The evening times., 1899-05-03
FORMER TROUBLES
With BARBARY States
Americas Early War With the
Sultan of Morocco.
stS- J.
Ships Of the Old Navy Swept the
African Coast.
Bit of History Recalled by the Or
ders to the Chicago to Pro-
coed to TanEier.



The American cruiser Chicago has been
ordered to Morocco to impress the Sultan
there that the rights of Americans mlst
be respected.
Orders were sent by the Secretary of tn :
Navy yesterday to Rear Admiral Howison
10 Tangier. This ship left Port Delgaio
in the Azores on Monday and the order
referred to will reach her on her arrival
at Gibraltar. The reason for this move is
that American consular officers have been
annoyed by the illegal arrest of their SER
wants and the agents of several American
firms have been interfered with.
II history is to be repeated, more gun
powder may be burned on the north coas
of Africa. The dispatch OF the Chicago to
Barbary recalls the names of those IA
nous ships of the old navy, the President.
the Philadelphia. the Essex. the Enter
prise. the Adams, Chesapeake. Constella-
tion and New York. and brings to mind
the names of Cambridge. Morris. d catur,
Dale, Preble, and Somers.
Troubles With AIgicrs.
When the treaty of peace between Great
Britain and the United States was signed
in 1888. the necleus of a navy then in ex-
istence was disbanded, and in 1855 the last
remaining frigate. the Alliance. was sold
because there was no money in the Treas
ury available for the payment OF repairs
to this ship. But there had sprung up a
considerable merchant marine and the
Stars and Stripes became familiar sight
in all the seaports of the world. In 1855.
the Dey of Algiers. looking to piracy for
his income. sent out his piratical cruisers
to prey on the commerce OF the nation
without a navy. Two vessels were captur-
ed and their crews were sold into slavery.
President Washington called the atten-
tion of Congress to the need Of a navy. but
the suggestion was not acted on. owing to
the fact that little Portugal had declared
war on Algiers and had blockaded the pi-
rates in their own ports Peace was con-
cluded between Portugal and Algiers in
1898. and once more the pirates took the
high seas with the result that four more
American ships were captured and their
crews sold into slavery in Tunis and Trip
oil.
Congress appropriated money for six
frigates and their keeis were laid down.
when work was stopped upon the conclu-
sion Of treaty with the Dey of Algiers.
by which this Government agreed to pay
an annual tribute to him.
In May, 1900 Capt. William Bainbridge,
in the frigate George Washington took the
first American tribute to Algiers. The Dey
taunted the American officer with the re-
mark that by agreeing to pay tribute the
Americans had become his slaves. and
against the protest OF Bainbridge. compell-
ed the George Washington to convey the
Algerian ambassador to Constantinople.
Soon after Tunis and Tripoli demanded
tribute and captured a few American mer-
chantmentmen.
Ships Sail for Barbary.
The Bashaw Of Tripoli chopped down the
American flag and staff in front of the
American consulate, and sent out his cruis-
ers to prey on American commerce. This
was carrying things a little too far and on
May 20, 1901, the Secretary of the Navy
ordered the following squadron to proceed
to the Mediterranean: President, Commo-
dore Richard Dale; Philadelphia, Captain
Barren: Essex, Captain Bainbridge: Enter
prise, Lieutenant Commander Sterrett.
War had not been declared against the
pirates OF Barbary and the warships were
merely to protect American merchantmen.
The Enterprise fell IN with a pirate and
American gunnefy told then just as 1t did
in the war with Spain. The pirate was
Tripolitan. Three times did she strike her
flag and then treacherously deliver more
broadsides. The Americans were inclined
to give the pirates no quarter and several
times the American fire raked the pirate,
many shots striking between wind and
water. Her decks were red with blood and
half her officers had been shot down. FL
nally the captain Of the pirate threw the
colors Of his ship into the sea and begged
for quarter. The ship proved to be the
Tripoli and Lieut.. David Porter was sent
on board to dismantle her. He forced the
pirates to cut away their masts and to
throw overheard all their cannon. cut
lasses, and ammunition. cut their sails to
shreds and strip the ship to the gtrtline.
The Enterprise had not lost q man and the
corsair lost fifty killed or wounded. The
captain was Nahomet Sons. and his ba-
shaw punished him for his defeat by COM
pelling him to ride through the streets OF
Tripoli tied to jackass and 500 bastina-
does were laid on. The pirates declared
that the Americans fred enchanted shot"
A little later Morocco took her stand By
the side Of her sister states and began -