The native American., 1840-09-19


1.-THE latter got near enough to the ship, the
Turks discovered her anchors, and they
lsternly ordered the ketch to keep of, as
lsbe had deceived them preparing at the
Isame time, to cut the fasts. All this pas
sed in moment, when the cry of.Amer-
|ikanos" was heard in the ship. The peo-
lple ofthe Intrepid by astrong pull, brought
the vessel along side the frigate, where
lshe was secured, quick as thought. Up
to this moment, hot a whisper had betray-
ed the presence Of the men concealed.
The instructions had been positive, to
keep quiet until commanded to show
themselves, and no precipitation, even in
that trying moment, deranged the plan.
| Lieut.. Com. Decatur was standing rea
ldy for a spring, with Messrs. Laws and
Morris quite near him. As soon as close
Ienough, he jumped at the frigates chain
plates, and while clinging to the ship him
lself, he gave the order to board. The
two midshipmen were at his side, and all
the officers and men of the Intrepid arose
and followed. The three gentlemen ma
med were in the chains together, and 1t.
Com. Decatur and Mr.. Morris sprang at
1.-THE rail above them, while Mr. Laws dash
led at the port To the latter would have
belonged the honor of having been first
in this gallant assault, but wearing a
boarding belt, his pistols were caught be-
tween the gun and the side of the port
! Mr.. Decatur's foot slipped in springing,
land Mr.. Charles Morris first stood upon
the quarterback of the Philadelphia. In
an instant, Lieut.. Com. Decatur and Mr..
Laws were at his side, while heads and
bodies appeared coming over the rails,
and through the ports in all directions.
! The surprise appears to have been as
perfect as the assault was rapid and ear
nest Most Of the Turks on deck crow
1ded forward, and all run over to the star
board side, as their enemies poured in on
the larboard. A few were aft, but as soon
as charged, they leaped into the sea. In
deed the constant plunges into the water
gave the ASSISTANTS the assurance that their
enemies were fast lessening in numbers
lby flight. Ittook but a minute or two to
clear the spar-deck, though there was
more of struggle below. Still, SO ad-
mirably managed was the attack, and 50
complete the surprise, that the resistance
was but trifing. In less than ten min
utes Mr.. Decatur was on the quarterback
|again, in undisturbed possession of his
/ prize.
i There can be no doubt that this gallant
Ioficer now felt bitter regrets, that it was
not in his power to bring away the ship
he had so nobly recovered. Not only
were his orders on this point peremptory,
however, but the frigate had not a sail
bent, nor yard crossed, and she wanted
her foremast. 1t was next to impossible,
therefore, to remove her, and the COM
mand was given to pass up the combusti-
bles from the ketch.
The duty of setting fire 10 the prize,
appears to have been executed with as
much promptitude and order, as every
other part of the service. The officers
distributed themselves, agreeably to pre-
| vious instructions, and the men soon ap-
peared with the necessary means. Each
party acted by itself, and as it got ready.
So rapid werethey all in their movements,
that the men with the combustibles had
scarcely time to get as low as the cock
pit and after store-rooms, before the fires
were lighted over their heads. When the
officer entrusted with the duty last men,
toned, had got through, he found the af-
ter-hatches filled with smoke, from the
fire in the ward-room and steerage. and
he was obliged to made his escape by the
forward ladders.
The Americans were in the ship from
twenty to twenty-five minutes, and they
were literally driven ont of her by the
flames. The vessel had got to be so dry
| in that low latitude, that she burnt like
pine; and the combustibles had been as
Ijudciously prepared, as they were steadi-
ly used. The last party up, were the peo-
pie who had been in the store-rooms, and
when they reached the deck, they found
most Of their companions already in the
Intrepid. Joining them, and ascertain
ing that all was ready, the order was Civ
en- to cast off. Notwithstanding the dar-
ing character of the enterprise in general,
Mr.. Decatur and his party now ran the
greatest risk they had incurred that night.
So fierce had the confagration already be-
come, that the flames began to pour out
of the ports, and the head-fast havingbeen
cast off, the ketch fell astern with her jig
ger tapping against the quarter-ga gallery,
and her boom foul. The FIRE showed il
self in the window, at this critical mo-
ment, and beneath, was all the ammunition
of the party, covered with a tarpulin. To
increase the risk the stern-fast was jam
med. By using swords, however, for
there was not time to look for an axe,
the hawser was cut, and the Intrepid was
Iextricated from the most imminent dan
lger, by vigorous shove. As she swung
lclear Of the frigate, the flames reached