Part 4 (1/2)

Despite the swarm of cruisers that were hunting for him, Jones pa.s.sed unscathed through North Channel, along the western coast of Ireland and arrived at Brest, in France, within a month of the day he left the port, his cruise having been one of the most remarkable in naval history.

CHAPTER VI.

One of the Most Memorable Sea Fights Ever Known--The Wonderful Exploit of Captain Paul Jones.

I have taken Paul Jones as the highest type of the infant American navy.

There were others who fought with great bravery and did much to aid in the struggle for American independence, but none combined in such perfection the qualities of perfect seamans.h.i.+p, cool but dauntless courage and skill in fighting.

Of course, no matter how daring our cruisers, they did not always escape disaster. At the close of the Revolution there had been twenty-four vessels lost, carrying 470 guns. Several of these met their fate through s.h.i.+pwreck. Contrast with this the loss of Great Britain, which was 102 war vessels, carrying in all 2,624 guns. The total vessels of all kinds captured from the English by our cruisers and privateers was about 800.

Captain Jones had made so successful a cruise with the _Ranger_ that he felt, upon returning to Brest, in France, he was ent.i.tled to a better s.h.i.+p. He wrote to Benjamin Franklin, expressing himself plainly on that point, and the American commissioner, after several months' delay, had a s.h.i.+p of 40 guns placed under the command of Jones. Her original name was the _Duras_, but at Jones's request it was changed to the _Bonhomme Richard_. This was in compliment to Franklin, who was often called ”Poor Richard” by his admiring countrymen, because for many years he had published ”Poor Richard's Almanac,” filled with wise and witty sayings.

This s.h.i.+p was an old Indiaman, in which 42 guns were placed, and the final number of her crew was 304. The 32-gun frigate _Alliance_, Captain Landais, was put under the orders of Captain Jones and a third, the _Pallas_, was bought and armed with thirty guns. A merchant brig and a cutter were also added to the squadron. It was found very hard to man these vessels and any other captain than Jones would have given up the task as an impossible one. It seemed as if about every known nation in the world was represented and some of the men of the most desperate character. Maclay says in his ”History of the American Navy” that the muster roll of the _Bonhomme Richard_ showed that the men hailed from America, France, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, England, Spain, India, Norway, Portugal, Fayal and Malasia, while there were seven Maltese and the knight of the s.h.i.+p's galley was from Africa.

The majority of the officers, however, were American.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.]

This squadron sailed from L'Orient on June 19, 1779. Almost immediately trouble occurred. Captain Landais, without any show of reason, claimed that the command, by right of seniority of commission, belonged to him.

On the first night out the _Alliance_ and _Bonhomme Richard_ collided and were obliged to return to port for repairs. Vexatious delays prevented the sailing of the squadron until August 14.

One of the consorts captured an English war vessel in the latter part of June, but was compelled to abandon her on the appearance of a superior force of the enemy, and the squadron put into L'Orient for repairs. A piece of good fortune came to the _Bonhomme Richard_ while in this port.

About a hundred exchanged American prisoners volunteered and did a great deal to improve the discipline and strengthen the crew of Jones's s.h.i.+p.

The valiant American, however, met with difficulties that were of the most exasperating nature. A boat's crew deserted and spread the news of the arrival of the squadron off the English coast. Captain Landais, commander of the _Alliance_, refused to obey the signals of the flags.h.i.+p, and conducted himself so outrageously that Jones more than suspected his brain was askew. The _Bonhomme Richard_ was old and in bad condition, but Jones told Benjamin Franklin in a letter that he meant to do something with her that would induce his Government to provide him with a better s.h.i.+p. He sailed almost completely around Great Britain, during which he captured seventeen vessels, most of which were destroyed though the more valuable were sent into port in charge of prize crews.

This depletion of his crew so weakened it that Captain Jones wisely refrained from remaining long in one place. Doubling Flamborough Head, he came up with his companions, the _Pallas_ and the _Alliance_, the latter having been out of his company for a fortnight.

This was on September 23, 1779. It was near noon, while the American squadron was chasing a British brigantine and was approaching Flamborough Head from the south, that a large sail was discovered, rounding that promontory from the south. Another and another followed, the astonished Americans counting them until the number had mounted up to forty-two.

It was a startling sight, for if these vessels were s.h.i.+ps of war nothing could save the American squadron, or, if most of them were merchantmen, under a strong escort, the peril of Captain Jones and his crews would be almost as great. The commander studied the fleet through his gla.s.s, allowing it to come closer and closer and holding himself ready to flee, should it be necessary to do so. Finally, after a long scrutiny, Jones's face lit up with exultation. There were only two vessels of war in the fleet, and he immediately gave the signal for pursuit.

The _Serapis_, commanded by Captain Pearson, knew that he was confronted by the redoubtable Paul Jones, and he welcomed a fight with him, for the British captain was one of the bravest of men. He signalled for the merchantmen to scatter, and they did so with the utmost haste, while the frigate with her consort, the _Countess of Scarborough_, boldly advanced to engage the American squadron.

It was at this critical moment that the captain of the _Alliance_ once more showed his insubordination. He refused to obey Jones's signal to fall to the rear of the _Bonhomme Richard_ and the _Pallas_ for a time was equally disobedient. Soon, however, she changed her conduct and gallantly advanced to engage the _Countess of Scarborough_. Captain Landais, however, sullenly kept out of the battle, and, as we shall presently learn, did even worse than that.

Captain Pearson, of the _Serapis_, waited until his convoy was beyond danger, when he tacked insh.o.r.e. Fearing he would get away, Jones ran in between him and the land. It was now growing dark, and it was hard for the American commander to follow the movements of his enemy. But the latter was not fleeing, and, although dimly visible to each other, the two antagonists began cautiously approaching, both on the alert for any advantage that might present itself. Nothing but the rippling of water made by the vessels broke the profound, expectant hush that rested upon both.

Suddenly from the gloom came the voice of the captain of the _Serapis_:

”What s.h.i.+p is that?”

Jones wished to get nearer before opening fire and replied:

”I do not understand you; speak louder.”