the Swift foundered: she
was seen for a short time struggling with the elements, and making
signals of distress--a moment more, and she disappeared for ever.'
Mr. Jones, arriving at the Cape of Good Hope, was detained by Rear
Admiral Pringle, and employed to communicate with his flag-ship, the
Tremendous, then in a state of mutiny, the mutineers having put her
officers ashore. His courage on this occasion was much lauded, as it
was believed by all, and expected by himself, that he would have been
thrown overboard. Harmony was at length restored on board the
Tremendous, and six of the mutineers were executed. As a reward for
his services, Mr. Jones was appointed acting lieutenant of the
Sceptre: his preservation, and the part he acted on that occasion,
have already been described.
When lieutenant of the Ajax, attached to the fleet under Sir J.
Borlase Warren, lying in Vigo Bay, he was sent with a boat's crew to
the assistance of the Tartarus, sloop of war, which ship was then
driving to leeward in a gale on a rocky shore. So inevitable appeared
her destruction, that the officers and crew had abandoned her, after
letting go an anchor, to retard her expected crash against the rocks.
At this critical moment, whilst held by only one strand of the cable,
Lieutenant Jones's boat (although nearly swamped by the frequent
shipping of seas) neared the ship; and this officer, watching an
opportunity, sprung on board with his intrepid crew, and, by almost
superhuman exertions, succeeded in hauling her ahead. She had just
reached the point of safety, when her officers and crew, who
witnessed her more favourable position, brought about by Lieutenant
Jones's courage and perseverance, returned on board, and Lieutenant
Jones and his gallant followers rejoined their ship amidst the cheers
of the fleet. For this service Lieutenant Jones was sent for by the
commander-in-chief, and thanked by him on the quarter-deck of his
flag-ship.
As lieutenant of the Naiad, this officer had the misfortune to be
involved in a serious quarrel with his superior officer (Lieutenant
Dean), and on that person using very abusive, and unofficer-like
language, Lieutenant Jones struck him. A court martial being held,
Lieutenant Jones was sentenced to be hanged; but, in consideration of
the very provoking language used by Lieutenant Dean, and Lieutenant
Jones's previous irreproachable conduct, his Majesty George the Third
was graciously pleased to pardon him
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