superior sailing qualities Of the Serapis
enabled her to take several advantageous
positions, which the seamanship OF Paul
Jones, hampered by the unmanageable
him TO prevent. The fight had not pro-
Sressed far when several Of the eighteen
pound shot OF the Serapis had entered
the Richards huh below the water-rnark
and she leaked In a threatening manner
Just before they closed. Commodore
Pearson, Of the Serapis hailed his adj
Ncrsary: Has your ship struck II
haven't begun TO fight yet" thundered
forth the brave Jones, in reply
From the commencement to the ter
minatlon OF the action, there was not
man on board the Richard who was g-
norant OF the superiority of the Scraps.
both In. weight Of metal and in the quail
dauntess Jones stimulated his men with
word and example and they fought like
Trojans. Eventually q quantity OF cart
ridges on board the Scraps was set on
fire by grenade from Jones ship, and
blew up. but long after this the fight
went on with fury,
began 10 totter to its father fire slack
ened, and. about half-past ten o'clock
the British flag was struck, and Commo-
dorc Pearson surrendered his sword to
his really weaker adversary. In going
through the forInalities of this scene,
Pearson displayed much irritabllity, and
addressing Jones as one who fought un
der no recognized flag. said:
1T is painful TO deliver up my sword
to man who has fought with halter
around his neck"
sir" replied Jones, good-humoredly,
as he handed back the weapon, you
have fought like a hero. and / make no
doubt but your sovereign win reward you
In the most ample manner
True enough the gallant Pearson soon
received from King George the dignity
Of knighthood as an acknowledgment OF
his bravery In this unparalleled battle-l
hearing OF which honor. Jones Is. said TO
have dryly remarked: well. he deserved
1t; and should l have the good fortune
TO meet him again, ! will make a lord
Of him.
Jones took his prize 10 Holland and ii |
is no eNaGgeration 10 say that the whole |
world stood astonished at his bravery |
and success.