The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-11-17

Englishman's hat. The duelist, sure OF
his man at the distance, missed his in
tended victim entirely.
There was no offer made of atonement
for the insult, which of course should
have proceeded from the military secre,
tary, and the antagonists again were
placed face to face.
Aim low, cambridge, if you would
save your life, and be quick with the
trigger when l give the word" whlsp-
cred Decatur in the ear Of his friend, as
he handed him his weapon.
As before the word was given, and the
Euglisman, with cenvulsive leap, fell
on the grassy turf shot through the brain.
The affair created great excitement,
and the Governor made demand for
both Decatur and cambridge, but the
squadron sailed without the demand hav-
ing been complied with, and Decatur
soon after returned to the United States
in the chesapeake" as passenger to
avoid complications that might arise
fiom the squadron again visiting Malta
CUTTING OUT TEE FRIGATE PHILADELA.
The figate "Philadelphia" always
considered an unfortunate vessel by sup
erstltiouS Jack), commanded by Captain
cambridge, had grounded on a rock off
Tripoli while in chase of vessel, had
been surrounded by the Tripolitan gun
bouts, captured, aid her officers and
crew made captives. She was afterward
got anoat and moored under the heavy
guns Of the batteries.
1t was spectacle particularly exasper-
ating to American naval officers, and
aroused in the heart Of Decatur all the
dash and daring of his ardent nature.
He resolved to redeem the disgrace rest
ias upon the flag, aud offered bis service
ID Commodore Preble to cut her out or
destroy her The severe gales of a Med
iterranean winter prevented immediate
and active operations, and Preble ordered
his vessels to rendezvous at the old dill
apdated city Of Syracuse. Traces of
past magnificence, relics of her departed
grandeur, existed here and there as re-
minders of her once proud condition,
VIXEN she enjoyed the reputation of being
the greatest and most beautiful Of Gre
clan cities"
Prcble entertained the commanding
officers of the feet frequently on board
the flagship, and it was around his hos
pitable table, with decanters circulating
| that the plan was matured which resulted
in the destruction of the philadelphia.
Decatur had captured ketch, the
Moorish name of which had been the
"Mastico, but the craft had been rechrist-
ened the Intrepid, and was selected to
convey the party of daring spirits into
the harbor of Tripoli, every approach of
which was commanded by cannon of va
rious calibre.
II had been decided to carry the "Phil-
adelphia" by surprise, and Preble re-
eeived an unexpected support to his
theory in letter from cambridge, writ
ten within the damp ancient walls of his
fortress prison. The secret and more
important part was written With lemon
juice, suggesting to Preble various
methods by which the enemy could be
annoyed, and proposing the cutting out
Of the "Philadelphia" by surprise
party. Lieutenant Stewart (aftegward
con!modore) co-operated with Decatur,
having charge of the brig Siren" IS,
and with seventy-fve officers and men
crowding the Intrepid to her utmost
capacity, the two vessels sailed from Sy-
racuse, followed by the hearty cheers of
the less fortunate sailors, who to man
iongcd to aid in the enterprise. After a
wet, disagreeable passage the vessels
sighted the Bashaw's castle on the 18th
Of February, 1904.
The philadelphia was moored be-
tween the Moorehead and Crown batter
les, and within half gun shot distance of
the Bashaw's stronghold. She mounted
forty guns that were double shotted and
manned day and night by force ready
to work them at moments notice.
Three Tripolitan crafts, mounting twenty
eight guns, and twenty gupboats lay be
tween the frigate and shore, fully man.
ned and on the alerG, while 1870 guns
from batteries and fortress kept watch
and ward over the valued prize.
Into the stronghold, a veritable tigers
jaws, Decatuc, in, his sixty-ton #,
mounting four small guns, deliberately
pushed, his eyes fastened upon the frig.
ate, which doomed up pre- minently
through the gloom of the early evening.
To each officer and man had been as.
signed specific duties, and grouped to.
gether on the deck of the ''Intrepid''
stood Lieutenants James Lawrence,
Joseph cambridge and Thorn, with Mid.
shiprnen Thomas Marlborough, lizard,
Morris, Rowe, Laws and Davis, names
that afterward, in many Instances, wor
impershable renown in the nations
history.
Owing to light and battling airs it was
past 8 o'clock before Decatur was within
hailirg distance of the FIJI gate. He stood
beside the pilot who had the wheel; the
men lay concealed behind the bulwarks
and few officers lounge about the deck
representing the crew. The moon had
not set, agd by the faint light Decatu,
beheld the heads Of numerous turbaned
Mussulmen above the hammock MEETINGS
They were rapidly nearing the vessel,
when a gruff hail was heard, ordering
them to keep off. The pilot, who was
master of the language, replied that they
had lost their anchors, and asked to be
permitted to run line to the frigate
which was granted. Away sped the 'In.
trepid's 50 boat, and a line was soon made
fast to one of the ringbolts Of her fore.
chains. A boat from the PHILADELPHIA
came alongside with another line from
the after part of the frigate, and the en-
trepid' was soon warped alongside. A
suspicion that treachery was at work
somewhere haunted the breast of the
| Tripolitan commander, and the cry of
"Americans." rang out on the calm even
ing air. The seamen rushed to the guns.
removing the tampions, but the alarm
had come too late. Decatur sprang into
the main chains. shouting the magical