The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-04-19
name OF COMMODORE DECATUR,
HERO OF EARLY NAVY, TO Be
BORNE BY FLEET DESTROYER

votion. In the fighting with the crew
of the ship commanded by the treach-
erous Turk, young James had one arm
disabled by a pistol shot. He then
armed himself with a pike, and soon
the other arm was disabled from a
sabre blow.
1t was in this condition, with. both
arms useless, that he saw his captain
endangered, and interposed his own
head to save Decatur. Strange to
say the blow did no more injury than
to cut deep cash in his head. James
lived many years after his captain
met death in 1920 in a duel.
Decatur succeeded in getting both
his prizes to the squadron.
Decatur's next engagement of note
was in the war of 1912, when, in COM
mand of the frigate United States, he
fought and captured the Macedonian,
3S guns, Captain Garden. Decaturs
superior skill in manoeuvering ms
ship ended the battle with compare
eively little damage and only four
killed and seven wounded, while the
Macedonian's masts were all shot
shot away, she had one hundred
round shot in her hull, and lost Sc
killed and 6S wounded.
Decatur refused to take Captain
Gardens sword, saying he would
rather take the hand of so brave an
officer. Decatur conveyed his prize
to Newport through seas swarming
with British ships. Decatur then
went to sea in the President, and fell
in with O. British fleet. Seeing es-
cape was impossible he decided to
give battle to the most formidable
of the fleet in the hopes of later es-
Gaping. After a hot engagement in
which he seriously damaged his OPP
ponent, Decatur made sail, hoping for
thick weather. However, two of the
enemy outdistanced him, and rather
surrendered.
After the battle it was found he
had struck to the frigate Majestic,
that he had badly whipped the Endy-
mion, 40 guns, and that the other
two in the fleet were the Pomone, 3S
guns, and the Tenedes, SO guns.
Decatur was paroled and arrived at
New London, February %, 1915. He
was acclaimed a hero and placed in
a carriage and driven through the
streets by the people. On the dec
laration Of war with the Barbary
powers in 1915 Decatur commanded
one division Of the fleet sent to the
Mediterranean. With the Guerrero,
A guns, he captured the Algerine
ship Mashouda, As guns, commanded
by Admiral Rails Hammida, the rank
ing officer of the Bey of AIg4ers,
who was killed early in the action.
Before leaving the United States
Commodore Bainhridge, in command
| OF the entire squadron; Commodore
Decatur, and William Shaler, consul
| general from the United States to the
! Barbary powers, had been appointed
commissioners to negotiate a treaty
of peace with the Bey of Algiers.
With the consul aboard his ship,
Decatur decided not to await the ar
rival Of Bainbridge, and forced the
Fey to sign the treaty that provided
that no more tributes be paid by the
United States, no Americans be en-
shaved, and all American vessels be
treated Hospitality and their wants
relieved in any Algerine port. De-
catur then proceeded to visit the other
Barbary powers and forced them tc
sign like treaties.
Commodore Decatur's brilliant ca.
reer was ended in a duel with James
Barron, former naval officer, whose
reinstatement he had fought. Deca.
tur refused to shoot to kill Barron
who sent a fatal bullet into the com.
modore. The duel took place neaa
Washington, March %, 1920. AS he
lay on the field of death Decatur ex,
claimed:
II am MORALLY wounded, at least
believe SO, and wish I had fallen il
defence of my country
OF the forty-two years of his life
twenty-five had been spent in the
naval service of his country Ant
throughout that career his record hat
been one of splendid achievement
daring, and an intense love of coun.
try.
His name is even now, almost {
century after his death, on the roll.
of the navy department, and in ser
vice in the world conflict is a destroy
er that bears his name. Deeds a!
heroic as those that were recorded
opposite his name will be performed
in the present war, and it may fal
to the lot of the young officers anC
crew aboard the destroyer Decatu
to have a share of the plaudits.
If tradition counts for anything
and it has been rated as having higl
place in keeping the navy up to
standard second to none-then tn
boys aboard the Decatur will b
heard from before peace comes t
4 the world