Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1911-01-11
Commodore Stephen Decatur

was alongside and they spied the an
| chors. Then it was too late. Nimble
JACKS, taking advantage of the con-
fusion on board the frigate, leaped
into the chains and cIambered the
decks, or dove head-6rst into the port
holes. Soon the panic stricken pir-
ates were swept from the decks, and
the boarding party set to work to fire
the snip with the conlbustibles brought
from the ketch. Twenty minutes
after the frigate had been boarded
she was mass of flames both below
and above decks. Then the sweeps of
the ketch were pied, and she moved
OFT. The glare or light turned the
darkness into midday, revealing the
fleeing ketch. The guns from the forts
and ships Numbered, and the round
SHOT screeched ovet The ketch or
struck the water on either side, send
ing the spray over her railing. But
the pirates failed to cripple the ketch,
only one shot reaching the mark, tear
ing a great rent in her canvas. The
scene is described as magnificent. The
nrehke twisting serpents ran up and
down the rigging of the doomed ship
and Tell kissing into the water, and,
as her loaded guns became heated,
they went off sending their iron mes
sengers into the forts. At last the
hre reached the magazine, there was a
tremendous roar. and then the silence
OF deatll-dnrkness onee more-the
Philadelphia was gone Still moving
rapidly by means of the sweeps the
Intrepid reached the outer harbor
where her exultant crew were met by
small boats sent out from the brig
Siren to cover their retreat In three
days the two ships anchored at SYRIA
cuse to report the success of the I'M
dertaklng, called by Admiral Nelson,
the most bold and daring act OF the
age" Congress showed its apprecia-
ton OF the deed by presenting Deca-
tur with sword, and advancing him
to captaincy. On August grid, 1904,
Commodore Preble took his whole
squadron into the harbor of Tripoli,
his heavier ships engaging the forts,
while the gunboats made dash at
the enemy's ships. Captain Stephen
Decatur commanded one OF those gun
boats, and his brother James another
Both succeeded in forcing ship of
the enemy to surrender. But as
James Decatur was boarding the cap
tured ship to take possession of the
prize, the pirates treacherously shot
him dead and then attempted to es-
cape. The news was carried to Ste
phen Decatur, who bore down on the
pirate to avenge the death of his bro
.ther. With a few brave tars at his
heels he managed to secure a footing
on the pirates deck, and then rushed
upon her giant captain. The pike held
in the hands of Decatur was wrenched
from his grasp, and hurled at his
person, Decatur escaping with flesh
wound, due to quick side step. Next
his sword was snapped off at the hit
in parrying the blow from the pike.
Then the two antagonists came into
close quarters, wrestling on the Slip
perry decks, until the weight of the
grant forced Decatur to the boards.
Just as one OF the pirate crew swung
his scimitar to cut the under man in
twain, an American sailor intercepted |
the blow. The two struggling men
tried to reach weapon; the pirate a
poinard, Decatur pocket pistol The.
fight was decided when Decatur sent |
a bail to vital spot in the body of the
giant. The pirates seeing their leader
laid low cried out for quarter.
(To be continued)