The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-04-05
BRAINBRIDaE's ADVENTURE.
AN AMERICAN coMMoDoRE's INTREPIDITY
AT CoNsTANTINoPLE.
From the Phil. Press.

From the Phil, Press.
Commodore Bainbridge's run through th
Dardanelles in 1901 was so remarkable tha
it deserves detailed description. He hat
arrived at Algiers with the tribute, which
the United States. in common with all 9th
er governments, then paid to the dey
While his vessel, she frigate George Wash
ington, was lying at anchor under the bat
teries of Algiers, the dey requested him tt
carry his ambassador and present to the
Sultan, his suzerain, VIII ON he had offended
by concluding treaty of peace with France,
when Turkey and her British ally were car.
rying on war in Egypt against the French
army under Bonaparte. Upsn refusing to
60 on such an errand, the dey insolently re-
marked to him: "You pay me tribute by
which you become my slaves have there
fore right to order you as please"
Fearing the loss of the frigate, and the
slavery of himself and crew, and the sacri-
flee of our valuable commerce in that quar-
ter by the Algerine corsairs, Bainbridge f.
naily consented to execute the mission. In
reporting these proceedings. and which
were subsequently, approved by his govern
ment, Bainbridge said "I hope I may
never be sent again to Algiers with tribute
unless | am authorized to delived it from
the mouth of our cannon"
When the vessel was about sailing, the
dey insisted that the colors of Algiers should
! fly at the main-an honor which had
always been yielded to him by the English,
French and German commanders who had
been employed by him in similar services.
| Bainbridge acceeded to the demand until
he got out of reach Of the guns of the har-
| Dor, and then he hauled down the corsair
The ambassador had suite of some 200
Mussulmans, with large number of tigers
and other animals, and $4,000 as pres
ents. The shifting of sail and nautical
maneuvres were much impeded by the
praying on deck of this crowd, and their
efforts to keep their faces turned to Mecca.
After stormy passage the castles of the
Dardenelles were reached. Fearing, if he
was to refuse, he would not get firman to
pass up to the capital, he made showing
of coming to, partially Chewing up his sails,
and IN the meanwhile firing a salute. As
soon as the castles began to respond he
spread all his canvass to the wind, which |
was blowing strong aft, and before his op- |
erations could be discerned he was beyond |
the cannon range and spanking along
against the current in dashing style.
On his arrival at Constantinople an Off
Ger was sent off to know under what flag
he sailed, to mich he replied, "The flag
of the United States" The messenger
from the harbor fort returned, and observed
that such nation as the '' United States -
had never been heard Of before by the
Turkish Government, and desired that
Captain Bainbridge would explicitly state
whence he came. He then reported his
vessel as belonging to the New World
which Columbus had discovered, on hear
ing which the messenger Immediately ra-
paired to the shore. In q few hours he
returned, and, for the first time, came on
board the frigate, bringing with him a
lamb and bunch of flowers, the former as
an emblem of peace, and the latter of well
come. The Sultan then offered the vessel
the hospitality of the inner harbor. He
was much satisfied at the salute fred on
passing his palace. Noticing the stars in
5he United States flag, he remarked that,
rs his own was decorated with one of the
bodIes he considered the coinci-
lence as an omen of friendly intercourse
between the two nations. The minister of
ioreign atfails having threatened to seize
lis vessel, Bainbridge put himself under
he protection of Lord Elgin, the British
When the Cupudan Pasha
oon after arrived with the feet, he re-
moved all further difficulties, and the more
eadily as he was brother-in-law of the
sultan. The Porte refused, hewever, to
eoeive the Algerine ambassador or his
PRESENTS, ordered him to return and carry
o his master, the dey, the Sultan's demand
0 declare war against France, to remit to
i'm million piasters for his daring pre-
umption, and to do all within sixty days.
The Capudan Pasha told Bainbridge it was
he first time a foreign armed vessel had
cached Constantinople without first hav-
ng obtained firman from the grand
eignor. 1t must have been the fault Of
he commander of the castles. He had
i'm put in confinement, and his execution :
ras only suspended until the sentence had
eceived his (the Pasha's) signature, which
Fould not be withheld. Bainbridge took
he whole blame on himself, frankly told y
Ii the circumstances, and finally saved the
fe of the offending pasha at the Darda- =
Giles. The Sultan gave him, on leaving,
firman of protection. When in an audi
nee with the dey. he refused to go Sec
nd time to Constaptinople on his business, :
e few into rage, and would have had :,
i'm murdered on the spot had he not dis
layed the Sultan's frman. This brought
i'm to terms, and Bainbridge was allowed
} depart.
AN INTERESTING CALCULATION. - Mr.. a
pofford, the Librarian of Congress, has
the cause of all the trouble in O.
usiness. It Is too much interest On bor- p
,wed money. He maintains that one of u
1e causes of bankruptcy IS that SO few o
eople properly estimate the difference p
etween a high and low rate of interest.
nd therefore often borrow money at ru- Il
lous rate that no legitimate business can ir
and. Very few, Mr.. Spofford thinks, 7
ave figured on the difference between SIX o.