The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31

ceeded that paid Tripoli. The jealousy
thus caused resulted in the declaration
OF war on the United States by the
ruler of Tripoli on June 10, 1900.
The American Government sent
Commodore Richard Dale on his flag
ship, the President, and with a squad
ron to the Mediterranean. Having
captured ccrsai- on the way. Dale
appeared before Tripoli and frightened
the Bey. Two other squadrons were
sent to aid Dale, one under Commo-
dore Richard V. Morris, in 1901, and
the other in 1903, under the command
of Commodore Edward Preble, whose
flagship was the Constitution. Six
other vessels constituted the squadron,
one being the Philadelphia, commanded
by Capt. William Bainbridge.
A doughty American was Capt.
cambridge. In 1900, in command of
the George Washington, with twenty
four guns, he went to Algiers carry
ing the yearly tribute. He was about
to leave port, having performed his
| service, when the Bey commanded him
to carry an Algerine Ambassador to
the court of the Sultan at CONSTANT
nople. cambridge refused compliance,
when the offended Bey said:
You Americans are my slaves. since
you pay me tribute, and. therefore, l
have the right to order you as I
think proper"
cambridge was compelled to obey,
but he wrote an account of his HUI
initiation to the Secretary of the Navy
J.; t.
words: Il hope 1 shall never again
be sent to Algiers with tribute unless
am authorized to deliver it from the
mouth of our cannon"
On his way to Tripoli on the Phila-
delphia Capt. cambridge captured a
Moorish corsair of Tangier holding
an American merchant vessel He pro-
! ceeded to Tripoli, while Commodore
Preble went to Tangier to order and
to get an apology from the Emperor
OF Morocco. cambridge chased a cor
sair Into the harbor of Tripoli October
3, 1903, but the Philadelphia struck a
sunken rock in the harbor, and in a
helpless condition her commander and
his men were taken prisoners. Balm
bridge sent word to Preble of his mis-
fortune and suggested the destruction
of the Philadelphia, which the
Tripolitans We're fitting for sea.
The Americans had captured a ketch
! and taken it into service, naming it
the Intrepid. 1t was determined to use
this vessel to cut out or destroy the
Philadelphia. Lieut.. Stephen Decatur
was placed in command, and with sew
enty young seamen on board the In
| trepid one moonlight night February
16, 1900 sailed into the harbor of Tripoli
and was warped alongside the Philadel-
phia. The inilGel crew suspected moth
ing, as the ketch seemed like an inno-
| cent merchant vessel with small
| crew. Most of the officers and men
were concealed below. At a given sig
nal they rushed from their hiding
| place, sprang on board the Philadel-
phia and after a desperate struggle
drove her turbaned defenders into the
sea. She was set on fire. and the In
trepid, lying by until the Philadelphia
had burned to the waters edge, sailed
unmolested out Of the harbor and
| joined Preoles squadron. For this ex-
plot Decatur received the thanks OF
Congress, sword and promotion.
Captured Flagship.
From the success of Capt. Balm
| bridge American attempts to destroy
piracy in the Mediterranean went for
ward to a fortunate termination. De-
termined to pay no more tribute to the
African robbers, the United States In
May. 1915. sent Commodore Decatur
to Algiers to humble the Bey. On June
II the Commodore met the ALGERIAN
flagship of forty-four guns and cap
tured her, He also captured another
Of the Bey's vessels with 600 men,
and then with all his squadron he
appeared of Algiers. This consisted