Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-11

soil his uniform by associating with
him. LandaiS afterward heard of this
and challenged de Roberdeau to duel,
but the latter declined to meet him on
the ground that Landais was not gen.
tleman.
One more hitch occurred before an
chors were weighed. De Chaumont ap-
peared and induced Jones to sign
"concordat" by which each captain was
authorized to act virtually on his own
authority, obeying Jones only at dis
erection. 1t also provided that prizes
should be sent only to de Chaumont's
agents and that prize money should be
distributed only at his discretion. It Is
possible that Jones, in his eagerness to
be of, did not realize the full impli-
cations of this Gripping document, for
afterward he had reason upon reason
to repent 1t. A parting present came
from the Duchess of Charities. 1t was
a watch, cunningly contrived, which
had belonged to one of her sailor an
cestors.
A r last the little squadron of seven
{ \ was clear of the amending tangles
of shore politics, and on August IA,
ITO, 1t sailed on Its momentous cruise,
its elephantic flagship commanded by
a romantic egotist, its second ship in
charge of hysterical neurotic, its other
units captained by timid opportunists.
and all rife with forebodings, national
and racial rancors and treachery.
Nothing but the soaring blind and
needless self-conf1dence of John Paul
Jones ever could have induced him to
lead such an expedition, on its face so
ridiculous, SO grandly into the unknown.
Jones shaped his course northwest
across the mouth of the English Chan
mel toward the western shore Of Ire
land
Capt de Roberdeau informed Jones
that he could not endure the presence
of Landais; but he remained in the
squadron long enough to assist In the
capture of a Dutch ship which had been
taken as a prize by the British. De
Roberdeau tried to send her as his own
prize to Ostend, but being overruled by
Jones, he took what he needed out of
the ship during the night, gradually
dropped behind the squadron, and
finally disappeared with the splendid
ship which the lady Freemasons Of
France had so trustfully contributed to-
Jones expedition.
The squadron, now reduced to six
later, off Cape Clear, Ireland, while an
other ship was being overtaken. Jones
ordered some of his British sailors to
get into barge and tow the Bon
Homme Richard so as to avoid the
rocks called the Shallocks. While
Jones was busy watching the boats
pursuing the new prize, the Englishmen
cut the tow rope and made off with the
captains barge. Cutting Lunt pur-
sued the deserters with four soldiers,
but, becoming lost in fog, landed and
was captured
Then appeared over the rail of the
Bon Homme Richard the contorted face
Of Landais. Announcing that he was
"the only American in the squadron"
he accused Jones Of being responsible
for the loss Of the barge, and 1ugubri-
ously predicted the British would yet
get the whole squadron. Col. Chamil-
lard who witnessed the dispute, says
Jones treated Landais very calmly. For
a man so choleric as Jones, this Is sur
prising.' He would have been justified
In arresting Landais and taking his ship
away from him; but perhaps he felt
himself bound to obey the terms of
Chaumont's "concordat."
He ordered the Cert to look for the
missing boats. Her captain seized the
left five sail. On the 26th the Gran
vile took a prize and likewise disap-
peared. Four vessels now remained in
the squadron.
ZONES had intended to remain several
days off the Irish coast, to inter-
cept homeWard-bound ships from In
dia, but Landais objected. He reminded
Jones that he was not bound to obey
his orders, and as proof sailed away on
his own tack. He reappeared on the
31st with captured privateer, the Bet
sey. Jones on the same day took the
Quebec bound Union. laden with val
liable supplies intended for the British
ships on the Great Lakes.
Jones now ordered council of Off
GERS to assemble on the flagship and
map out their future course Landais
refused to attend. He said he would
met Jones on shore, when they must
kill one or the other" BY now it
should have been apparent to Jones
that he had either crazy or a danger
ously obstinate man to deal with, but |
for some inexplicable reason he held
his hand A gale then coming up, |
Landais followed the other deserters |
over the horizon: He disobeyed Jones
order and sent his prizes to Bergen, |
and Denmark returned them to the |
British, setting up a dispute which |
lasted for years. Three sail were now
left to Jones.
He called his remaining captains
into consultation and proposed they
make a descent on the English coast |
They objected, considering their posi- |
ton already dangerous. Jones then |
proposed a raid on Leith, informing |
them of the enormous levy to be raised |
there. To this they agreed, and all |
shaped their course to the Firth of |
Forth. On the way Jones picked up |
hat nnrafai,nirnn q nAilnk tr,lan Ar,I i.a.r '