The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1912-06-28
VALIANT DECATUR
Reckless Bravery of the Pride of
Our Early Navy.
HIS TRIPoLI HARBoR FEAT.

The Recapture and Destfuction OF Sne
Philadelphia In the Midst Of q 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 sword by congress, and at
twenty-five he was captain In COM
mand of the noble frigate Constitution.
His deeds of valor make narrative
like dashing romance. His qualities
were 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 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 its most pic
turesque sea figure.
When, in 1901, all the navy except
six ships was dismantled and IS 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 pasha of Tripoli declared war on
the United States and began to seize
| American vessels that were cruising in
the Mediterranean. Four Yankee war;
ships were sent to Tripoli and Decatur
along with them as first lieutenant
During this war the United States
man-of- war Philadelphia went aground
on q 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
ketch from the Tripolitans and re
named it the Intrepid. With sevent
picked men as his crew and accompa
MED by another small vessel, the Sirer
to act as escort. the Intrepid saile
from Syracuse on Feb. 3, 1904, on he
hazardous errand. Inside of the Trip
oil harbor he could see the Philadel
phia moored close to the heavily arm
ed castle Of the pasha and the batteries
around the harbor, the whole mounting
115 guns.
Twenty-four Tripolitan ships Of wa
lay between the Philadelphia and thu
shore, all fully manned and ready fol
an attack.
The hour agreed OH for Decatur's at
tack was 10 O'Clock at night. AS tht
Intrepid entered the harbor 1t appeared
to be only a native boat, and little at
tention was paid to her. Her crew
were hidden behind her rails, crouch
ing, with their arms in their hands
ready for the desperate action. Th'
little vessel drifted near the Philadel
phia, and the crew watched with In
terest what they supposed was LITTLE
ketch drifting in. Decatur was nov
hailed from the Philadelphia and warn
ed to keep off, His pilot, an Italian
was instructed to reply that they ha'
lost their anchor and wished to run
line to the frigate for the night.
This request was granted, and Decu
t,lr's ruse thus far worked well. Th
crew began to pull the ketch up to tn
frigate, but as they came nearer th
men in the philadelphia saw the tru
character of the ketch and raised tn
alarm. 1t was too late, for Decatu
J was near enough to lead his men In
swarm up the side Of the Philadelphi
and over her bulwarks.
I The Tripolltans had no time to d'
. fend themselves, and they were CT
down or driven overheard until NJ
, one remained on deck. In FIVE mil
utes Decatur was in undisputed con
1 mand of the ship. Means of combu'
( ton had been brought. and as til
Philadelphia could not be moved SD
t was set on fire In various places. III
: flames were pouring from her hatche
when Decatur and his men left ht
. deck and showed ofe in the lntrepi
without the loss of man.
D The guns of the Philadelphia wei
Q all loaded, and as they became hot the
e were discharged, and their shots too
y effect in the town. The conhagratio
cast q red glare on the castle, mosque
Y and minarets. on the batteries ana
Q the shipping in the harbor, whoi
e crews had been SO startled by the su
y denness Of the attack that not sh
9 had been fred to stay 1t.
No less a naval hero than Admir-
E Nelson pronounced it "the most dariI
Q act of the age."
n The hero OF Algiers was killed in
k duel by Commodore Barron on Mar
%, 1920, and the whole country mour
ed one of the greatest sea fighters I
: American navy has ever had.-ChicaI