Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-09-08
EVENING STAR.
AEAyaL "REMINISCENCES

In the year 1904, when Preble, as Com
modore of the American squadron in the
Mediterranean, was gaining glory before
Tripoli, alike for himself, his officers and
crews. and for his country, Lieute lant
Commandant Richard SomerS had com.
maud under him Of the Nautilus, schoon-
er of Ia guns.
During the several fights which had
previously occurred with the enemy, this
officer had shown great bravery as CON-
mander of gun-boat No. l; and now sug-
gested to the commodore that happy
result might possibly be obtained by con-
verting the ketch Intrepid, captured
craft of about IS tons-the identical
vessel with which the gallant Decatur
had boarded, recaptured and burned the
frigate Philadelphia fire-ship and
sending her into the harbor under the
walls of the Bashaw's castle, in direct
contact with the entire marine force of
the Tripolitan.
This daring and highly dangerous en-
terprise being determined upon, Somers,
with whom it had originated, received the
orders, to which he was thus entitled, to
conduct it; and the necessary PREF ara
tions we're promptly made by him. 1900
pounds ofpowder were first loosely
in the hold of the ketch, and upon this
two hundred and fifty thirteen.inch fused
shells with a train attached from the
cabin and forepeak. Only one officer
the talented and lamented Lieut.. Henry
Wadsworth, brother of the present Com.
Wadsworth, was to accompany him, and
four volunteer seamen were to compose
his crew.
Ali things were now in readiness, e1-
cept the selection of the men, for IL came
to this at last, every man on board the
Nautilus having volunteered for the ser
vice. This done, it was determined, with
out delay, to attempt the enterprise; tc
succeed in it or perish.
Two nights successfully did the Intre.
pid move; but owing to the light AND
battling winds nothing could be accom-
plished. Those failures, and all unusual
movement in the harbor after dark, OF
the third night, led Somers to believe
that the suspicious of the enemy had
been excited, and they were on the look
out 1t was the general impression thai
their powder was nearly exhausted, anG
as SO large a quantity rs was on board
the ketch, if captured, would greatly tent
to protract the contest, before setting of
he addressed his crew upon the subject
telling them that no mar need accompany
him who had 70. come to the resolution
| to blow himself up rather than be cap
tured and that such was fully his OWL
determination Three cheers was th'
only reply. The gallant crew rose as {
single man, with the resolution Of yield
Ing up their lives sooner than surrender
to their enemies, while each stepped
forward and begged as favor that h
might be permitted to apply the match
It was a glorious moment, and made al
impression on the hearts Of all witness
ing it never to be forgotten.
| All then took leave Of every officer ant
of every man, in the most cheerful man
ner, with shake Of the hand, as if theJ
knew their fate was doomed /; and on
and another, as they passed over the sid
to their post on board the ketch, might b
heard, in their own peculiar manner, t
cry out, 81 say, Sam Jones, leave yc'
my blue jacket and duck trowsers, stow
ed away in my bag" and "Bill Curtis
you may have the tarpaulin hat an
Guernsey frock, and them petticoat trow
sers L Got in Malta; and mind, boys
when you 60 home give good accoun
Of u.s." In ike manner did each thu
make his oral will, to which the write
was witness, and which "last will ane
testament" he caused TO be executed {,
the very letter.
it was about nine o'clock, en- the nigh
of the 5ih of September, 1904, that thi
third and last attempt was made. Th
Nautilus had been ordered to follow tn
Intrepid closely in, to pick up and brin
out her boats crew in case they shoul
succeed in the exploit. Hence, though
was very dark, we never lost sight of he,
as had been directed by the first lieu
tenant - the late gallant Washington
Reed-who commanded in the absenc
Of Somers, to keep constant watch Of be
for this purpose, with a night glass.
At the end of an hour, about 10 clock
p. ~, while was engaged in this duty
the awful explosion took place. For
moment the flash illumined the who
heavens around, while the terrible COZ
cussion shock every thing far and nea
Then all was hushed again, and ever
object yelled in a darkness of doub
gloom. On board the Nautilus, the S
Ience of death seemed to pervade II
entire crew; but quickly the din of ke
tle-drums beating to arms, with the noil
of confusion and alarm, was heard fio
the inhabitants on shore. To aid in tt
escape of the boat, an order was give
| by Reed "to show light upon Il
appearance of which, hundreds Of sho
from an equal number of guns of heav
calibre, from the batteries near, can
rattling over and around us. But v
needed them not. One feeling alone b:
possession of our souls-the preservati(
of Somers and his crew
As moment after moment passed b.
without bringing with it the preconcer
ed signal from the boat, the anxiety {
board became intense; and the men vii
. lighted lanterns, hung themselves ov
! the sides of the vessel till their heads
most touched the water-a position !,
0 which an object on its surface can
" ,ohs