The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-12-19

fleet of boats which attacked the city
|of Tripoli on August 8. His brother
Lieutenant James Decatur, was in
charge Of another boat and was wilful.
ly murdered by the captain of Tri.
polftan ship which he had boarded,
being shot down while hauling
down the Turkish flag. Stephen De-
icatur heard of this assassination and
lset out to avenge his brothers death.
He found the ship and boarded it.
1 This scene depicts the ending OF the
struggle, told as follows in John r.
Spears History of Our Navy:
| "A most desperate hand to hand
tight followed, for the Tripolitan was
more powerful man than the Ameri-
can. Decatur lunged at him with a
boarding spike. The Mussulman par
ried the blow, caught the weapon and
Wrenching 1t away, lunged at Decatur.
decatur had drawn his sword and with
this he PARTED the thrust, but his
Sword broke short off at the hilt. The
Tripolitan lunged again and Decatur,
although he parted the blow, was
wounded in the chest and arm, and a
moment later the two were clasped in
wrestling struggle for life
At this, another Mussulman aimed
blow at Decatur's head from be-
hind. 1t was apparently all over with
the gallant American, for no other
American was within reach save one,
a seaman, Reuben James, and both
his arms were disabled. But James
Ileaped in, and with his head caught
the blow aimed at Decatur.
! "And then the Tripolitan threw De-
catur to the deck and Yankees and
Mussulmen thronged in and piled
themselves over the two leaders.
"As it happened, each of the leaders
fell with one arm free and one pin
Toned by the man on top. The Tripod
ftan, with his free arm, drew long
knife, Decatur a pocket pistol. For a
moment each felt the others ribs to
locate the heart, but Decatur was first
by fraction of second and his
pistol ball did faithful work, killing
the Mussulman Instantly
1T is comforting to know that the
brave Reuban James recovered from
the wound he had received and lived
to serve the nation more than forty
years. 1t was his boast that he was
| in ten fights and as many skirm-
lmedges,' and it was his custom to cele-
fbrate the anniversaries Of each with
enthusiasm. A jelly old tar was Reu-
hen James,
The Artist
THE DREAM OF THE LITTLE
DUTCH BOY.
In quaint Holland, the land of pic
ituresque dykes and wind-mills, little
Dutch boy, clinging to his mothers
skirt, stood and gazed at the paintings
I in one of the art galleries of Amster-
dam. 1t was wonderful sight to this
boy-his first glimpse of the magic of
the brush and colors, and it left upon
his mind deep impression. The i'm
preston became dream; the dream,
an inspiration; the inspiration, re-
solve. The Dutch boy would be an
artist. Some day he would paint a
great picture. Some day his work
would be admired by the people Per-
hars he would paint picture that
would make his name live forever
never to be forgotten.
This boy, George H. Nollen, immed-
lately set to work on his purpose. He
labored patiently and industriously
until he had mastered the rudiments
of art. Then he completed his educa-
ton in one of the art schools Of Am.
sterdam. He heard the call Of, Amer.
iica and came to the United States on
la sailing vessel, his precious paint box
and brushes beneath his arm.
During the civil war, Mr. Nollen
came to Keokuk in his wanderings
about this new country to him, and
while here painted a number Of land
scapes and pictures for the art lovers
Of the city.
In reading American history. Nollen
was impressed the dashing naval
career Of Decatur and selected this
most dramatic incidence in his cam
paign as the subject for his greatest
and best painting For six months he
worked upon the canvass and day by
day saw It grow and bloom like a liv-
ing thing-a mammoth, beautiful flow
era wonderful transformation. A
great expense OF bare canvass trans
formed into a living, breathing, pulsat-
Ing creation.
written! A peep into history! A pic
ture!
The dream Of the little Dutch boy
had come true. He had painted a great
picture.
WI. l>OliSA lcll IAcOhuN dDpul 10 l.,
going to Pella, Iowa, where he had
relatives, and there it is supposed
that he ended his days.
The paint is dried upon the pallet.
The easel is broken. The brushes
have fallen into the dust upon the
floor. Nollen is dead-but his name Is
not forgotten.
The Picture.
LIKE a BATTLE SCARED VET
ERAN.
This painting has had almost as
turbulent an existence as had the
upon the canvass. 1t is n
battle SCARED veteran Of half cen.
fury of life and like the hero of the
war, should be allowed now to spend
its remaining years in peace and COM
fort. Mr.. Nollen painted this scene in !