The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-04-19
VALIANT DECATUR
Reckless Bravery Of the Pride Of
Our Early Navy.
HIS TRIP0LI HARBOR FEAT,
The Rseapeurs and Dsstrut = Of the
PhiladsIphis In the Midst Of a Hostile
Fleet Were Called by Nelson -ths
Most Daring Act Of the Age"

Fleet Were Called by Nelson "ths
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. az twenty, he be-
gan the career that was 10 bring him
fame. Before Decatur was twenty-five
be 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 a narrative
like a dashing romance His qualities
were those the naval officer today can
emulate with profit 10 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 op-
portunity Decatur was It's most pic
turesque sea figure.
When, In 1901, all the navy except
six ships was dismantled and rs 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 Tripoll 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 a reef In Tripoli harbor and was
captured by the pasha. Decatur vol
unteered TO go by night into the harbor
and destroy the Philadelphia.
He seized a small native vessel called
a ketch from the Tripolitans and re-
named II the Intrepid. With seventy
picked men as his crew and accompa-
MED by another small vessel, the Siren,
to act as escort, the Intrepid sailed
from Syracuse on Feb 3. 1904, on her
hazardous errand. Inside OF the Trip
oli 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
1l5 guns.
Twenty-four Tripolitan ships OF war
lay between the Philadelphia and the
shore, all fully manned and ready for
an attack.
The hour agreed on for Decatur's at
tack was 10 o'clock at night. Az the
Intrepid entered the harbor II appeared
70 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. The
little vessel drifted near the Philadel-
phia, and the crew watched with In
terest what they supposed was little
ketch drifting In. Decatur was now
hailed from the Philadelphia and warn
ed TO keep Oft. His pilot, an Italian,
was instructed to reply that they had
lost their anchor and wished TO run
line to the frigate for the night.
This request was granted, and Deca-
tur's ruse thus far worked well. The
crew began to pull the ketch up TO the
frigate, but as they came nearer the
men In the Philadelphia saw the true
character OF the ketch and raised the
alarm. II was too late, for Decatur
was near enough TO lead his men In
swarm up the side OF the Philadelphia
and over her bulwarks.
The Tripoitans had no time to de-
fend themselves, and they were cut
down or driven overheard until not
one remained on deck. In FIVE min
utes Decatur was In undlsputed com
tioD had been brought, and as the
Philadelphia could not be moved she
was set on FIRE Ia various places. The
flames were pouring from her hatches
when Decatur and his men left her
deck and showed of in the Intrepid
without the loss Of a man.
The guns OF the Philadelphia were
oil loaded and as they became hot they
were discharged, and their shots took
effect In the town. The confiagration
cast a red glare on the castle, mosques
and minarets. on the batteries and on
the shipping In the harbor. whose
crews had been so startled by the sud
denness OF the attack that not a shot
had been fred 10 stay 1t.
No less a naval hero than Admiral
Nelson pronounced IL the most daring
act OF the age"
The hero Of Algiers was killed IN a
duel by Commodore Barron on March
p, 1920, and the whole country mourn
cd ono Of the greatest seB fighters the