Evening star., 1937-09-18
Spectators Will See What
n appened d When Bon
n me Richard and
Scraps CIashed OF
English Coast 1853
Years Ago.
Bp Rex Collier.

years ago today a quaint
feet of three inprovised
~ American men of war beat
southward along the coast of Eng
land toward Flamborough Head, mari
ners' landmark jutting out into the
North Sea.
At the same time, miles away. a
feet of British merchantmen con-
voyed by his ma jesty's warships, the
Scraps and the Countess of Scar
borough. was sailing northward toward
the same promontory.
The inevitable meeting of the two
feets took place within sight of resi-
dents of Marlborough Head four
days later.
The result was one of the great
battles OF naval history. and one from
which sprang John Paul Joens' i'm
mortal declaration, I've not yet be-
gun to fightl''
The famous battle resolved itself
into a desperate struggle between the
fagships of the opposing fleets
Jones decrepit and undermanned
Bon Homme Richard and Capt. Rich
ard Pearson's new and powerful man
Of war, the Scraps
The 158th anniversary of that en-
eaeement will be celebrated next
Thursday night with realistic re-
enactment of the thrilling fight on
the Potomac River off the Lincoln
Memorial Watergate.
The authentic reproduction OF
ships and battle conditions will be a
high light of a spectacular water
pageant TO be staged In connection
with the Presidents Cup Regatta this
week.
There are few if any events in
American naval annals to equal the
glory of that battle--one of the most
bitterly fought in history
HARD put for ship in 1919. Jones
appealed 10 BENJAMIN Franklin.
who arranged for the transfer to
Jones of a condemned East India
merchantmen. the Due de Duras.
which was converted into a frigate
of 40 guns and renamed the Bon
Homme Richard in honor of Poor
Richard" Franklin.
The Richards principal battery
consisted of % l2-pounders on one
deck-14 on each side On the
deck above were eight 9-pounders
On the deck below the main bat
terry Jones had cut three portfolios
near the water line, where were
mounted six l8-pounders Thus the
ship carried ~ guns capable OF dis
charging total of 258 pounds OF
shot at one time
Accompanied by the frigate Alliance.
commanded by the erratic French
man. Capt Landais. and the French
corvette, Pallas. 30-gun ship COM
manded by Capt. de Cotineau. the
Richard arrived off Flamborough Head
on September 81. There Jones pro-
eeeded 10 molest British shipping.
sinking a collier. forcing merchant
ship to run ashore and scattering fleets
OF traders
Word Of his depreda tions spread
rapidly along the coast and caused
great CONSERVATION.
About 3 am. on September % the
three ships renewed their attacks on
British shipping
Early in the afternoon Jones spied
feet OF Al vessels TO the northeast
and Immediately signsled the other
two ships to join him in giving chase.
The feet was composed of mer-
ehantmen in the Baltic trade. con-
soyed by the Serspis, 44-gun pride
OF the British navy. commanded by
Capt Pearson. and the Countess OF
Scarborough. of 20 guns.
CAPT. PEARSON had been fore
warned that danger lurked OF
Marlborough Head. Early that morn
tng ssvessel from shore had carried
word to him that hostile squadron
was in the vicinity. The exact strength
Of the enemy was not known to him.
however.
Pearson signaled the merchant ships
10 swing north of him so that he
could protect them from the foe, bus
the feet. in evident alarm and confu-
sion. made for shore instead, with
topgsllant sheets flying.
The Scraps continued southeast un-
til late afternoon. by which time
Jones ships were in plain sight from
lower decks. Pearson slowed up to
permit the Scarborough TO come up
whereupon, about s pm. the two
ships turned west Jones continued
70 approach from the south.
Pearson meanwhile studied the
enemy ships, trying in vain to coun,