Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-03-31

0eklaM0n1n unnn2AR&S IL o. - n
name was Richard Somers, and his
command was the Nautilus, little
schooner of twelve guns and hun.
dred men. He had been, with Deca.
tur and Stewart, junior officer Oh
Commodore Barry's United States in
ono of the wars in the last century,
and the friendship formed in those
early days had been cemented by
score of thrilling adventures.
The difference in their tempera-
ments was marked. Decatur was bold,
domiueeriug and impetuous. Somers
was quiet, mild, and ever avoided the
quarrel which Decatur too often
sought. But under tho quiet exterior
men had found will like iron and the
willingness to dare and do anything
that came Within the province Of his
profession.
In the old days on the United States
there happened an affair which imme-
diately established his reputation as
an officer and man. AT first he was
not understood. His brother midship-
men, installing the reserve of his
manner for weakness, did not hesitate,
before they had been aboard with him
a month, to take advantage of him in
the steerage and on deck in every pos
sible way. Somers stood it for while
in silence. As the weeks went by and
the bantering continued, Somers be-
came more and more quiet and self
contained.
Decatur, ever humorous and mis-
chief-making, had himself been one Of
the worst to chat his comrade, but he
know what Somers's silence meant,
and he desisted.
Somers went about his duties quiet
ly, never giving sign that there was
anything upon his mind until the day
before coming into port. Then he
went to Decatur and said;
"Stephen. tomorrow T want you to
go ashore with me, for am going to
M eet three men,"
The next afternoon cutter contain
ing Somers, Decatur and three mid
shipmen with their seconds went
ashore and found secluded SPOT upon
the beach where they would be free
from interference. Somers had chal-
lenged all three to fight, and was to
take them in succession.
In the first two dnels Somers re.
ceived two shots in the body. The
latter caused him to sink upon the
sand, as though dangerously hurt; but
he rallied quickly and, seeing that the
third midshipman was standing wait
ing to see if the battle could be con.
tinued, tried to struggle to his feet
He found he could not get up, and De-
catur offered to take his place and re-
ceive the fire OF the third midship-
man. But Somers, though suffering
greatly, was not to be deferred, and
balo Decatur prop him up in sitting
posture, in which position he ex-
changed shots with the third man.
Fortunately none of the injuries re.
suited fatally, and in a few weeks
Somers was OH deck again. He went
about his duties as before, but never
after that did they call him milksop.
1t was Somers who led one division
OF the gunboats to attack the Tripoli-
tan fleet while Decatur was leading
the other. Finding that lie could not
reach them by the eastern entrance,
he sailed into the northern entrance OF
the harbor, and, single handed, boldly
sont his little vessel into the midst of
five of the enemy. His gunboat was
smaller than any one OF those of his
adversarics, but so we'll was his long
gun served and SO true was the fire OF
his muskotry that not one OF them !
succeeded in getting alongside of him
to board.
They were all bearing straight down
upon tho rocks, and Somers could not ,
spare enough men from the guns to
man his sweeps. But Preble, on the
saw his danger and,
coming up III time, sent broadside
OF grape among the pirates, who got !
out their sweeps and retreated when
one united attack would have made
the victory theirs.
AS they drew off, instead OF return.
ing to the Constitution, as Preble
Somers pursued them until
withia less than a cables length of q
twelyc-gun battery. which had not
fred before for fear of damaging the
Aoeing Tripolitans. When she opened
IRE ut this close range the destruction
81 Somers' valiant little vessel seemed
inevitable: but by lucky chance
lombard exploded in the battery,
blew mp the platform, aud drove the
to cover.
While these many attacks were be-
ing made upon the gunboats and bat.
cries, the Intrepid, in which Decatur
rad rccaptured and destroyed the
Philadelphia, was being rapidly pre-.
pared as tireship. The plan was to
DAD her with hundred barrels of
powder in bulk, with bags OF grape
md solid shot, and, under cover of
hc night, explode her in tho midst of
ho Tripolitan war vessels. Somers,
rho had been frequently in the har.
,or of Tripoli, and knew its reefs aud
ocks so well that he could readily
bread his way through tho narrow
channels, asked for the command.
1t was an honor that half dozen
,thcr men sought, aud not until the
Ill Commodore had weighed the
hances fully did he at last agree to
ct Somers go. Before consenting,
.reblc repeatedly warned theyoung
'!liccr Of tho desperate character of
lie work. and told him that on account
II the Napoleonic wars the Tripoli-
aus were sho,t Of ammunition, aud
hat SO much powder must not fall
nto the hands of the enemy. But
'omers nee,lcd no warning. 4 dry
II two aiterward. when The prepare.
ions werc nearly completed, Prcble