The New York herald., 1875-11-01
HISTORIC NAVAL RELICS.

"REMINISCENCES or THE DAYS OF DECATUR
THE CAPTURE AND BURNING OF THE FRIGATE
PHILADELPHIA IN TRIPoLL
The historic flagship Hartford, which, under Captain
Harmony, has just returned from a long and eventul
cruise around the world brought home number OF
curios" gathered Japan China, the East Indies and
Africa and among them some OF exciting interest
pertaining TO vessel that has its permanently
registered in the history Of the American Navy Small
though they be, worn and wasted by the Of the
eeents they represent an thai ia known be left Of
the famous frigate Philadelphia, which, after various
eventfu and unpleasant experiences finally laid away
her charred skeleton in the hostile waters OF
the Bay OF Tripol. rusty looking
weather beaten knee Of this historic craft and few
corroded bolts and spikes gathered by the HArfords
officers their recent visit to Tripoh, and neatly
boxed and directed to the Navy Department compose
all the relics Of that noted ship They bring mind
her history which was a strange The in
which the old Philadelphia played an important part
those that developed the heroes Of the future
with Great Britain. II in Trpol that the Prebles
Decaturs Huls, Banbrdges, McDonoughs, Somers,
Stewards and other gallant officers displayed their dar
ing galantry and skill that gave to the American Navy
world wide reputation and established its position
the hearts Of our people
thirty-eght guns, under the command OF Captain
Banbridge, while pursuing a large Trpoltan vessel,
reef Of rocks of Tripoli Monday, October 81,
1909 Her consort, the Enterprise, absent
cruise the Mediterranean, and the Philadelphia
alone on her blockading station The frigato in strk
ing the rocks under press Of sail ran well up and be
fixed. Captain Bainbridge his officers and
did all in their power to extrcate her from her danger
Gus position Guns, anchors, chains, and such heavy
articles could be got at thrown overheard the
foremast away the water butts started and the
water pumped out, but all vain. The ship i'm
movable Meanwhile fleet Of nipe Tripolitan gun
boats had out and opened fire upon
the unfortunate ship, to which she had
guns that could be brought to bear TO respond she
had heeed over to port Night was approaching, the
weather threatening and additional gunboats
coming out to aid in final attack, whom, upon con
sultaton with his officers the mperous duty or haul
ing down the flag was left to Captain Banbridge Be
fore this done the magazines were flooded, holes
bored in the ships bottom, pumps choked
and everything done that thought would make
the final loss Of the vessel At five o'clock the flag
hauled down, and soon thereafter the Corsair gun
boats came alongside and the barbarians swarmed
the Philadelphias bulwarks and through the ship
There difference between officers and
men; all plundered their victims without
the slightest mercy Officers we're stripped
the skln in many cases. and Captain Bainbrdge had
his crava from neck besides being stripped Of
his epaulettes, buttons and money. The Americans
taken TO Tripol that night paraded before the
Bashaw, and finally consigned to building once
pied by the United states Consul where they passed
long and unhappy captivity Favored by good weather
and aided by large force of gunboats and men, the
Trpoltans after few days labor got the frgate into
deep water repaired her manned and mounted her
guns reganed her anchors and CHAINS and other heavy
articles and towed her into the bay, anchoring her
An1Ya tla
being lifted out for cruise, when Commodore Preble
commanding the frigate Constitution and squadron
learned of her loss Moorish ketch Of about fifty
tons had been captured by Lieutenant stephen Deca
tuT, in the schooner Enterprise, and Commodore
Prebe at determined to make of the prize
destroy the Philadelphia Decatur asked and
ceived command OF a volunteer party, and company
with the brig Siren, Lieutenant Charles Stewart after
wards .Old Ironsides = started from Syracuse the
headquarters Of tie squadron for TripoL on the 9th
of February they arrived of the port but driven
away by gale and did not return until February 16
the officers and Of the ketch, called the In
trepd living an allowance OF bread and water On
the evening of the 10th Of February 1904 the Intrepid
sailed eisurely into the harbor Of Tripol Decaturs
heutenanls we're Lawrence, aiterward killed
the Chesapeake, and Bainbridge. Thomas
McDonough was one OF the midshpmen. Her
consisted Of pilot and sixty two petty officers and
men, and all souls numbered seventy four. Under the
bright rays of the moon with fair breeze and smooth
sea- the Intrepid moved silently toward the Philadel
pha. All but twelve men were hidden about the deck
out OF view. When hailed from the Philadelphia the
pilot responded that she was vessel from Morocco
disabled by the gale without anchors and desired to
tie 10 the Phladelpha's chains Unsuspicous of the
craft the Musselmen sent boat TO help in towing the
Intrepid to the proper point and in a moment she
lashed fast and Decatur, Morris lawrence Bainbrdge
and other equally gallant men
streaming over the Phadelphia's sides on the
enemy's deck The surprise was complete. After
sharp encounter the spar deck cleared
and the fighting had become the gun deck
The barbarians fought well, but forced every
point, many being killed or seriously wounded the
balance taking the The firing parties at once
rushed their stations in the lower part the ship
and an effec
Hacke SdyS:"Fossiby may hereafter vite political
luminosity by this determination; get phle priUdtely nv
syapdies most ardent in their democratic tendencies
should be recreGnt 10 my Judicial Independence and
Of duty VI 4 dTsluered Othe7tcise than hare
done the party from the lower hold had barely time
reach the deck before the flames burst from the
ships ports
Decatur and his men not board moro than
twenty minutes but they had done their work in the
most dashing and successful manner and before the
enemy had recovered from thor amazement the In
trepld standing Of the bay under all sail aided
by powerful sweeps. Although the shore batteries
and the enemys gunboats opened a terrific fire upon
the escaping craft no injured, and by the
time tho Intrepid was out OF the harbOr and
Decatur the Siren report to Stewart his
brilliant success, the old Philadelphia was mass of
flames and her broadside guns, heated by the iames
firing into the town. soon thereafter the masts
fell, the magazine exploded and nothing but charrcd
remains left of the irigate Thus ended the most
brilliant exploit in our naval annals. Subsequently
anchor and cham belonging 10 the starred craft
picked up by an American man -ol-war, but nothing
else found fragments OF her timbers
This piece that the Hartford brings home the ase
sad relic Of the historic ship, and will be carefully
treasured up the Navy Department Washington TO
recall the splendid deeds OF heroism of the officers
our navy in its young but brilliant days.