The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-06
TODAY IN HISTORY
Birthday Of John Paul Jones.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1910.


Today is the birthday OF John Paul
Jones. the Scotchman, In 1747. who was
10 10 render such signal service In the navy
OIL our country during the Revolutionary
war. HIS father was q poor gardener
or Arbigland, on Solway Firth. In Scot
land. faul. at the age OF twelve, was
apprentlced To a. shipping merchant OF
white Haven. the principal port OF the
SolWay. lie made several voyages TO
virginia, then his master was unfortu-
nate in business; and 1T tho age OF six
teen he was thrown on his own resources.
lie eventually, after several years OF
hardship, drlfted TO this country and
when the Revolution broke out he was
living in poverty near fredericksburg
Virginia He at once offered congress his
services In the navy then to be formed.
Az this time he had a small sloop with
IN New York he heard the news of Lex
lngton and Concord. He sailed for home
to put his affairs in order for long
absence, This done he drew up 81 gen
eral plan for tho founding OF a navy, and
started north TO submit these plans to
the Continental congress,
Destiny was not to bring Paul Jones
back TO the soil OF Virginia. When he
sailed for Philadelphia in his sloop, his
plans for navy in his pocket the wind
Of opportunity filled his sails-he had be
gun at u q voyage that was TO bring
him imperlshablo fame.
Congress listened attentively TO the
young Scotchman forecasting the needs
OF the navy. and when the first American
together by purchase, Jones served on a
committee to select tho vessels.
In the summer OF 1779-the year he won
his fame rs seaighter without a peer
Paul Jones was thirty-two years old,
From the date he was put in command
OF the Ranger in 1777, for more than two
years he had been sailing about the coast
OF England, capturing English merchant
men, descending upon the various ports.
and otherwise terrifying the people OF the
English coast. Finally In midsummer Of
~
Bon Iomme Richard and a sea fight
which Won him undying fame was fought
between this vessel and the Scraps on
September %, OF Marlborough Head.
During this engagement the flag OF the
Bon uomme Richard was hid by smoke
and Pearson. OF tho Scraps, cried out:
Has your ship struck" II have not yet
begun to fight" was Paul Jones answer.
The battle waged fiercely, The courage
of Jones never faltered although his po-
Stion was so critical, and his ship was
slowly sinking. The hand-grenades of his
marines set the Scraps on fire. Cap
tain Pearson had not the obstinacy Of his
foe, though he had fought with great
bravery, and at last he surrendered TO
his really weaker enemy.
1T Is painful" he said to Jones, In a
sury manner, ''to deliver up my sword
TO a man who has fought with n halter
around his neck" Jones preserved his
returned returned the the v weapon, 1o .sIr, You have
fought like n hero: and l have no doubt
your sovereign will reward you in the
most ample manner -
He said rightly; George III. knighted
Pearson for the bravery he displayed
When Jones heard OF this, he remarked
well. he deserves II; and II fall In with
him again. l will make lord OF him.
His brilliant exploit excited great ad-
mIration In Paris. The French gave him
a sword of honor and a cross of the mill
tary order of merit The American con-
grcss. eight years later voted him a gold
medal AT the conclusion OF peace Jones
accepted the post Of rear admiral In the
Russian navy in 1888, and IN 1892 he died
in Paris at the age Of fortyflye. He was
buried in that city until 1905, when his
body was eXhumed. after lying 1l3 years
In an unmarked grave. and was brought
TO this country and buried in noble
tomb at the naval academy at Annapolis
On July s, 1855. congress established
the standard OF the American dollar. L;
is the date OF the battle OF Sedgcmoor
In Monmouth's rebellion In 1855 and OF
tho battle Of jamestown, Virginia, In
1871 1t Is the birthday OF Commodore
Joshua Barney. the American naval offl-
Ger distinguished in both wars with Eng
land U75S), Alexander Wilson. the
eminent ornithologist O166); Bishop
Alonzo Potter GSoo); and Emperor Maxi
milan GS32). II is the date OF the death
OF Henry H., of England l1S9: Sir
Thomas More G536), Edward VI, Of Eng
land 1553); Sir Francis Palgrave Q66D:
and Samuel Lover, tho song writer and
ict