{"newspaper_name": "The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register.", "edition": "01", "page": "p4", "byline": ""}
Bon Homme Richard; yet he passed along
the off side OF the ship and continued hrng.
There was no possibility of his mistaking the
eneny's ship for the Bon Hommc Richard,
there being the most essential difference in
their appearance and construction; besides,


it was then full moonlight, and the sides of
of the Bon Homme Richard were all black,
while the sides of the prizes were yellow;
vet, for the greater security, ! showed the
signal of our Reconnaissance, by puttins out
three lanthorns, one at the head, (bow,) an
other at the stern, (quarter,) and the third
in the middle, in horizontal line. Every
tongue cried that he was firing into the
wrong ship. but nothing avaied; he passed
round, firing into the Bon homme Richard S
head stern, and broadside, and by one OF his
volles killed several of my best men, and
mortally wounded good officer, on the
torecastle. My situation was really deplor-
able. The Bon Homme Richard received
various shot under water from the Alliance;
the leak gained on the pumps, and the fire
I increased much on board Doth ships. some
officers persuaded me to strike, Of whose
courage and good sense | entertain high
opinion. My treacherous mastcr-at-arn.s
let loose all NV prisoners without my know
ledge, and my prospect became gloomy IN
decd would not, however, give up the
point. The enemy's main mast began to
shake, their firing decreased, ours rather
increased, and the British colours were
struck at half past 10 O'Clock.


This prize proved to be the British ship Of
war the Scraps, new ship of A. guns,
built on their most approved construction,
with two complete batteries one Of them Of
Is Founders, and commanded by the brave
Commodore Richard Pearson. had yet
two enemies to encounter far more formit!a-
Bile than the Brtons; mean fire and water.
The Scraps was attacked only by the first
but the Bon Homme Richard was assaied by
both; there were five feet water in the hold,
and though it was moderate from the exple-
sion OF so much sunpowder, yet the three
pumps that remained could with difficulty
only keep the water from gaining. The lire
broke out III various parts of the Ship. ii
spite OF all the water that could be thrown
to quench it, and at length broke ont as low
as the powder magazine, and within few
inches of the powder. In that dilemma,
took out the powder upon deck, rea v to be
thrown overheard at the last extrcmyy, and
It was 10 O'Clock the next day the 2fth, be
fore the Are was eXtngdished. With respect
to the situation Of the Bon llonme Richard,
the rudder was cut entirely off, the stern
frame, and the transumS were almsst en-
trcly cut away; the tmbers, by the lower
deck especially, from the main-mast to the
stern, being greatly decayed with age were
mangled beyond my power of description,
and person must have been an eyewitness
to form Just idea Of the tremendous scene
Of carnage, wreck, and ruin, that every
where appeared.