Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-04

reached the Siren Two days later the
! ketch and the Siren were at Syracuse.
and Prcbe the proudest man in all the
Mediterranean, had dispatched a re-
port to Washington telling of Decatur's
achievement and recommending the
young officer for promotion to a cap
taincy Lord Nelson. when he heard
of Decatur's exploit. is said to have
pronounced 1t "the boldest and most
daring act of the age"
DEATH STRUGGLE WITH A Pr
RATE
The burning OF the Philadelphia was
not enough. In August Decatur was
back in the harbor OF Tripoli to destroy
the fleet of gunboats. The American
force of six gunboats was divided in
two divisions of three boats each. The
Tripolitan fleet was in two divisions of
nine each Decatur had loaded the
long gun in the bow of his boat with
1000 musket balls and with this did
great execution. He had captured one
of the enemy and had the prize in
tow, when he learned that his brother
had been mortally wounded by Trip
olitan commander who had struck his
flag and then shot young Decatur as
the youth stepped aboard.
Maddened by the news. Decatur went
in pursuit of the murderer. He reached
at the leader. who was a man of gigan-
tic size. The two had duel such as
had not been seen in many days. De-
catur. in thrusting at the corsair. broke
his cutlasS at the hilt Twice Decatur
was wounded before he managed to
close with the giant. Then they fell
TO the deck In a death grapple. Over
and over they rolled. while all around
them other men fought Soon the
strength of the Trlpolitan and the
wounds of the American began to tell
The Tripoltan worked until he got
Decatur under him. Then, drawing a
dagger from his sash, he lifted it to
stab the American. But Decatur
caught the descending arm and with
his other hand he drew small revolver
and reached around to the back of the
Tripolitan. They he pulled the trigger
and a dead corsair lay upon him.
Decatur wriggled from under the dead
man and was rising when another Tri-
politan cut at his head with a scimitar.
One of Decatur's men threw himself III
the way and took the blow on his own
head to save his captain.
Not corsair on that boat was living
when the fight ended. OF the Ameri-
cans 13 were wounded.
Never had the pirates been so rough
ly handled as that day. Their whole
fleet was captured or dispersed. Never
again would they meet Americans in
hand-to hand encounters. The engage
ment has been termed the biggest little
fight In history
Throughout the summer Decatur and
Somers, acting under Preble's orders,
gave no rest to the Tripolitans and
then Preble rewarded Decatur with the
command of the Constitution. No
higher honor could be shown him than
command of the greatest ship in the
navy, and he only %. When he re-
turned to the United States many ban
quets were given in his honor and Con-
gresS voted a sword TO him.
CAPTURE OF THE MACEDONIAN.
Three days after the war Of 1872 was
declared he, In command of the frigate
United States. which he had helped to
build, put TO sea with the squadron Of
Commodore Rodgers. They captured
| only few merchant vessels on the
| cruise and then returned. On Oct 8
the squadron was out again. This tina
| Decatur parted company with Rodgers
| and headed straight for England. On
Oct. 20 at daylight he sighted the
| Macedonian, one OF the newest and
best equipped OF Englands warships
| The United States was bigger and had
! a heavier gunflre than the Macedonian,
| but a British frigate was supposed to be
| able TO handle anything ahoat. For
several hours the two captains man
| euvered for position. At 9:20 the Mace
DOMAIN opened fire at long range with
out effect. The United States did not
respond until 9;45 The guns of the
| United States did frightful havoc and
so rapid were the discharges that the
British thought the American must be
| aflre. The slaughter on the Macedonian
was so great that it became necessary
to throw the killed and tho morta'ly
| wounded overheard.
How well the British captain fought
may be appreciated from the fact that
with his mizzenmast cut away, his
mainyard hanging by a single stay,
| capt. Garden. with only forcsail
drawing. sailed for the American with
intention of boarding. 1t was useless.
Decatur raked the Macedonian until
ne put every gun on the quarterback
| ana forecastle, and some on the main
deck, out OF action. Then tho foresail
was shot away and tho Macedonian
| WAS helpless wreck
| Decatur refused to take Gardens
| sword. saying he could not take the
sword of man who had defended his
| ship SO bravely. Garden imagined he
was the first British captain to sur
render to an American In the war, aud
Z, was heartbroken. hut the Guerr,ere
| mad been CAPTURED before that day by
the constitution. On the Macedonian
lul men had been killed or wounded.
On the United States FIVE were tircl
and nine wounded The United States
carried 81 guns to the Macedonian's
| ~. but the crew Of the United Stntos
numbered ATS and that OF tho English
| man 29T. The Macedonian was the only
| ono OF tho great British fri1qtns can
tured In the war that was brought to
| the United States. She was reAtted
and remained in the navy until 1S45.
PRESIDENT AND ENDYMION.
1t was not until 1916 that Decatur