The Republican journal., 1910-05-19


shell, which was promptly responded to
by the Tripolitan ships and batteries.
At the same time the two divisions of
o11nhoats-tbe first under the command
of Captain Richard Somers and the Sec
ond under the command OF Captain
Stephen Decatur, who had just been pre-
NOTED for the gallant exploit previously
mentioned advanced toward the enemy.
This squadron was under the enemies
fire for about two and one-half hours,
greater part of the time within pistol
shot, ranging by them in deliberate sue
cession. alternately silencing their fires,
and launching its thunders into the very
palace of royalty, while a yet more ami
mated battle was raging in another quar-
ter. What the Turks themselves thought
of these demonstrations may be judged
from the fact that the governor, affect
ing at first to despise his assallants and
their attack, was soon glad to run in
dismay to bomb proof apartment in his
castle, and the sons of the prophet said
! in their rage: 1.-The English, French and
Spanish consuls, have told us that the
Americans are young nation and got
their independence by reason of the help
of France; that they had but small
navy and all their officers were without
experience, and that they were merely a
nation of merchants, and that by the
taking of their ships and men, we should
get great ransoms. But instead Of this
their Preble pays coin of shot, shell
and hard blows, and sent Decatur in
dark night with band of Christian dogs,
fierce and cruel as the tiger, who killed
our brothers and burned our ships before
our eyes"
Preble now planned to send fire ship
into the enemies harbor, but for just
what purpose has never yet been made
plain to me, orsto any one else that l
have spoken to on the subject. The
Intrepid, the same vessel in which De-
catur boarded and recaptured the Phila-
delphia, was selected for that purpose
and was filled with combustibles and eN-
plosive material The brave Captain
Somers, was appointed to conduct her
under suitable convoy to the mouth of
the harbor, and choice was made of two
of the fieetest boats of the squadron,
manned by picked crews, to bring the
officers and crew of the fire ship out At
eight o'clock in the evening she stood in
to the harbor with moderate breeze.
Several shots We're fired at her from
shore batteries, but she had nearly gain
ed her place of destination when she ex-
ploded and sent all of her brave crew in
to eternity without moments warning.
Arrangements had been made for them
to signal the boats to come and take
them off when ready to explode. But
no signals were made. The explosion
must have been premature.
Night hung heavily over that squadron
after the awful catastrophe, and all were
prey to the most painful anxiety. In
the morning no trace could be discovered
Of the Intrepid or her boats. This. sad
event was deeply deplored in the UH1ed
States, and in memory of the heroic dead
there was erected in the city of Wash
ington a beautiful Doric monument on
the capitol grounds.
Soon after these events Commodore
Barron relieved Commodore Preble in
the command of the squadron, it being
understood that reinforcements were
soon to arrive and another attack was to
be made. The Turkish ruler came to
terms and desired to make peace, which
was done, but it was not lasting. True
to their characteristic duplicity and
treachery, the Algerine authorities on the
breaking out of the war between Eng
land and the United States, when we
were unable to look after them by reason
of having our hands full, resumed their
system of piracy and of extorting tribute
and presents. But before they knew it,
peace had been established between US
and Great Britain and Commodore De-
catur, with strong fleet appeared be-
fore their ports and demanded retribu-
ton. He captured several of their ves-
sells and compelled the. Governor of AL
giers to come on board his ship and on
the quarter deck to sign treaty to let
US alone in the future. The governor
whiningly enquired if they could not give
him little powder. To which Decatur
replied, chat if we give you powder,
balls go with it, That ended all
trouble with the Barbary States so far
as we were concerned. Their sub
mission was complete. They bound
themselves to indemnity for past extor-
lions, to surrender all prisoners without
ransom, and to renounce all claim for
tribute in any and all forms against the
government of the United States, as we'll
as their barbarous practice of piracy and
reducing prisoners to slavery. For three
hundred years those pirates had been
permitted to ravage the commerce of
the Mediterranean. England had been
the only sea power strong enough to
suppress them. But in order to main
tain her supremacy as mistress Of the
sea she had narmitted them to keen on