Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-07-23

/ neT.
To the hail of squadron of Alger-
inc pirates, while cruising in the
Mediterranean, I'D Owe andate 7"
Where are you going?) Decatur,
from his lone ship. answered back,
Dove mi PAIGE" where ! please,)
and they left him go. Toward the
close of the Algerine War one OF their
captains sought for delay in order to
gain some advantage.
mot minute replied Decatur,
with a threat to capture the pirate
squadron if his terms were not COM
piled with instanter.
Toward the close of the 1912 war,
Decatur, in command OF the Presl-
dent, was chased by large squadron,
all OF which, with one exception, the
Endymion, he outsailed. In the
emergency he conceived the daring
design OF capturing that ship before
her sisters could come to her assist
ance, and, having scuttled his own
vessel, which was injured at the time,
sailing into port on his anticipated
prize. His speech to his crew on that
occasion is unique.
"My lads" said he, 'that ship is
coming up with us. AS our own ship
won't sail, we'll GO on board of them,
every man and boy of us, and carry
her into New York All ask of you
is to follow me. This is a favorite
ship of the country. If we allow her
to be taken by the enemy, we shall
be deserted by our wives and sweet
hearts. What, lose such a ship as
this for nothing 'Twould break the
heart OF every pretty girl in New
York "
The President at once headed for
the Endymion, and the engagement
began. During the action Decatur
was wounded and the Endymion dis
mantled. Before the President had
time to repair damages the Tenedos
and Pomona came up, and Decatur
was forced to strike his flag
Don't give up the ship" the dy-
ing words of Lawrence, the heroic
commander of the Chesapeake, are
among the noblest ever uttered. The
gallant Perry flew that signal at his
masthead in the memorable battle of
Lake Erie. at the glorious close OF
which he had the inspiration to pen
that famous dispatch, 1--WE have met
the enemy and they are ours" 1t
was written on his stiff hat in lieu of
table, on the half of an old letter,
and the additional information in it
gave the size and number of the ene-
my, namely, 1.-TWO ships, two briggs,
one schooner and one sloop."
Perry was hero in peace as we'll
as in war. During a winter storm
while lying in the harbor of Newport
he heard that a merchant vessel had
been driven on the reef six miles dis
tant. He at once manned his barge
and said to the crew:
"Come, my boys, we are going to
the relief of shipwrecked seamen.
Pull away"
The act was applauded by the
country almost as much as was the
battle on Lake Erie. During the
Mexican War General Scott requested
the loan of some guns from the fleet,
to be used on shore. Perry complied,
but on one condition, that wherever
the guns go the officers and men must
go also"
Commodore Porter. father OF Ad-
miral Porter, happily phrased the
sentiment of the country in the motto
which he flew on his flag in the War
| Oh 1919, ElGC bldoS anu opAACAD
rights" In those days it became the
text for many a patriotic song and
thousands of political speeches. A
British captain, meeting Porter, flung
out an answering signal to this effect:
God and country, British soldiers
best rights. Traitors offend both. I"
The belief in England at the time was
that the crews of the American ships
were all British deserters. Porter an
swered his enemy next day with a
fresh signal flag, God, our country,
and liberty. Tyrants offend them"
When the Constitution, under the
command of Commodore Hull, engag-
ed the French trigate Guerrero, a
dramatic scene was witnessed on the
JacIy If Old Irousjdec A c the French.