Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-04-09
VALIANT DECATUR
Reckless Bravery of the Pride of
Our Early Navy.
HIS TRIPoLI HARBoR FEAT.
The Recapturs and Destruction Of the
Philadelphia In the Midst Of Hostile
Fleet Were Called by Nelson "the
Most Daring Act of the Age"


Philadelphia In the Midst of Hostile
Fleet Were Called by Nelson "the
Most Daring Act of the Age"
Stephen Decatur, the pride of the
early American navy, entered the serv-
ice when the naval spirit was at its
lowest ebb He was without training
as an officer when, at twenty, he be-
gan the career that was TO bring him
fame. Before Decatur was twenty-five
he had been twice honored by presen-
tation of a sword by congress, and at
twenty-five he was a captain in COM
mand of the noble frigate Constitution.
His deeds of valor make a narrative
like a dashing romance His qualities
We're those the naval officer today can
emulate with profit to himself and his
country and every patriot regard with
satisfaction. There are few names on
the scroll of fame with a brighter lus-
| ter than his.
From childhood Stephen loved the
| sea. At an early age he began the
study OF shipbuilding and at seventeen
helped construct the United States frig-
ate United States, which he was one
| day to command. The war with
France brought him his first great OPP
portunity. Decatur was It's most pic
turesque sea figure.
When, in 1901, all the navy except
| six ships was dismantled and 70 per
cent of the officers dismissed Decatur
was kept in the service, and he found
speedy use for the naval lore he had
| acquired.
For centuries the Barbary states had
supported themselves by piracy. Most
nations, including our own, paid them
shameful tribute to win protection
| from these pirate ships In May, 1901
the pasta of Tripoli declared war Oh
the United States and began to seizt
American vessels that were cruising IL
the Mediterranean. Four Yankee war
ships were sent to Tripon and Decatur
along with them as first lieutenant
During this war the United State.
man-of-war Philadelphia went aground
on a reef in Tripoli harbor and wal
captured by the pasha. Decatur vol
unteered to go by night into the harbo
and destroy the Philadelphia.
He seized small native vessel calle'
a ketch from the Tripolitans and re
named ii the Intrepid. With sevent.
picked men as his crew and aceompa
MED by another small vessel, the Siren
to act as escort, the Intrepid saile'
from Syracuse on Feb. 3, 1904, on he
hazardous Grand Inside of the Tril
oil harbor he could see the Philadel
phia moored close to the heavily arm
ed castle of the pasha and the batterie
1 around the harbor, the whole mountin
115 guns.
Twenty-four Tripolitan ships of wa
+ lay between the Philadelphia and tn
shore, all fully manned and ready fc
an attack.
! The hour agreed on for Decatur's q
tack was 10 o'clock at night. As I'll
I Intrepid entered the harbor 1t appeare
! to be only native boat, and little a
I tention was paid to her. Her ere
{ were hidden behind her rails, croucl
ing. with their arms In their hand
J ready for the desperate action. FL
little vessel drifted near the Philade
Z phia, and the crew watched with /
! terest what they supposed was lit
ketch drifting In. Decatur was no
!. hailed from the Philadelphia and war
9 ed to keep off, Ills pilot, an Italia
: was instructed to reply that they hf
8 lost their anchor and wished to run
{ line to the frigate for the night.
This request was granted, and Dec
tur's ruse thus far worked well. II
\ crew began to pull the ketch up to Il
! frigate, but as they came nearer t
9 men in the Philadelphia saw the tr'
! character Of the ketch and raised t
alarm. 1t was too late, for Decat
8 was near enough to lead his men in
0 swarm up the side Of the Philadelph
B and over her bulwarks.
( The Tripoitans had no time to q
b fend themselves. and they were c
\ down or driven overheard until u
one remained on deck. In five mi
utes Decatur was In undisputed col
= mand Of the ship. Means of combt
ton had been brought, and as I
Philadelphia could not be moved S
2 was set on fire in various places. 4
= flames were pouring from her hatch
u wien Decatur and his men left /
n deck and showed off in the IntreI
without the loss Of a man.
The guns Of the Philadelphia We
all loaded, and as they became hot th
were discharged. and their shots to
effect in the town. The confiagrati
cast a red glare on the castle. mosqr
and minarets. on the batteries and
the shipping In the harbor, who
crews had been so startled BY the 81
denness of the attack that not 81
N had been fred to stay II.
.u No less q naval hero than Admi
;, Nelson pronounced it ''the most dari
act of the age"
The hero of Algiers was killed In
duel by Commodore Barron on Maj
%, 1920, and the whole country mou
ed one Of the greatest sea fighters
= American navy has ever had--Chics
News.
n Took 1t.
II Guide las girl offers him a tipl-'