The Elbert County tribune., 1911-11-17

chors, and sharp cry. "Americanos! was raised.
Even at that the crew. lying In the shadows on
the nearby deck, did not move.
A moment later, those same bewildered Iurks
beheld the 1.-THE body of a man, eaping cat-iike
for the PhHadelpha's chainpiate. The man was
Decatur, and he clambered up the side OF the
frigate, he gave orders that transformed the
tranquil deck OF the merchantmen into what ap-
peared like an ant hill, suddenly aroused. Long
before the the Philadelphia began to un-
derstand the meaning of those forms that ap-
peared to grow. mushroom-like, out OF the shad-
owy decy. they confronted by heads and
bodies that emerged from the ports and swarmed
the rail- It like the mystic spell OF
some weird magician, materializing human beings
out OF empty space, and in another moment the
terrified Turks rushed panc-stricken, to the star
board side of the ship. AS the Americans dashed
after them they flung themselves overheard and
began to swim for shore. From the quarterback.
Decatur sent up a rocket to announce to Captain
Stewart, board the Siren, that the ship had
been captured and before the Sirens rocket
could reply the flames seen leapng up from
every part of the ill-starred Philadelphia As
swiftly they had boarded her, the Americans
departed. dropping back to the deck OF the ketch
and cutting loose. The engagement had lasted
but twenty-five minutes.
shout from Decatur dispatched dozen men.
with swords to cut the entangling ropes. and
mighty shove sent the ketch out of reach OF the
roaring flames. In another instant the sweeps
had been manned. and a succession OF long oar
strokes carried the craft well out into the chan
mel OF the treacherous harbor. Now the men
could hold in no longer. and mighty shout OF
triumph arose. shout that was drowned in the
roar OF the batteries for the sleepy gunners
had been startled into activity by the sight OF
the burning Philadelphia. Two corsairs and
galley gave chase and the surface OF the water
torn by rapid succession OF explosions.
the fire in the burning frigate reached her bat
teries. BY strange freak OF the wind. the
flaming hull shifted around and poured
terrific broadside directly into the town-the
American warship's almost human retaliation up
her hated captors. From their prison win
dows, Captain cambridge and the 300 men who
had been captured on that proud ship.
watched with mingled joy and grief the work OF
the destruction. At least the Philadelphia would
not the enemy's slave
In veritable rain of shot and shell. that sent
brilliant Jets OF illumned water all about her, the
Intrepid dashed out of the harbor. Joined the
Siren and set sail for Syracuse She had not
lost single man, and only member OF her
crew had need for the surgeons aid. The Tri-
politans lost twenty men in addition to those
numbered victims who had retreated to the
depths of the burning ship. When the story OF
the adventure was told aboard the pirate nations
along the northern coast of Africa up in Wild
eyed amazement, This not the sort OF thing
they had been accustomed to. The had
dragged along for almost three years and nothing
much had happened. They began to ask who
this Stephen Decatur was and little while later
they had reply when one OF their commanding
oihcers, unuei pieteuoc oi surrenuers Dodfueu tno
ship commanded by Decaturs brother and muir
dered him. No sooner had the OF this das-
tardly act come to the newly appointed captain
that he made off for his dead brothers ship
gagged the murderous Turk In a hand-to-hand
fight, bore him, struggling and pleading for
mercy. to the deck and ran him through with
his short sword the only weapon he happened to
have at hand when the death OF his brother was
reported to him
Without waiting to wash the blood from his
hands. he orders for the occupattop the
Turks ship, and that night he Joined the Amer
lean feet with two captured vessels
1t is commonly asserted that piracy was extn-
guished by the drubbing he gave Tripoi in 1905:
but this is by no means true. We were immune
from moestation. because the Barbary states had
learned to fear and respect us.