Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-27

be damned IL he sends boat aboard.
Boys. blow your matches?
This last comment, addressed to the
gunners. was distinctly heard on board
the British ship. which presently sent
boat to the Constitution with the apollo
giles of the captain who said he had
mistaken the Constitution for FRENCH
man.
When They Felt Like It.
ITO revert to the subject of the man
ner in which American and British sail
ors. before the war of 1872. used to
change flags either by force or when
ever they felt like it said the executive.
the Constitution was once lying along
side the British frigate Havannah in
Portsmouth harbor. England. when one
of the American crew jumped overheard
and swan to the British. The British
commander refused to deliver him up.
The next night a sailor OF the Ha-
vannah jumped overheard and SWAN to
the Constitution. He was promptly en-
rolled in the place of the American de-
serter, and when the British demanded
him the American captain refused to
turn him over. 1t looked for few min
utes as IL there was going to be naval
battle right in Portsmouth harpor. but
so peculiarly effected that the two COM
manders. being blessed with the saving
sense Of humor, took a glass OF groS on
1t and called 1t square.
Nevertheless, when the Constitution
presently went to sea she was followed by
two British men-of-war. which acted as II
they were going to repeat the Leopard
Chesapeake affair. Hull, who commanded
the Constitution, beat to quarters and got
ready to fight for all he was worth The
men were wild for fight. and 1t Is said
they took hold Of the tackles as II they
were about to perk the guns through the
ships sides. When the officer tried to make
little speech to the men about doing their
duty and all that one of the sailors inter-
take care of the flag and we will take
care of the guns Rather embarrassing to
young officer trying to make a patriotic
speech. wasn't 1t? But the British did not
attempt to do any pressing and the incident
passed off without blood"
"All that you say of the dash and brav-
cry of Hull and Preble and cambridge is
So spoke up the paymaster, but do you
recoHect that this same cambridge was
compelled to perform the most humiliating
act that ever fell to the lot Of an officer
of the American navy.
Tribute to Barbary.
I'm our boasting let us not forget that
for years we paid annual tribute to the
Barbary powers The United States actual
ly placed itself in position Of vassdl
to the Dey OF Algiers and the other bar
barous princes of North Africa. We paid
an annual tribute of 10000 to the Dey
of Algiers, and If we were not prompt he
called us to account. Once he threatened
to send his warships to the coast Of the
United States II we were not more prompt
with our money. and 1t was no idle threat
eilner. His corsairs roamed the Atlantic
at that time and We might have found diff
| ficulty in mastering sufficient naval force
to meet them.
cambridge was sent over in the frigate
George Washington to carry the annual
twill 70 fn thn dnx n loo n civ i'm
extra presents and some taffy to put the
old rascal in good humor-so he would not
hurt us. The dey took the tributes and the
presents and the 'taffy' and then ordered
cambridge to take on board the Washing
ton his Uhe dey's) tribute to his suZerain.
the sultan. and. hoisting the Algerian flag.
to proceed to Constantinople. incidentally
he was also ordered to take along a delega-
ton of Algerian officials.
cambridge objected. The dey was sur
prised.
why he said. you pay me tribute by
which you become my slaves. 1 have the
right to order you and your ships anywhere
I please. You have brought tribute to me.
the suzerain of the United States. and now
you Will carry my tribute to the sultan,
my suzerain.
1.-THE people OF the United States were
slaves of slaves. the dey declared. and when
you come to think of it we deserved all the
old rascal said of us. And Bainbridge-this
same fiery Acknowledgements obliged to sail
away from Algiers with the Algerian flag
flying and take the tribute to CONSTANT
nople. 'f.i..:rs -.
said: I hote may never again he author
lied to carry tribute to Algiers unless am
empowered to deliver 1t at the cannon's
mouth Subsequently he was ordered on
the more agreeable mission OF blowing the
Barbary pirates out OF the water-for we
did fight at last.
Meek to Our Lords.
But how meek we were for a long time
with our lords and masters, the days and
the bashaws! The newspapers used to
chronicle the sending out of our annual
tribute as routine piece of news, and
when, to get one of the old rascais il good
humor, we made him present of a man
of-war. the papers hoped it would be satis-
factory to his highness.
"Once when we were little behind hand
with our tribute to the Dey of Tripon the
festive pirate wrote a letter to the Presi
dent of the United States. Thomas Jefferson
by name. in which he said to his vassal:
"'You will endeavor to satisfy us by
good manner of proceeding. We beg
speedy answer without neglect of time. as
any delay on your part cannot but be preju-
dicial to your interests.
1T seems impossible that we a nation
ever submitted to such insolence, and the
fact that we thrashed the tar out of the
Barbary powers later does not quite take
away the sting. The navy was all right.
though, and wanted to fight the rascals all
the time.
"Once when old Preble went into Tangier
and the Sultan of Morocco got 'upish' and
wanted to be saluted the captain replied:
IF IL will crafty your imperial majesty.
will salute him and dress ship-and If he
is not peaceable will salute him again
Let us now close with the good old song.
Cruising Down on the Coast of the High
Barbaree.'