The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1911-11-18

mass of rock that had not been charted. Captain
cambridge and all his force fell into the hands
of the enemy, and two days later the frigate was
foated off the reef and added to the Tripolitan
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 young lieutenant of
twenty-five, who volunteered to command the haz-
ardous expedition. In the meantime the Tripoli-
tans had repaired the frigate, remounted her guns
and anchored her in the harbor about quarter OF
mile from the bashaws castle. While the dar-
ing plan was being developed bit OF luck drop
ped into the hand of the Americans. A Tripotan
"ketch." the mastico, bearing load of handsome
girls as gift from the bashaw to sultan OF Tur-
key. ran into the fleet as it lay anchored off the
coast Of Sicily What became of the lovely maid
ems history refuses to relate. AS for the "ketch.
1t 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 rugged to look much like Maltese mer-
chairman possible. AS for the Intrepid ITSELF
1t was typical Trpolitan freighter, with ample
cabin space, and the Turks in the harbor had not
yet learned Of the mastico's capture and the fate
OF her fair cargo. The place the ladies had &C.
there was double purpose in the minds OF Preble
and Decatur. There such thing then as
torpedo; but the freship, internal" as 1t
was commonly called, was sometimes employed
1t was Decaturs idea that If his expedition
should prove failure he could at least blow up
his own ship and thereby wreck the Philadelphia
1t 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
It 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 stir breeze
against the beam set the sails in beautiful swell
of canvas. AS the daring vessel advanced the
breeze gradually died down until the motion was
scarcely perceptibe. Slowly the ketch stole along
until there arose out OF the mist before her the
shadowy outline of great ship.
On the open deck OF the Intrepid not more than
dozen men were to be seen, the others lying in
the shadows of the bulwarks concealed by the
masts and rigging. Decatur stood close to a
Sicilian named Cataano, as he steered for the
frigates 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-
struction OF American patriots. When only about
100 yards interviewed between the two vessels the
lookout on the Philadelphia became aware of the
AiSo- HPpionSn VI sup duu cudlieHke was ls-
sued. Cataano called back that he had come on
a trading voyage from Malta that he had en-
countered terrific storms and had lost his an
Choir He begged the privilege of riding by the
ship until morning. since he could not make his
vessel fast and dared not proceed into the midst
of the forest of ships In the inner harbor
crowd had gathered on the deck of the Philadel-
phia and many rude joke 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 sud
denly hurting the Intrepid in the direction of the
lrigates stern. There, in full range of the guns
that might have shattered her in less time than
Is required for the telling she lay in a suddenly
tranquil sea- absolutely becalmed
In another moment the sailors on board the
Philadelphia manned boat and came to the res
cue with line that was passed to the ketch as
4 boat from the ketch rowed up to the frigate
and attached another line to her fore-chatn eau