The San Francisco call., 1908-08-09
GALES @
66OUNG l)

signed the letter which lay spread BE-
fore them
Vow. gentlemen. continued 1Ir.
Porter. we viii request Captain Baiu-
bridge 10 accord Us Al interview n a
body Nr ThOrne. may ask that yoo
and Nr FaIconer 60 70 the captain and
making or respectful compliments beg
TIRE privilege OF waiting upon h1u-
Dlcky and Roger rose Al once and-
with Bulge showing them The way
they reached the great iron barred deer
that opened into the little stone room.
little more than a cell which vas now
the abode OF Captain BaineTidSe- Who
had lightly trOd the quarterdees Of one
OF the finest fTigates in the worll-
When they entered. Captain Bainb-3dg=
was seated upon q stone bench reading
a small book. which he put into his
pocket as the midshipuen were ush-
cred in
He received them N the ksndest nan
ner possible inquired how they had
spent the night and eOnpimenIed them
upon their conduct during their late
misfortune He then asked them 10 Be
seated but Roger declined. informing
him OF the request OF M Porter and
The other officers
Certainly replied Captain Bzir-
bridge cOurteously- Il shall b most
happy 70 receive my Officers AZ any
time"
Roger and DickT. thanking aim vent
out and made their report The of5esrs
formed and. headed By 1Ir- Porter, pro
cee5ed 70 the captains room
I regret gentlemen said Captain
ainbridge. after he had wished them
good morning with as much cheerful
ness and courtesy as Il he were n the
Phila6elphia's cabin. that I cannot in
wife yOu all 70 have seats. for. as you
see there is but one bench and that
cannot receive ron in better quarters
But The ineOnveniences are triflns 70
me. and I hope 10 YOU
The officers then formed n a circle
around the little room. and Nr- Porter.
standing IN the center asked the priTi-
lege Of reading the letter in his hand
he then. IN a clear voice. proceeded 70
read the letter.
-Tripoli November L 1sos
Sir We late officers Of the United
States frigate Philadelphia. under your
command. wishing 70 express our fun
appreciation OF your conduct concerning
the unfortunate event OF yesterday. do
conceive that the charts and soundings
justified as near an approach 10 the
shore as We made. and that. after she
struck. every expedisnt was tried 70
get her or and 10 defend her which
either courage OF abilities could have
dictated
we wish 70 add that. IN this IN
stance as well as IN every other. since
we have had the honor OF being under
your command. the officers and seausn
have always appreciated your distin-
guished conduct Believe rs. sir. that
our misfortunes and sorrowS are entire
y absorbed in our sympathy for YOU
highest and most sincere respect. your
friends and fellow sufferers
(Here followed the signatures.1
As Mr Porter proceeded 70 read the
letter Captain Bainb-idge- who had
faced danger and disaster and defeat
with perfect calmnsSS and mistaken
composuTe- showed deep agitation
When Ar- Porter read the words q sin
cere respect and admiration and OF IN
shaken confidence tears gathered in the
captains eyes and his broad chest rose
and fell with 4 silent sch Al the con
clusion Nr Por1er's oTn voice 1renbled
a little and he felt himself unequal %
reading the names signed % rSe letter
He could only hand IL IN silence ID Cap
tain BainbTidge. Who took Il with al
emotion TOO deep for words and. fold
ing Il put il N his breast
The Tripoiitans. realizing the import
a1ce OF their capture. arranged with
great care for the custody OF their
prisoners II had been their custom 70
II was fully believed by them that the
United States would Offer a conpen-
sati0n IN money for the release Of the
crew Of the lost frigate- Sid Nolan
med D'GhieS was selected by the ba-
shaw, Yussuf Caramelli- 10 inform Cap
tain Bainbridge that the Tripolitan
government. sitting IN grand divan-
had fixed the ransom price OF each OF
the officers and men II was IN vain
that Sidi Mohammed a man far n a6-
vance OF his people IN intelligence
ard conceptions Of honor. tried 70 In
press upon his master that the dogs
Of Christians. as The TripOliranS called
all the western peoples. had dinsrent
ideals OF honor from the orientals. and
that the American officers would Be
redeemed. not BY The payment OF
money. but BY the thunder OF Amsri-
can guns This view TuSsuf Cara
msln refused 70 accept The disturbed
state OF Europe for the last fifteen
years had permitted the Barbary pow
ers 70 pursue. almost unmOlested- a
career OF rapine and plunder. and they
had so long escaped punishment that
they felt themselves Immune
Sidi Mohammed then sought an in
terview with Captain BainbriGge and.
: fully convinced Of The ESeleSSnesS O1
? his mission. laid before him the prOpO-
sitioD- sent by the bashaw. thai the
American officers and men should -
ra1soued for money When sid Ao-
: hammed. seated a. the rude table IN
the captains gloomy and -cOra1ortless
: little room. made the proposition Cap
l tain Bainbridge col0red deeply wiki
\ anger and his eyes showed his indig-
. nation. but his knowledge o men re-
5 veaIed 70 HIN that. while sid Mo-
o hauued bore the message OF his mas
ter he realized the uselessness and the
: i-diEnitv Of Il Therefore. the Amer1-
: can captain replied eoolly-
7 7 nav say a. once that the Aneri-
can government viii not for one no
, uent entertain any proposition OF ran-
: som And speaking Tor myself and
\ for my officers and men. / can also
> say that we are wiling 70 I've and de
: IN captivity rather than purchase our
freedom with money We are not
! slaves but prisoners o. war We shall
be liberated. not BY ro1sy. but by ths
: strong arm OF the American navy
: Ny ship was only one of feet
destined 10 make war upon your
country in order 70 secure justice for
? our merchant marine and respect for
I our flag In q short while the whole
natter viii be determined BY tha an