The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-09-04
sToRMING Of TRIPOLI.
From the Youths companion.

forever to destroy the piratical and
barbaric power. The force of the
Americans was but little. With one
heavy frigate, the glorious old Consti-
tuition, three briggs, three schooners
two bomb vessels and three gunboats,
manned by one thousand and sixty OF.
| ficers and men, Com. Preble stood bold.
" in to attack the town defended by
the bashaw's castle. not less than a
dozen powerful forts. feet of three
cruising vessels, two galleys and nine
teen gunboats, manned by twenty-five
| thousand Turks and Arabs. The har-
Dor was, moreover, protected by a line
of shoals and reefs perfectly well
known to the Tripolitans, but very i'm
| perfectly known to the Americans, and
which the Constitution could not APP
proach closely without mourning the
/ fate of the unfortunate Philadelphia.
| But whatever 'Old Pepper" lacked in
ships and guns, he made up in men; for
| every soul on the American feet was
| worthy to serve under the flag that
| flew from the mastheads.
In considering the claims of his diff
ferent officers in leading the attack.
! Com. Preble had at last determined
| upon Decatur and Somers. The larger
vessels were to cover the advance of
| the gunboats, which were to do the
| real fighting; and these gunboats were
| divided into two divisions, the first un-
der Decatur, the second under Somers.
As the two divisions of three gun.
boats each formed and pulled away,
they saw two divisions of Tripolitan
boats, much larger, stronger and more
fully manned, pull slowly out from be.
hind the line of reefs. The windward
division consisted of nine gunboats,
and the leeward of five, while a reserve
of five others lay just inside the harbor,
protected by the reefs.
AS Somers took his place in the gun.
boat, he said to the man at the tiller:
do you see that division of five boats
TO leeward? Steer straight for it, and
get within pistol-shot oft, when Will
give you further orders"
The breeze was easterly, and with
one lateen sail drawing well, the
boat was soon covering the distance
between her and her enemies across
the blue water. The firing had begun,
and terrific roar, as the Constitution
barked out all her guns in broadside,
showed that the ball was opened.
Somers watched until his boat was
abreast of the Tripolitans, when, him
self sighting the one long gun amid
ships, he fired, and saw the shot had
instant and terrible effect.
Somers turned round and saw the
next boat to his. under Lieut.. Blake, a
brave young officer, drawing off, obey.
ing signal of recall which, however,,
was made by the flagship: and the
very next moment the third boat, COM
manded by James Decatur, caught a
puff of wind that brought her head
around and carried her directly into
the other division of boats, which was
dashing forward to attack the nine
Tripolitan gunboats.
Every WE'LL said Somers, with his
usual calm smile, las Decatur says, the
fewer the mum Der, the greater the hon.
or! So we'll go ahead, boys"
The sailors gave cheer, and in an
other moment they were under fire Of
Somers was now critical in the extreme,
but he gave no sign of 1T in his man
ner, which was as cool as if he were at
anchor in friendly port. He opened
a steady and wel1-directed fire that
soon began to weaken the attack of the
Tripolitan boats, and not one of them
dared to come near enough to attempt
boarding him. Still he was drawing
nearer and nearer the batteries. Com.
Preble, who was watching him from
the constitutions quarterback, ex-
claimed:
Look at that gallant fellow, Somers.
I would recall him, but he would never
see the signal"
At that the commodore heard a boy
ish voice at his elbow, and there stood
little Pickle Israel.
IF you please, sir" said he with the
air of one making a great discovery,
81 don't believe Mr.. Somers wants to
see any signal"
"You are right, my boy" cried Old
Pepper, who was in high good humor
over the gallant behavior of his
''school-boy captains" but at least he
shall be supported"
With that he gave orders, and the
ship, advancing slowly, but as steadily
as if working into the roadstead of
friendly port. delivered a tremendous
fire upon the batteries that were now
trying to get the range OF the daring
little boat.
In spite of Somers' efforts to keep
from drifting too far towards the reefs
and the reserve squadron, by backing
his sweeps astern, he soou found him.
self under the guns of one OF the large
forts. The Constitution was thunder
ing at the forts, but this one was lit.
tie too near, and her shots fell over it.
The situation of Somers was now des-
perate, but his indomitable GOODNESS
stood him in good stead
IF we can knock the platform down
that holds those guns, my men, we
shall be all right" he criedi "and see,
il is very rickety."
Then ordering double charge put in
10 the long gun. he sighted IL himself
a shot went screaming over the water,
and Immediately cloud OF dust, brick
and mortar showed that it had struck
the right spot. The platform was de-
stroved. and the battery tumbled down
among the ruins.
Somers then turned his attention 20
the five gunboats, that he could now
drive still closer TO the reef, and on
which every shot from his boat was
telling.
And so, for an hour longer, did the