happy? - Sept 1 (JP Jones escapes)

01 Sep 05 - 10:44 AM (#1553746)
Subject: happy? - Sept 1 (JP Jones escapes)
From: Abby Sale

1 September, 1776: daring seamanship enabled John Paul Jones on the Providence to escape from British frigate Solebay near Bermuda. From "History of USS Providence"

          7. 'Out booms! Out booms!' our Captain cries, 'Out booms and give her sheet!'
             And the swiftest keel that e'er was launched, shot ahead of the British fleet
             And 'mid a thundering shower of shot and 'mid the foaming spray
             Down the Channel Paul Jones did steer just at the break of day;
             And 'mid a thundering shower of shot while our sharp prow cut the spray,
             We left those British ships astern hard by the break of day.
  
                  "The Yankee Man-Of-War," (AKA "The Stately Southerner," AKA "Ranger")

It is generally given as a song of Jones on the Ranger and he did make an escape from but there was not really such an incident near Britain. Captain Jones led a daring raid on the British port of Whitehaven, 23 April, spiking the guns of the fortress, and burning the ships in the harbor. Sailing across the bay to St. Mary's Isle, Scotland, the American captain planned to seize the Earl of Selkirk and hold him as a hostage to obtain better treatment for American prisoners of war. However, since the Earl was absent, the plan failed and his men stole the Earl's silverware instead. Several cruisers were searching for Ranger, and Captain Jones sailed across North Channel to Carrickfergus Ireland.)


Also: Aunt Molly Jackson died 9/1/1960 (she was born Sept 1880 (but I don't have the day.) Singer, songwriter, guitarist and political activist. Performer of traditional mountain songs, described by Woody Guthrie as a "female Leadbelly.'

Copyright © 2005, Abby Sale - all rights reserved
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