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


mass OF rock that had not been charted. Captain
Bainbridge and all his force fell into the hands
OF the enemy, and two days later the frigate was
foated OF the reef and added to the Tripolitau
navy-the largest and best fighting ship the pi-
rates had ever possessed.
cambridge and his first lieutenant, David Por-
ter outlined and conveyed secretly to Commo-
dore Preble plan for snatching this prize from
the enemy, and the commission was handed over
to Stephen Decatur. then q young lieutenant OF
twenty-five, who volunteered to command the haz-
ardous expedition In the meantime. the Tripoi'
tans had repaired the fr,gate. remounted her guns
and anchored her In the harbor about quarter OF
a mile from the bashaw's CASTLE While the dar
ing plan was being developed bit OF luck drop
ped into the hand Of the Americans. Tripoltan
"ketch" the mastico. bearing load OF handsome
girls as a gift from the bashaw TO sultan OF Tur-
key, ran into the feet as 1t lay anchored on the
coast OF Sicily What became OF the lovely maid
ems history refuses TO relate. AS for the ketch,
It was renamed the Intrepid and was assigned
the duty of carrying the Americans who were to
undertake the destruction OF the Philadelphia.
The Siren, under Lieutenant Stewart, was or
dered to escort the Intrepid as far as was deemed
safe, and this doughty little vessel was repainted
and rigged TO look much like Maltese mer-
chantman possible. AS for the Intrepid itself,
It was typical Tripolitan freighter. with ample
cabin space. and the Turks In the harbor had not
yet learned OF the mastico's capture and the tate
of her fair cargo. The place the ladies' had oc-
there was a double purpose in the minds OF Prebe
and Decatur There no such thing then as
torpedo; but the freship. or internal" as II
was commonly called. sometimes employed.
It was Decaturs idea that II his expedition
should prove a failure he could at least blow up
his own ship and thereby wreck the Philadelphia
It would mean the almost certain death OF every
man on board but that cost had been counted as
a normal part OF the desperately glorious game.
II was ten O'Clock on the evening OF the 18th
of February, 1904, when the Intrepid, having left
the Siren about three miles behind. lifted her
drags and sailed boldly into the narrow channel
between the rocks and shoals that protect the
treacherous harbor Of Tripoli. half-grown
moon hung in the clear sky and stih breeze
against the beam set the sails in a beautiful swell
of canvas AS the daring vessel advanced the
breeze gradually died down until the motion was
scarcely perceptible Slowly the ketch stole along
until there arose out OF the mist before her the
shadowy outline OF great ship.
On the omen deck of the Intrepid not more than
a dozen men were to be seen. the others lying in
the shadows OF the bulwarks or concealed by the
masts and rigging Decatur stood close to a
Sican named Catalano. as he steered for the
frigate's bow. where the ketch would be out OF
reach OF those American guns that the TURK
would have employed only too gladly for the de-
strlction Of American patriots. When only about
10O vards interyened between the two vessels the
lookout on the Philadelphia became aware OF the
near approach OF ship and challenge was Is
sued Catalano called back that he had come on
trading voyage from Malta, that he had en-
countered terrific storms and had lost his an
chor. He begged the privilege of riding by the
shin until morning. since he could not make his
vessel fast and dared not proceed into the midst
~ the forest OF ships In the inner harbor A
crowd had gathered on the deck Of the Philaoei
phia and many a rude joke was hurled across the
water. as the pilot was compelled to enumerate
the items of his imaginary cargo While this con
versation was going on the wind changed suu
aenIv hurl,np the Intrepid in the direction OF the
fr,gate's stern There, in full range OF the guns
that might have shattered her in less time thar
Is required for the telling. she lay In SUDDEN,
Tranquil sea- absolutely becalmed
In another moment the sailors on poara ,h'
philadelphia manned boat ana came 10 . ae .. -
cua with a line that was passed to the ketch a.
boat from the ketch rowed up 10 the frigat'
and attached another line TO her fore-chain- Cav