The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-04-18
Compelled British Frigate to Sur.
render to His Ship, Bon HON.
me Richard.
BROUGHT BODY FROM FRANCE
Was Discovered in an Abandoned
Partisan Cemetery By Horace
Porter.

washington, D. c., April IT.
With impressive military and civic
exercises the magnificent memorial to
John Paul Jones, the naval hero OF
the American Revolution, was dedi.
Gated in this city today. Congress
appropriated $4,000 for the memoir
lal, which occupies conspicuous
site at the main entrance to Potomac
park. "
The president of the United States
and members of the cabinet, the
diplomatic crops, justices of the
Supreme Court of the United States,
distinguished officers of the navy and
the army, senators, representatives
in Congress and many others promin-
ent in official life, as we'll as a large
concourse of citizens, were present.
Thousands of bluejackets of the navy.
United States marines, soldiers of the
| regular army and of the National
Guard and delegations representing
patriotic and other civic crganiza-
lions were assembled in parade as a
tribute te~the famous naval hero.
The memorial, the work of Paul
H. Niehaus, the New York sculptor,
was admired by everyone who saw it.
In many respects it differs from other
similar memorials erected in the ma
tional capital. It consists of mar
BILE pylon of classic design as the
background for a colossal bronze
figure of the intrepid naval COM
mander Of the early days of the re-
public. pylon is a massive rect
angular tower about fifteen feet in
height. 1t occupies the center of an
ornamental fountain, the water for
which will come from the bronze
heads Of dolphins at each end of the
rylon. On the back of the shaft is
large panel containing a bas re-
lief representation of Commodore
Jones raising the American flag on
the historic ship Bonhomme Richard
The Jones statue stands at the
base of the monument in front of
the pedestal. It is of heroic proper
lions, being about ten feet high. The
great naval commander is shown in
full uniform, with an expression and
pose suggestive of his indcmitable
will and uncomfortable spirit. APP
parently he is watching a naval en-
gagement. His right hand is clenched
and his left hand clutches his sword.
In the die under the statue is in
scribed: sf.>
o o o o o o o . o . . 8 . o . o
10 1747 First 1892 9
o To Compel Foreign Men of War o
o To Strike Colors to the Stars o
10 and Stripes. 8
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
There are two inscriptions on the
rear of the pylon. The first of these
is on the stone forming the cap of
the shaft. It embodies the language
popularity attributed to Commodore
Jones when called upon by the Com
mander of the British frigate Ser
apis to surrender the battered Ameri-
can ship Bonhomme Richard The
inscription is as follows:
j o 8 o 9 o o o o o o o o o o 8
o -Surrender?- o
o I have not yet begun to fight 8
o @ o o o q o o q . o o o o 8
The second inscription is just be-
low the bas relief representing Com
modore Jones raising the United
States flag for the first time on an
American warship. It reads:
10. o o o o o . o o o o. o 8 . Q
o In Life He Honored the Flag. Q
. In Death the Flag Shall Honor !:
I8 Him. !.
| @ 9 q q 9 o @ q o q @. q q q 3
Secretary Of the Navy Meyer pre-
sided at the dedication exercises and
the memorial was unveiled by Adj
{miral Dewey. President Taft ad
dressed the assemblage and pronounce
ed a splendid tribute to the valor
and genius Of the sailor and patriot
and told of his daring deeds on the
high seas. The exercises concluded
with the Grafton of the day delivered
by General Horace Porter of New
York, who while United States am
bassador to France found the remains
OF Commodore Jonesin an abandoned