“As he made his way aft he saw a solitary person leaning on the tafferil in a melancholy posture, his face resting upon his hands. It was Captain Pearson. He said to Dale,
“‘The ship has struck.’ While hurrying him on [the Bonhomme Richard] an officer came from below and observed to Captain Pearson, that the ship alongside was going down.
“‘We have got three guns clear, sir, and they’ll soon send her to the devil.’
“The captain replied,
“‘It’s too late, sir. Call the men off. The ship has struck.
“‘I’ll go below, sir, and call them off immediately,’ and he was about to descend when Dale, interfering, said,
“‘No, sir, if you please you’ll come on board with me.’”
The above is quoted from the “British Journal” of an old date. Dale was of the opinion that, once that officer got below, he would have disregarded the surrender—that he would have used the three guns to send the Bonhomme Richard “to the devil,” as he had proposed to do. That he might have done so is not doubted.
Captain Sir Richd. Pearson Knt.