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

saw action again He had been put in
command of the squadron blockaded In
New York, and, chatting from his en-
forced idleness, he took advantage OF
a gale to slip the blockade on Jan. 10
in the fIigate President. The pilot mis-
took the channel and the big warship
went aground near Sandy Hook The
sea was so heavy that the frlgate was
saved from wreck only by fine seaman
ship, and when she was foated she was
so badly strained as to impair her speed
and seaworthy qualities greatly.
Decatur would have returned for re
pairs, but the gale carried him to sea.
The next morning he sighted five YES
sells of the blockading feet His only
safety was in flight, but the President.
damaged as she was, had lost her
speed. Crowding on every inch of
canvas and tightening the boat in every
way possible. Decatur tried to run
away. In the afternoon the leading
ship OF the pursuing force. the Endy-
mon, was within easy distance and
opened fire. The Endymion was ad-
mirably handled, while the President
was difficult to maneuver. Decatur
might have turned and fought, but II
he did the other four vessels would
have crushed him with their fire. While
the Endymion with bow guns poured
catur determined on a course of ac-
ton more audacious even than that he
carried to success in the harbor Of
Trlpoli. 1t was to swing about sud-
denly, run down and capture the Endy-
mion by boarding, scuttle the President
and then escape in the swift Endy-
mion.
SURRENDER
At 6 p. m. he gave the order. The
President was swung about and headed
for the Englishman. but Capt. Hope OF
the Endymion was not to be caught
and the two sailed side by side for two
hours pouring broadsides into each
other. At $50 the Endymion, helpless
from the loss of her sails, and with
most of her port guns gone, dropped
out of action. If the President had only
the Endymion to contend with the vic
tory was won, but the American vessel
had lost much ground in the fight, and
the other four ships had come up and
practically had her surrounded. As es-
cape WAS hopeless Decatur surrendered.
The President had "a killed and So
wounded. The Endymion had II killed
and IA wounded. The disparity in cas-
ualties is explained by the fact that
Decatur, in order to cripple the Endy-
mion, and thereby possibly escape, paid
more attention to the enenly's sails than
to the hull, whIle the Endymions fro
was concentrated on the Presidents s
hull.
AS Decatur had done in the case of
Garden. SO Commodore Hayes, COM
manding the squadron, did IN the case
| OF Decatur, refusing to accept the
sword of man who had fought so we'll.
Decatur was taken to Bermuda and
| paroled. Before he reached home peace
| had been declared. He feared the loss
of the President would affect his stand
| ing, but he was received with every
| show of affection and a court of in
Quiry declared that he and his men de-
served the warmeSt gratitude of the
| nation.
BACK TO TILE MEDITERRANEAN
Promptly after the signing OF peace
| with England the United States de-
| clared war on Agiers. The pirates had
| taken advantage of the war with Eng
| land to renew their attentions to Amerl,
| can vessels and had been as active al
| most as In the early days of tho pre-
| vious decade. Two SQuadronS. ono un-
| der Decatur and the other under Bain-
! bridge, We're sent to punish them. The
| Algerian navy was larger than Deca-
tur's squadron and on his approach
took refuge in the lfarbor OF Malta
Decatur captured the Algerian flagship
| Neshonda and the brig Estedio and then
| set Off for Algiers. The harbor had
| been heavily fortified. but Decatur.
: without waiting for Bainbridge. was
going to attack, when one of the for
| eIgn consuls, together with the captain
of tho port, came out to treat for 4
| settlement. Decatur demanded the re-
turn of all prisoners and payment of
! $4,000 for the seizure of an American
} vessel The visitors asked for time.
Decatur would not grant one minute.
Not only that, but II any of the AL
gerian fleet appeared he would destroy
| it.
The commissioners hardly had left
Dccatur's vessel than an Algerian war
ship was sighted. Decatur gave the
signal to chase her. The squadron
closed In on tho Algerian and were
about to sink her under the guns OF the
shore batteries when the negotiators
were seen returning with white fiag.
The dey had consented to all of Deca-
tur's demands.
Then the squadron visited Tunis.
where Decatur demanded $4,000 for
prizes the bey had captured. The money
WAS paid.
Next the squadron went to Tripoli.
The bashaw had no stomach for fight
ing the man who had been there be-
fore. He paid S2S,000. released all cap
tive Christians. saluted the American
flag and then had the pleasure of hear
ing Hail Columbia played by tho
American band.
TILE DUEL.
Decatur was at the height of his
fame War was over. and he was made
one Of the board of navy commission
ers. He built a lne house for himself
In Washington and. having an ample
fortune. began to enjoy life to the ut
most.
Years before he had been a member