Evening star., 1947-07-06
Archives Exhibit Here
To Mark BicentenniaI
OF John Paul Jones


In commemoration of the 2OOth
anniversary of the birth of John
Paul Jones, the American naval hero
OF the Revolution, the National
Archives at Eighth street and Penn
sylvania avenue NV, will have on
exhibit for a week, beginning this
afternoon, a collection of John Paul
Jones documents. The naval hero
was born 200 years ago today.
The principal observance here of
the anniversary, however, will be at
l o'clock this afternoon, when a
wreath will be placed at the base
of the Jones statue, Seventeenth
street NV. at the Tidal Basin.
Vice Admiral Earle w. Mills, COM
mander Of the Military Order of the
World Wars, and Mrs. w. j. Clear
man, State regent Of the Daughters
OF the American Revolution, will
lead the ceremonies.
King to Make Presentation.
Admiral Ernest J. King, top war
time naval commander, will go to
Fredericksburg, Va, to present to
Rear Admiral James L. Holloway jr.,
superintendent of the Naval Acad-
emy, a reproduction Of the gold
medal awarded Jones by the Conti-
mental Congress. The medal will be
displayed in the John Paul Jones
crypt at Annapolis.
Eighteen admirals, including two
from Soviet Russia, have accepted
invitations to attend the ceremonies
at the James Monroe High School
stadium at 4:30 pm.
Halsey Will Speak.
Heading the high-ranking naval
officials will be Admiras King and
William F. Halsey, the latter one
OF the two principal speakers at
the ceremonies. The other speaker
will be Admiral w. H. P. Blandy,
commander in chief of the Atlantic
Fleet.
In the Jones exhibit at the Ma
tional Archives, one of the most
interesting of the articles on dis
play is the correspondence between
Jones and the Earl and Countess
OF Selkirk, whose country seat on
St. Mary's Isle. Scotland, he raided
on April %, 1778, from the U. S. S.
Ranger. Jones was attempting to
seize Lord Selkirk to hold him for
exchange of American prisoners of
war.
Was Son of Gardener.
Jones was born at Kirkudbright
on St. MaryS Isle. His father was
a gardener named Paul and his
ION took the name Jones in a
change of identities.
Jones himself did not 60 to the
Selkirk house when he learned that
the earl was not at home. It is not
likely that he feared he would be
recognized on the island, because
he had run away from home at
the age of IL and he was 81 at the
time of the raid. He wrote Lady
Selkirk later from Brest. France,
explaining that he had signed his
officers and crew a short time be-
fore the raid and they wanted the
loot that was due them.
Jones allowed two officers and
% men to 60 to the house and
demand the silver plate. They
were not to enter the house II 1t
was given over and. from all ac-
counts, his instructions were car
ried out to the letter.
Jones, who later obtained full
sized man-of-war, the Bonhomme
Richard, by writing to a lady of
the court of Louis XVI Of France,
inclosing letter to the King, was
gallant in his address to Lady
Selkirk.
Loot Was Not Purpose.
Let me entreat you, Madam, to
Use your soft persuasive arts with
your husband to endeavor to stop
this cruel and destructive war;" he
wrote.
He explained that loot was not
the purpose of the raid. He had
intended to carry off her husband
and, because of the Earl's influence
with the English king, to use him
for an exchange of prisoners. He
said he would buy the plate from
his lieutenants and return it to her.
L am not in arms as an Ameri-
can" continued the American Naval
hero. Nor am I in the pursuit OF
riches. I profess myself citi-
zen of the world, totally unfettered
by the little mean distinctions OF
climate and country
Selkirk Answered Letter.
The Earl of Selkirk undertook to
answer the letter. Ie inclosed his
answer in a letter to Lord LIE Des-
pencer, George Ills postmaster gen.
eral, with instructions that his lord
ship should forward it to Jones at
Brest, if he thought it proper.
HE is such an odd fellow by
what [ hear of him." Selkirk wrote.
I'VE were perfectly unacquainted
with him until his landing at my
house. 1t is not easy to know how