The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-07-17

lsRHRT N.Y. Scotland, to a gardener
Hra w named John Paul, a son
hQ00n1LH who was destined to
lllllIllIUR play role in the found
HqQUD' ing of new nation. For
the first twelve years Of
his life young John Paul, for he was
named after his father, lived the life
of any boy of his time and there was
nothing to indicate the high destiny
that awaited him. Then in 1859 he
was apprenticed to Whitehaven
merchant, engaged in the American
trade, and went to sea. And it was
on the sea that this Scotch lad was
to win his fame, was to become the
outstanding American naval officer of
the Revolution and one of our great
sea captains of all time.
To most Americans the name John
Paul Jones is a familiar one but the
extent of their knowledge of him is
usually confined to that epic battle
between the Bonhomme Richard and
the Scraps during which Jones ut
tered his immortal words, II have not
yet begun to fight" But there is so
much more Of interest in his career
than is given in our school book his
tories that it deserves wider knowl-
edge among us of his adopted country.
For one thing, if for no other, his
connection with the early history Of
our national banner should give him
enduring fame. "That Flag and / are
twins" he once said. Born the same
day and the same hour. We cannot
be parted in life or in death. SO long
as we can float we shall float together.
If we must sink, we shall go down
as one"
The Scotch boy who went to sea in
1859 rose rapidly, became a ship own
er and by 1878 was making voyages to
the West Indies and to India. In the
meantime his brother, William Paul,
had been adopted by certain Will
liam Jones, and became a prosperous
planter. When he died John Paul in
herited his estate. Thereupon he add
ed the Jones to his name and settled
uONh dS a pldltCl III AhCllSd NLlSH,
as he characterized it, was 'the coun-
try of his fond selection since the age
of eighteen" He soon was a sutton of
Miss DorOthea Spottswood cambridge,
a descendant Of the famous Governor
Spottswood Of Virginia and a cousin
of Martha Washington. His suit pros
pered for awhile, then it seems to
have languished and eventually the
charming Miss cambridge became the
second wife of a middle-aged widOwer
named Patrick Henry-won perhaps
by the same OratOry which made his
"Give me liberty or give me death
forever famous.
Jones was not long to carry for
ward his ambition to become Vir-
ginia gentleman. For the outbreak of
the Revolution brought with it the
necessity for the rebellious colonies
to organize navy with which to cope
If possible with the Mistress Of the
Seas" and more especially to waylay
ships bringing supplies to the British
army. So one of the early acts of the
Continental congress was to choose
naval commander-in-chief, four cap
tains and a number of first, second
and third lieutenants, and provide
ships for them. This new navy was
mainly New England affair and the
commander-in-chief was Commodore
Essex Hopkins from Massachusetts,.
The only officers who were not New
Englanders were Nicholas Biddle of
Pennsylvania and John Paul Jones Of
Virginia. Curiously enough, his COM
mission was not obtained for him by
a fellow Virginian but by Joseph
Halves Of North Carolina.
Jones' first task was arming and
manning the flagship of the fleet of
eight vessels given to Commodore
Hopkins. 1t was the Black Prince, a
merchant ship, which was renamed
the Alfred. In January, 1776, CommO-
dore Hopkins arrived in Philadelphia
to go aboard his flagship. AS he
stepped over the side Captain Salton-
stall gave the signal and Lieutenant
Jones, who was flag lieutenant, hoist
ed over the Alfred two flags. The one
which he raised to the mizzen peak,
as the flag of the United Colonies,
was the Grand Union flag Of thirteen
alternate red and white stripes with
the Union Jack in the upper left-hand
corner where in the future the field Of
blue with its white stars was to ap-
pear. At the main peak he ran up
as the fleet flag one Of the famous
rattlesnake flags, the first of which had
been suggested by Benjamin Franklin.
This was a banner Of thirteen alter
nate red and white stripes. Across it
diagonally was stretched a rattle
snake below which were the words,
Don't Tread on Me-"
So came about John Paul Jones'
first connection with our national flag.
But the Rattlesnake flag was not at
all to his liking. Il could never see
how nor why venomous serpent