There was great joy in France when Paul Jones sailed into port. The king, who was now making war on England, promised him a larger fleet of war vessels. So, in 1779, he found himself captain of a large ship armed with fifty cannon. He called the ship the Bon Homme Richard in honor of Franklin's Almanac, the "Poor Richard." Three smaller vessels joined him, and he again set sail for the English coast. The news of his coming caused great alarm.
The "Richard" and the "Serapis"
102. A Great Sea Fight and a Great Victory. As Paul Jones sailed along the British coasts he captured many trading ships and frightened the people. At last he came upon two British war ships. Just at dark the Richard attacked a larger English ship, the Serapis. At the first fire two of Jones' cannon burst, tearing up the deck and killing a dozen of his own men.
NAVAL PITCHER
This was made in commemoration of the American Navy, 1795
The great sea fight
The fight went on for an hour, when the Serapis came near, and Jones ran the Richard into her. "Have you struck your colors?" called out the English captain. "I have not yet begun to fight!" replied Captain Jones. When the ships came together again Paul Jones himself seized a great rope and tied them together. Now the fighting was terrific. The cannon tore huge holes in the sides of the ships.
THE CAPTURE OF THE SERAPIS