The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-06-09
NAVAL HEROES.

The United States has furnished
several notable cases of daring on the
part of naval men. Paul Jones in the
revolution, and Decatur in the war with
Tripoli 1SO]-5 are early examples. The
story is one of interest. The Barbary
pirates OF the Mediterranean had for
years been seizing American merchant
vessels, exacting tribute or appropriate
ing the cargoes and selling the crow into
slavery. President Jefferson determined
to put stop to it. Commodore Balm
bridge, cruising of Tripoli in the frigate
Philadelphia, chased a TipOlita gun
beat into shoal wafer, and the frigate
struck reef at the mouth OF the harbor,
Every effort was made to float her, but
without success. She was surrounded
by Tripolitan gunbosts, and Bainbridge
struck his fAg. The off Jers became
isoneIs of war, and the crew, 800 in
number, we're held as slaves. The frig-
ate was hoated by the Tripolitans and
brought under the guns of the castle.
Decatur was first lieutenant Of the
Essex, vessel of the squadron and was
"A years of age. He had been FIVE
ears in the service and was recognized
as talented and brave. He proposed
entering the harbor to d .stroy the
Philadelphia and permission was re-
luctantly granted He sailed out from
Syracuse on Tripolitan vessel he had
captured and named the Intrepid. He
arrived of Tripoli February IL, 1904,
and at night entered the harbor in
boats, with a picked crew, boarded the
Philadelphia under the walls of
the castle, killed or drove her
pirate crew into the ocean,
fired the ship and remained
alongside until the flames were beyond
control, and then Withdrew under the
fire of l40 guns from the pasha's castle,
rejoining the Intrepid without losing a
man. The British admiral, Lord Mel.
son, pronounced it "the most daring act
OF the age" President Jefferson made
Decatur post captain on sight, and he
became the idol OF the people. He had
brilliant career in the war with Great
Britain some years later. The glory
of his life went out in a causeless duel
ionght with Commodore Barron, near
Washington, in 1920.
The destruction of the confederate
ironclad, bemarle, was the work OF the
gallant Cushing then only p years old,
The ram was at Plymouth, North Caro-
lima, in October, 1864. Cushing ran hi:
steam launch within short distance oi
the huge ironclad before he was dis
covered. 1t was between midnight
and daylight. Fire was opened ON him
from the pickets on shore and from the
ironclad, but he ran his little launct
straight at the huge vessel, and swing
ing the torpedo boom under the Albs
marle's overhaDg, coolly discharged th'
torpedo. the explosion sending the biz
ship to the bottom, as we'll as Cushing
launch. Cushing and his men jumped
from the sinking launch and swan dowI
stream. Two were drowned, and tn,
rest except Cushing and one other, wer,
captured. Cushing reached the banl
half a mile below, waded through
swamp, and the following night wa
taken up by United States gunboat a
the mouth of the river. At this gallan
deed he received the thanks Of Congress
and was promoted. Ten years later b
died at Washington, at the age Q
thirty.
i The latest case is that Of Hobso
at Santiago which will compare fayorat
'lly with any Of them, Hobson's age
l2s