The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-02
BRAVE CAPT. |NGRAHAM,
Recent Death Of the Naval Conn.,
mander Who Bfaved the
Austrian Fleet.
with One Sloop-of-War He Took
Martin Rosetta From the
Archduk0.
bold Medals and = Vote Of Thanks From
Congress Werc Some OF tho Items
in His Reward.

bold Medals and y Vote Of Thanks From
Wero Some OF tho Items
in His Reward.
In these days OF tho rehabilitation of the
United States navy we may recall with
pride unalloyed with regret the good old
lays of yoro when all the world knew and
espected tho prowess Of American war
k~essels. And the death of Duncan Nathan
el Ingraham in Charleston, =. O.. on Oct.
y, gives q proper opportunity to recall
hose days. For, as was suggested in the
obituary notice published in the New York
Bun of the next morning, this Duncan
Nathaniel Ingraham was the hero OF one OF
hose remarkable episodes which made
ther nations understand that the tail OF
he American bird could not be pulled,
plucked, twisted, trod upon, or otherwise
unexpectedly used under the guns OF an
american war vessel.
There had been Capt. Paul Jones and
Commodore Perry and old Admiral Porter.
Who had fought English and French and
Portuguese and the Barbary states, and all
manner of craft flying flags legitimate or
Legitimate, and all of them had come off
|onquefors. Those were the days Of wooden
|hips and sailing craft, when the element
I romance was enhanced by the big sails
md the swarming over the sides with cut
asses and halberds, and all that sort OF
hing. A good part of the officers then
Fsre of southern families-scions OF the
houses that upheld themselves in some
hing like feudal state. These young men
,ame OF excellent ancestry. Of which they
we're exceedingly proud. or those Dunonn
Nathaniel Ingrahama was one of the best ex-
NIPPLES.
His father had been q naval officer, a
riend OF Paul Jones and mi Of his COM
panions in that famous fight between tho
berapis and the Bon Homme Richard. It
Fas quite natural that the son should enter
he navy. He was born in 1902, and when
o years old was already a midshipmite.
aromotion in those days was as slow as
ow, perhaps a little slower. So although
his young man fought drought the war of
812, he was still q midshipman. In 1878 or
hereabouts, whom the original David Por-
srSwsnt down to the southern waters OF
he United Statos to attend to the pirates
rho infested the small islands and the
Mysterious inlets of tho gulf n the Carri-
pean sea, young lngraham was aboard his
easel and saw pirates hanged at the yard
rm, and learned to be vigllant, quick,
esolute and unflinohing in the best school
ver naval officer had.
Ingraham, risen to a commander, served
b. the Mexican war, and a few years after
It's close was sent to join the squadron of
he Mediterranean. He was in command of
he st. Louis, which is said to have been
H. IL - 49, ~yr r~Auv NNH ~Uh -
vas certainly a formidable ship for those
avs. 1t was a %sloop-of- war armed with
wo 50-pounders. On June ~, 1858. he
allied into the harbor of Smyrna. In Asiatlc
turkey. He found that he was Just in the
lick Of rtime to take advantage Of one of
hose chances for fame which come to
very man, so it is said.
In the revolution OF Hungary against
kustria in lS48-49, which Louis Kossuth
ed, Martin kOszta was a. conspicuous tR-
re. When the revolution was put down
lossuth, Koszta, and several others fed to
Turkey and stopped In Smyrna. After long
regulations the Turkish government re-
used to give them up. Then Kossuth and
koszta went to the United States, where
ioszta decided to settle. He engaged in
business in New York, and in July, 1867,
declared under oath his intention Of be-
coming q citizen OF the United
States. The next year, having bust
lCHS III Du1yIAuS WCAu AOAo
nd remained for some time undisturbed,
10 indeed he might have expected, since
SMYRNA was not on Austrian soil. But
loszta had 80 inlamed the Austrian gov
ernment against him that 4 plot was Matched
0 capture him. On June 81, 1853, a band
pf Greek merconaries in Smyrna. hired by
he Austrian consul, ~overpowered hoszta,
hustled him into a boat, n took him
board an Austrian ship of war, the HUI
bar, which was lying in tia harbor. 1t IL
bald that the ship was in command OF no
ess a person Than the Archduke John,
brother of the emperor and admiral OF the
Austrian navy.
Al any rate, Martin Koszta WAS put in
rons and otherwise treated as a criminal
md dangerous person. The next day, when
Ill Smyrna was talking about this, a sloop
BIZ war, the st. Louis, Commander lngra-
lanl, sailed into the harbor. Capt. Ingraham
heard the story of the kidnapping and the
act that the man kidnapped was an Ameri-
tan citizen. from koszta's friends. Capt.
[ngraham, who had been in q war in which
he United States had taught Great Britain
/ few lessons of respect for American clti-
kens, was up in arms at once. He
vent aboard the Huzzar and very
cautiously asked permission to see
loszta. The Austrian commander;
he request. Commander I%Ngraham as
bured himself that koszta w~asVentitled to
he protection of the American flag. He
demanded his release of the Austrian COM
nander, and, when it was refused sent a
note to the nearest United States official,
Consul Brown. at Constantinorle. While
40 was awaiting m answor six Austrian
war ships sailed into the harbor n tool
up positions near the Huzzar. On June %,
before any answer had como from Consul
Brown, the st. Louis noticed unusual signs
Of activity on board the Huzzar, and pretty
loon she began to get under way.
Capt. Ingrahnm straightway put the st.
Louis in such o position that the Huzzal
rould not pass, and cleared his decks TO,
action. Tho Huzzar hove to, and then
Unpt. Ingrnham went aboard n aaid te
he Austrian commander. who received him
with great courtesy:
What is the meaning of this move on
bour part?"
"We propose to sail for home" replied
tho Austrian. ''The consul has ordered vi
10 take our prisoners to Austria"
You will pardon me-" said Capt. Ingra-
ham very calmly. But l hope you will not
eave this harbor with the American gentle.
man you have kidnapped. If you do
shall be compelled to resort to extreme
measures"
The Austrian looked around the harbol
Mt the line Of friendly warships n then
ooked ut tho st. Louis with her deck,
Di0ared. and then amilad pl0aHRntlY nj