Table of

y because the mother country had protected them. But when unfriendly feeling arose, Congress ordered war vessels to be built. These were very useful in capturing Br

Paul

ar vessels were some noted sea-captains, t

ern coast of Scotland. The cottage in which our hero spent his early boyhood days stood nea

he active lad and his playmates took their tiny boats and made believe they were sailors, John Paul always acting as captain. Sometimes when he was tir

en who owned a vessel and traded in goods brought from other lands. Soon afterward John Paul went on a voyage to Virginia, whe

fter the merchant failed in business, John Paul still continued to follow a seafaring life, and in a short time became a cap

here, but, like Patrick Henry, he failed as a farmer.

ion broke out he determined to offer his services to Congress. When he d

n the Ranger

oved himself so able that in the second year of the war he was put in co

o France with letters to Benjamin Franklin, who was then American commi

g property. Jones got permission from Franklin to attack British coasts in the same

he had become familiar in boyhood. He meant to burn all the three hundred vessels lying at anchor there. Although he succeeded in setting fire

or fighting, it was thought she would make short work of the American ship in a fight. But it was just the other way, for after a ba

e people, whose good-will was more with America than with England. And as war had already broken out betwe

ERATE

of four vessels. He named his flag-ship Bon Homme Richard (bo-nom′-rē-sh?r′), after the

lish merchant vessels. After reaching the southern point of Ireland, he cruised northward around Scotland and

ng from the north. He at once decided to make an attack. This took place early in the evening, the action being mainly between

g like a basket." The English captain, feeling sure of victory, called out: "Has you

nes with his own hands lashed the two together. Soon both were badly leakin

the Bon Homme Rich

h captain surrendered. So after all it was the English ship and not the American that "struck" the flag.

o a man who has fought with a halter around his neck." You see, Captain Jones would have been hanged as

lso in its results, for it won much needed respect for our flag and gave a wonderful uplift to the American cause. The

ngs to T

out the early life

when he was sailing along the Britis

perate sea duel between the Bon

dmire about J

locate every ev