Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1900-05-03


command was the Nautilus, little
schooner of twelve guns and hun
dred men He had been, with Deca-
tur and Stewart, Junior officer OF
Commodore Barry's United States in
one 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 III their tempera-
ments was marked. Decatur was bold,
domineering and impetuous. Somers
was quiet, mild, and ever avoided the
quarrel which Decatur too often
sought But under the quiet exterior
men had found will like iron and the
willingness to dare aud 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, mistaking 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
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 chaff his comrade, but he
knew what Somerss silence meant,
and he desisted.
Somers went about his duties quiet
ly, never giving a sign that there was
anything upon his mind until the day
before coming into port. Then be
went to Decatur and said;
'Stephen tomorrow [ want you to
go ashore with me, for l am going tc
meet three men,
The next afternoon a cutter contain
ing Somers, Decatur and three mid
shipmen with their seconds wen!
ashore and found secluded spot upcr
the beach where they would be Tree
from interference. Somers had chal
leneed all three to fight, and was te
take them in succession.
Inthe first two duels Somers re
, ceived two shots in the body The
latter caused him to sink upon the
, sand, as though dangerously hurt; bu
he rallied quickly and, seeing that ths
} 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 offeted to take his place and re
ceiye the fire of the third midship
man. But Somers, though suffering
: greatly, was not to be deferred, ant
bade Decatur prop him up in sittin!
posture, in which position he ex
;; changed shots with the third man
Fortunately none Of the injuries re
suited fatally. and in few week
/. Somers was on deck again. He wen
:. about his duties as before, but neve
after that did they call him a milksop
It was Somers who led one division
OF the gunboats to attack the Tripoli
. tan feet while Decatur was leading
/ the other. Finding that he could no
reach them by the eastern entrance
! the harbor, and, single handed, boldl
sent his little vessel into the midst O
FIVE OF the enemy. His gunboat wa
I smaller than any one Of those OF HI
2 adversaries, but so we'll was his Ion
/ gun served and so true was the fire Q
: his musketry that rot one Of theI
| succeeded il getting alongside OF biz
to board.
Tnev were all bearing straight dow
: upon the rocks, aGd Somers could ID
spare enough men from the guns I
: man his sweeps. But PrebIe, on n
q Constitution, saw his danger and
coming lp in time. sent broadsid
a OF grape among the pirates, who &C
: ont their sweeps and retreased whe
! one united attack would have mad
: the victory theirs.