Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1911-01-18
w. !. ROW AN.
Continued from last week.)

-.,,, !, the war OF 1872 Decatur h; 4
h ~anortunity to show his metal, and
a. op pptaqonist was the very British
Ms a. Who, even before hostlities be-
OILY, I, debating the question OF the
gah,:,a strength OF their ships c.aiin-
le ,,h.t his Is Founders could be work.
60 .n 'ch more rapidly and fired mere
..,urate.y tnan the cumbersome "a
as evnders on the American trigatc. The
P S.;t;sh frigate Macedonian, Captain
pDa nd left Madeira to search Tor
Gai'IA American frigate Essex, whose
'le me- had filed the British with an
SUE SUE desire to tow her into port as
ME-. nl;ze The Macedonian was headed
= PHI the Canary Islands, because Cap
~ Garden was informed that the Es-
IAN VAS to cruise in that neighbour
SN Early on Sunday morning,
n GotOi 9th, 1872, the two frigates,
Is United States and the Macedon-
un sighted each other. At O'Clock
,sa Tinted States opened fire on the
wv that was carrying the British
i sas But the real struggle began
nts the two ships were about a half
S,;Is anart. The Macedonian suffered
Das,yerek, her rigging being shattered,
md her masts weakened by the heavy
' sno rom the 24s. Captain Decatur
tsot his eve on every part of the ship,
s s.p out his commands in deep,
c,m voice, and again moving from
a,n to gun, encouraging the men to
a. their best, never failing to praise
well directed shot. For about half
~ hour the Macedonian at long range
was battered without being able to in
Act anv serious damage on her OPP
oonent Then Captain Garden took
his one chance OF wrestling victory
iro mdcfeat; that is, to get into close
ouarters with the United States. But
n executing the movement he was
obliged to risk raking fire. A tenn
uest of fire and iron hail swept the
Macedonian from stem to stern, clear
mo her deck, dismounting the most OF
her guns, and leaving her helpless
wreck, The skill OF Decatur in handl-
mo his ship is the subject OF comment
nv Captain Mahan. He was out for a
cruise to prey on British commerce
Hence, while he must take his chances
with an enemy's irigate, he was to in.
Aict injury with the least possible re-
turns. Therefore to use the language
d the prize ring, hiding himself sup
.ror at long range, he kept his an
tsgonist off at arms length, not per
hitting him to close and clinch un
I'll he had knocked all the fight out o
him. The Macedonian lost 43 killed
and fl wounded. She was hulled I'm
iii her side was like seive, and he
masts were cut off almost level will
the deck. The United States had bu
killed and 7 wounded, and in les
THAN an hour was ready for anothe
foe. The news of the victory was car
RED to Washington City by Paul Ham
ilton, one OF the midshipmen OF tn
United States. He had in bund
the captured flag-of the Macedonian
and unroling the bunting wrapped
about his shoulders, and, amid the will
huzzahs OF the crowd in the ball room
made his way across the floor to pre-
sent the flag to Mrs. Madison. wife c
the President. Commodore Decatu
was forced to remain on shore dut
douut tiiiCS SSdi ,, DSIauoN ehN AAAe
ish ships OF war were able to mair
tain strict blockade. On Januar
I4h 1915, he attempted to run tn
President by the b.ockading squadro
off Staten Island. By some stupl
blunder the pilot missed the channe
and the irigate ran aground on san
bar where she beat heavily for a
hour, before the tide was high enoug
to float her off, the ship being logge'
that is to say, twisted, SO as to inte
iere with her speed. Before daybrea
the four ships OF the blockading squa'
ron discovered the President and mac
chase. In the light and fiuky wine
the Endymion left her comrade far
the rear and gained steadily on II
President. At 4 p. m. she began II
ing her bowguns, the President r
plying with her stern chasers. re
several hours the igh. continued, Il
President getting the worst OF 1t, u
I'll they began to exchange broadslde
The fire OF the President played have
with the enemys rigging, until Il
Endymlon was desparred and all n
sails cut off, whereupon she dropp'
astern. unable to get gun to bear
the President HAD there been ]
other foes to encounter, Decatur cou
have borne down on the helpless L
aymion, chosen MS position, and fak
her from stem to stern, compelling II
TO haul down her tag. But the oth
three ships were coming up, and thef
tore he was obliged to abandon |
beaten foe and flee. Just as he W
lnduging the hope that he had IN
darkness given the enemy the sllp,,
II o'clock a rift in the clouds reveal
his mistake. The two irigates, +
none and Tenedos were within mt
ket shot on either side OF the Pre-
dent, and the Majestic was not tar
IN her wake. The Pomone let go
whole broadside. Finding his escca
cut off, having already IN the he
with the Ensymion lost one-iifth
his crew in kiled and wounded, DEC
tur considered it criminal to contln
the unequal battle. Hence the n
o. the PRESIDENT was lowered.
naval court, composed OF Alexane
Murray, Hull and cambridge. al
hearing all the evidence, not only
onerated Decatur for the loss OF
President, but also heaped the h'e