Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-22

treaty Of peace, which included the sur
render of all prisoners, for which $4,000
ransom money was paid. During the
meantime, however, a squadron under
Commodore Edward Preble had spent
the earlier part of the year 1904 in
strict blockade of that port, in cruising
in that vicinity, and in preparing for an
attack on the town.
Prior to this, and toward the close Of
the year 1903, the U. S. S. Philadelphia
had struck on the rocks in the harbor
OF Tripoli, and it was this mishap that
afforded Stephen Decatur the opportu-
nifty of distinguishing himself by recap
turing and burning that vessel on the
evening Of February Is, 1904. The
Philadelphia, in 1901, had been the flag
ship of Commodore Stephen Decatur,
ST., who served in the Revolutionary War,
and naturally the sentiment attached to
the ship by the son and namesake, must
have had something to do with the lat
ter's unusual exploit.
At this time the Americans had re-
turned to this place to bring the Bashaw
VI AAAPOAA " VC14AAo, dAlS ~ was C4ICAl ClldU
1t. Stephen Decatur conceived the idea
of liberating the officers and crew of the
Philadelphia, which included its captain,
William cambridge, who had been made
prisoners of war, and then to destroy
the vessel
With rs volunteers, Capt. Decatur
sailed into the harbor and ran alongside
"a pL,j1o do1 @f y,
castle, boarded her, killed or dove into
the sea all of her defenders, set her on
fire, and then under cover of a heavy
protective cannonade by the American
squadron escaped without losing a man.
OF those who accompanied Capt. De-
catur in this gallant night expedition,
the following names have been pre-
served: Its. James Lawrence, j. Balm
bridge and ]. Thorn; DR.. Herman, Mid
shipmen c. Morris, T. Marlborough, r.
lizard, A. Laws, j. Davis, j. Rowe, T. O.
Anderson and Pilot Salvatore Catalani
and 1t. Charles Stuart in the brig Siren.
Heroic Deed.
On August g. 1904, in further en-
gagement in this harbor, 1t. James
Decatur, brother of Stephen, jr., and
son OF Stephen, ST., was mortally
wounded after distinguishing himself.
At the same time, Capt Stephen Deca-
tur, who was in command of gunboat
No. 4, again performed a deed Of
heroism, when in the attack, latter
pouring showers Of grape and musket
balls on the enemy, as he approached,
he bore down on and attacked one of
the largest of the enemy's squadron"
He engaged in close and desperate
struggle with the captain Of the Tripoli-
tan, whom Decatur attacked with a
pike.
The Turk was large and exceedingly
powerful man, and as his assailant ap-
preached he seized the pike, wrested
it from his hand, and turned 1t against
its owner. Parrying the thrust, Decatur
drew his cutlass and attempted to cut
off the head of the pike, but the weapon
broke at the hilt, leaving the American,
apparently, at the mercy OF the Turk.
A second thrust was parted with his
arm, and Decatur sprang upon and
grappled his opponent.
The trial of strength which followed
this resolute adventure speedily termi-
mated in favor of the Turk, although, in
falling, Decatur so far released himself
that he lay on the deck, side by side
with his enemy. The latter Immediately
attempted to reach small poniard
which he carried in his sash, but De-
catur, perceiving his object, grasped his
hand, and at the same time drew from
his own pocket small pistol, which
he passed around the body Of the
PROSTATE Turk, pointed inward and
fred. The ball passed entirely through
the body Of the Turk. killing him in
stantly, and Decatur, released from his
grasp, sprang to his feet.
1t was while the two commanders were
thus struggling for the mastery that the
well-known act attributed to rubin"
[spelling given by the sailor himself
James occurred. One of the crew of
the Tripolitan, perceiving the desperate
encounter in which his captain was
engaged, ran to the rescue and raised
his ISABEL to cleave the skull OF Decatur,
when Rubin James, quarter gunner
on the Enterprise. who had lost the
use Of both his arms by wounds, rushed
in and received, on the back Of his
head, without fatal effect, the blow
which was intended for his gallant COM
mander. While this struggle was going