The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-12-21

chors. and sharp cry. "Americanosl" was raised.
Even at that the crew. lying in the shadows ON
the nearby deck. did not move.
A moment later those same bewiidered rurkh
beheld the 1.-THE body OF a man, ieaping cat-iike
for the Philadelphias chainplate. The man was
Decatur, and as he clambered up the side OF TIE
frigate he gave orders that transformed the
tranquil deck Of the merchantmen into wnat ap-
peared like ant hill suddenly aroused Long
before the men on the Philadelphia began to un-
derstand the meaning OF those forms that ap
peared to grow, mushroom-like out OF the shao-
owy decy, they were confronted by heads ana
bodies that emerged from the ports and swarmed
over the rail. II like the mystic spell OF
some weird magician, Undertaking. human beings
out OF empty space. and in another moment the
terrified Turks rushed, panicstricken, 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 rocket to announce to Captain
Stewart, on board the Siren, that the ship had
been captured and before the Sirens rocket
could reply the flames we're seen eaping up from
every part OF the ill-starred Philadelphia As
swiftly as they had boarded her. the Americans
departed dropping back to the deck OF the ketch
and cutting loose. The engagement had lasted
but twenty-thre minutes.
A 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 treacheru,ls harbor. Now the men
could hold in no longer and mighty shout OF
triumph arose. a shout that 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 a
galley gave chase and the surface or the water
was torn by a rapid succession OF explosions. as
the fire in the burning frigate reached her bat
teries BY strange freak OF the wind. the
Aarn null
terrific broadsde directly into the town-the
American warship's almost human retaliation up
on her hated captors. From their prison win
dows Captain Bainbridge and the 300 men who
had been captured on that once proud ship.
watched with mingled Joy and grief the work OF
the destruction. At least the Philadelphia would
not serve as the enemy's slave.
In veritable rain OF shot and shell, that seht
brilliant Jets Of illumined 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 one member OF her
crew had need for the surgeons aid The rrE
politans lost twenty men in addition TO those un'
numbered victims who had retreated to the
depths OF the burning ship. When the story oil
the adventure was told aboard the pirate nations
along the northern coast OF Africa sat up In wild
eyed amazement, This was not the sort OF thins
they had been accustomed to- The war had
dragged along for almost three years and nothing
much had happened. They began TO ask who
this Stepnen Decatur was, ana n nttle Wnlie lhtei
they had n reply when one OF their commanding
officers, under pretense OF surrender, boarded the
ship commanded by Decatur's brother and muir
dered him. No sooner had the news OF this das
tardly act come to the newly appointed captain
that he made OF for his dead brothers ship. en-
gagged the murderous Turk in hand-tohanc
hght bore him. struggling and pleading FOL
mercy. to the deck and ran him through with
his short sword. the only weapon he happened u
have at hand when the death OF his brother wal
reported to him.
Without waiting to wash the blood from hi
hands. he gave orders for the occupation OF thu
Turks ship. and that night he Joined the Amer
lean fleet with two captured vessels
II is commonly asserted that piracy was extin
guished by the drubbing he gave Tripoli in 1905
but this is by no means true We were Immune
from molestation. because the Barbary states ha'
learned TO fear and respect US