Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-11-17
WHO WAS JOHN PAUL JoNEs7

a VISIT to the United States Naval
academy, at Annapolis, Nd, viii
almost certainly include at least a mo-
ment's pause before the magnificent
crypt where lies what are supposed
to be the remains Of the first and one
Of the greatest Of Americas naval
heroes-JOhn Paul Jones. But an ex-
animation Of the facts in the case will
show that there Is as much doubt as
TO whether this Is really the body Of
the American commander as there is
about the true identity of this person
age, whose career from birth to death
Is n Of the unsolved riddles Of the
Revolutionary war.
In the first place, "Jones" was not
the real name Of this hero, but one
adopted by him In later years. He
was born with the name John Paul"
and there IS much doubt as to whether
he was the true or the adopted son Of
the Scotch gardener in whose cottage
he spent the first II years Of his life.
Crawford, author of THE Sailor
Whom England Feared and one of the
leading authorities on the life Of John
Paul Jones, admits that mystery sur
rounded his origin with an lmpenetra-
BILE veil' and that he encountered great
difficulties In his efforts to sift the
false from the true, the legend from
the facts. The generally accepted
story Is that John Paul was born in
the little village Of Arbigland and
that his father was a poor man, half
gardener and half fisherman, while his
mother was Of pure Highland stock.
But Crawford expresses more than a
doubt that the Pauls were really the
boys parents, but has been unable to
delve further into the mystery.
John Paul's brother was adopted by
a Virginia planter by the name of
Jones and, when this planter died he
left his estate to his adopted son upon
condition that he take the same name.
The brother, in turn, died shortly after
ward, willing the property to John
Paul upon the same condition. Thus
John Paul became John Paul Jones,
the name by which he is known and
revered.
When, after his memorable naval
exploits, John Paul Jones finally died
In France his death was practically
unnOtlced in America and the only
record Of the place Of his burial was
that left by a friend, for use, as lie
said, "If America should ever wish to
perform her duty to the one to whom
she owed the most"
Whether this memorandum of the
grave was correct is a matter which
caused much discussion about a cen
fury afterward when Gen. Horace P0r-
ter, American ambassador to France,
discovered after a long search what
was alleged to be the body of John
Paul Jones, exceptionally well pre-
served In a leaden casket filled with
alcohol. The measurements of the
body compared exactly with those in
the possession Of the Navy department
at Washington, but the total absence
Of other distinguishing marks raised a
doubt as to the real identity Of the
body-though United States officials
agreed to treat 1t rs If 1t we're the real
remains of the naval hero.
A squadron was sent to France to
escort the body home and France paid
great official honor to the man who,
a century before, had fought with dis
tinction under many flags. When the
CaSket finally reached the United
States 1t was received with much
pomp and ceremony and conducted to
the cradle of the American navy at
Annapolis-where 1t remained In OBJ
security under a flight of steps for
many months awaiting the completion
Of its final resting place.
But there Is doubt In the minds Of
many as to whether this is actually
the body of the famous commander Of
the "Bon Homme Richard" Just as
there will always be a mystery sur
rounding the actual identity Of the
man who commenced life as John
Paul, the son of a Scotch gardener.