The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-10-04
CAPTAIN soMERs' DEATH.
Blown Up on the Ksieh, Sent Into tho
 Fleet at Tripoii.

Fleet at Tripoii.
 Miss Molly Elliot seawell's histori- cal romance Decatur and Somers." ends in the october number Of St. Nich- olas. Captain somers volunteers to take a captive ketch, stored with pow der and shells. into the fleet of the Tri- politans, and there set 1t atire. The Tripolltans were short of powder, and Somers and his crew were commanded to prevent the ketch from falling into their hands even at the cost of the lives of the entire command. Miss seawell tells the story of the expedition as fol- lows:
 The boats and the ketch were fast leaving the brigs astern in the murky night. when Somers, who was sitting in the stern sheets. felt something nov ing close by him. and, glancing down. he recognized, in the uncertain light, Pickle Israels eyes, peering mischlev- ously up at him.
 "Why!-what Is thls?" he asked, amazed.
 Nothing. Captain Somers-only me-" answered Pickle. scrambling up from under the gunwale. 'I wanted to go, sir. very much, on this expedition, just as did on Captain Decaturs-and mo- body would let me; so took French lao ua aud oar,a hxy ypvqnlfn
 Somers, although vexed with the boy, and alarmed at having him on board, yet could not but admire his pluck.
 Did any man on this boat help you to get aboard?" he asked.
 No. sir" chirped Pickle gayly, mot one of them knew l was aboard until just now"
 Somers could not help smiling at Pickles cunning trick. But he said gravely to the little midshipman:
 Do you understand the terrible risk we run in this attempt, and that 1t will be our duty. if in danger of capture. to blow up the ketch?"
 Perfectly, sir" answered Pickle. He sat up straight now, in the boat, and his eyes were shining so that Som CTS could see them even in the gloom T know that we have only a few chances for our lives-and, Captain somers, although ] am only midship- man, and you are captain. l am as willing to risk my life for our country and for our shipmates in prison as you are."
 'I believe you," answered Somers. You are brave boy; and, be 1t life or death, we will be together"
 They soon entered the offing, and drawing rapidly ahead, helped by wind and tide, they reached the western pas sage of the harbor. There they rested for few minutes. Before them in the misty night lay the black masses of the town and the encircling forts, over which the Bashaw's castle reared it's pile of towers and bastions. They saw the twinkling lights of the town, and those on the mastheads of the ship ping in the harbor. Near the entrance were three low gunboats that looked unnaturally large through the dim and ghostly fog that lay upon the bosom of the sea, but left the heavens clear and darkly blue. Behind them they could see the outline of the two brigs on which, as a precautien, not a light was shining. The fire-ship, as black as midnight, was stationary on the water for moment.
 The breeze had then died out, and the men took to their oars, which were muff1ed. Like a black shadow moving over the water, the ketch advanced. The darkness of the night favored their escaping the gunboats. They crept past the rocks and reefs, entered the western passage and were within the harbor of Tripoli The lights of the town grew plain, and they could still see the stars, although they seemed to be alone in a world of fog.
 Suddenly and silently three gunboats loomed close upon them-one on each side and one on their bows. The men, without word, seized the tow-line and drew themselves noiselessly back to- wards the ketch. As the two American boats disappeared like shadows, and as if they had vanished from the face of the water, the Tripolitan gunboats closed up, and, in another moment, the American found themselves surrounded on all sides but one by the corsairs, and that one side was next the fire-ship. The Tripofitans, with yell of triumph, prepared to spring over the side.
 &"Are you ready to stand to your word, mem" asked Somers, standing up in the boat, with a lighted torch in his hand.
 "Aye, aye, sir" answered every man in both boats, laying down his oar. And l." called out Wadsworth. 5"And l." said Pickle, in his sweet, shrill, boyish voice.
 "Then may God bless our country and have mercy on us!" said Somers SOL emnly, throwing the torch upon the ketch's deck.
 The next moment there came an ex- plosion as if the heavens and the earth were coming together The castle rocked upon its mighty base. The ships in the harbor shivered from keel to main-truck, and many of them ca reened and almost went over. The sky was lighted up with a red glare that was seen for hundred miles, and the deafening crash reverberated, almost paralyzing all who heard 1t.
 Those on the American ships, out in the ofiing, heard the frightful roar of the hundred barrels of gunpowder that seemed to explode in an instant of time; and, stunned by the concussion, they could see only the mast and a sail of the ketch as it blew blazing up the lurid sky and then sank in the more