Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-02-06
NO. 33.

blow with his sword at the pike, with a
view to cut off lis head. The sword hit the
iron, and at the next instrut The Turk made
another thurst. Nothing was left Of the gal
liant Decatur but his arm, with which he so
far averted the blow az 10 receive the pike
only through the flesh of his breast. Push
ing The iron from the wound, flesh and all,
he sprung within the weapon and grdppled
his antagonist. The pike fell between the
TWO, and short trial OF strength succeeded,
in which the Turk prevailed. As soon as
the combatants fell, however, Decatur So far
released himself as TO lie side by side with
his foe on the deck. The Tripolitan now
endeavored TO reach his poniard, while his
hand was firmly held by that of his euemy.
AT this critical instant, when life or death
depended on moment well employed or a
moment lost, Decatur drew small pistol
itom the pocket of his vest, passed the arm
Itat was tree round the body Of the Turk,
pointed the muzze in, and then fired. The
ball passed entirely through rhe body of the
Mussulman, and lodged in The clothes of his
foe. AT the same instant Decatur felt the
grasp that had almost smo,hered him relax,
and he was liberated. He sprang up, and
the Trlpolitan lay dead AT his feet In such
Il melee, it cannot be supposed that th e
struggle Of the two leaders would go unn o.
ticed. An enemy raised his sabre 10 eleave
the skull of Decatur while he was occupied
by his enemy, and young man of the Enter
prizes crew inlerposed an arm to save him.
The blow was intercepted, but the limb sew
cred to a bit OF skin. A fresh rush was now
made upon Tire enemy who was overcome
without much further resistance.
In the mean time Mr.. Trippe, in No. 6,
The last OF the three boats that WINS able 10
reach the weather division, was not idle.
Reserying his fire, like the others, lie deliv-
cred It with deadly effects, when closing.
and went aboard of his enemy in the smoke
In this instance, the boats also separated by
the shock of the collision, leaving Mr.. Trippe,
with MIR. J. ID. Henlay, and nine men only
on board the Tripolitan. Here, too, the
commanders singled each other out, and a
severe personal combat occurred, while the
work OF death was going on around them.
The Turk was young, and of a large athletic
form, and he soon compelled his slighter but
more active foe to fight with caution. Ad-
vancIng on MIR. Trippe, he would strike a
blow and receive thrust in return. In this
manner he gave the American commander
no less than eight sabre wounds in the head
and two in the breast ; when making a sud.
den rush, be struck a ninth blow on the head,
which brought Mr.. Trippe upon knee
Rallying all his forces, in desperate effort,
the latter, who still retained the short pike
with which he fought, made a thrust thai
passed the weapon through his gigantic
adversary, and tumbled him on his back
As soon as the Trlpoitan officer fell, the
remainder of his people submitted. The
boat taken by MIR. TrIppe was one of the
largest belonging to the Bashaw. The mum
Der of her men is not positively known, bu
living and dead tllr,ysix were found in her
OF whom tweniy-one were eithe. killed o
wounded. When il is remembered that bu
eleven Americans boarded her, the achieve
ment must pass for one Of the most gallan
on record.'