The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-06-05

care, and 1t is said that even at this
early period he determined to follow
the footsteps of his sire Through
the aid of Commodore Barry, on April
80. 1896, he obtained a warrant as
midshipman, and was placed on board
of the frigate United States. At that
time he was only 10 years of age;
handsome boy. well formed, courag-
eous, graceful and attractive.
Decatur labored hard to make him
self master of his profession and he
soon became a skillful officer. compe-
tent to command and direct and
worthy of extreme respect
At TripOII.
AS a naval officer Commodore De-
catur became famous in the war with
Tripoli. at which time he was about
% years of age, and had already be-
come known as a brave officer. with a
talent for managing men as well as
ships.
While the little American squadron
was cruising in the Mediterranean. the
frigate Philadelphia in some way got
around in the harbor of Tripoli and
was captured. Decatur asked per-
mission of the commander. Commo-
dore Preble, to get her back. The
chief thought this impossible to ac-
complsh, but he commissioned Com
modore Decatur to attempt to burn the
frigate so that the Tripolitans could
not use her
with twenty men picked from the
sauadrons crew one calm. dark night
Commodore Decatur set out on his
perilous errand. He managed to en-
ter the harbor and get alongside the
Philadelphia without attracting the
attention of the Tripolitans, and when
| he was discovered his men were al
ready on board the vessel.
In five minutes the deck was clear
ed and before the Tripolitan crew had
gained their senses the ship was in
| flames from stem to stern and Commo-
dore Decatur with his gallant men was
| gliding safely out of the hasbor. For
this deed Decatur was presented with
sword by Congress.
During the seven years of peace
| that followed the Tripolitan wars.
Commodore Decatur was put in com
mand of a squadron in the Chesapeake
| bay. and a little later of the frigate
| Chesapeake And then, although he
was but IS years old. he received the
rank and title of commander of the
navy.
When the war of 1912 broke out. he
was guarding the entrance to Chesa-
peake bay. and his first act after the
! outbreak was to captuA the English
frigate. Macedonia. for which act Con-
gress voted him Q gold medal.
| After the war Of 1872. Commodore
Decatur held the office of navy com
missioner for FIVE years, until his
death, which occurred in duel with
| Commodore Barron,
1t had once been Decd ur's duty. as
a member of the court martial, to try
| Commodore Barron for misconduct.
and from that day Barron imagined
that Decatur was his personal enemy.
and insisted upon challenging MIN to
a duel. a challenge wGeh. in those
DAVIS, no man considered IT honorable
to decline And thus it was that
| Commodore Decatur ended his brilliant
career on the 22nd of March. 1870.
Commodore cambridge.
In Old Christ Church burying ground
lis the grave of Commodore William
lBainbridge, whose various career is
celebrated the world over. He was
horn in Princeton. y. Y, on the 18th day
of May. 1774 but he died in Philadel-
phia, July IS. 1888.
When the United States navy was
organized in 1888 to protect our com
merce against invasion by the French
lcruisers, Commodore Baiphridge was
selected to the command Of the frigate
fConstitution. and also of the slooI
Hornet. He took charge of the Con-
stitution and was wounded in the fight
between that noted vessel and the
British frigate Java,
T-n0n his return to tho United States
he was received with high honors.
Commodore Richard Dale also is
hurled in Christ church yard. He was
a native of Norfolk, Va. where he wai
born ON the 9Th Of November 1855 A
an early age he chose the sea for hi,
vacation, and in 1916 he enlisted as
Iteutenant in the Virginia navy.
soon afterward he was captured ant
1oon1npd in a prison ship at Norfolk
S,here some former schoolmates per.
suaded him to enlist on an English
cruiser as a means of gaining has re
lease. He was wounded in an engage