The Philadelphia was totally destroyed, and its remains still lie at the bottom of the harbor of Tripoli.  In referring to this exploit, the great English naval commander, Lord Nelson, said it was “the most bold and daring act of the age.”

CHAPTER IX.

Bombardment of Tripoli—­Treacherous Act of a Turkish Captain—­A Quick Retribution at the Hands of Captain Decatur.

The Bashaw of Tripoli was not yet subdued.  He treated his American prisoners with greater harshness and refused to believe their nation was strong enough to bring him to terms.

On August 3, Commodore (as the senior officer of every squadron was then called) Preble sailed into the harbor of Tripoli with his fleet and opened the bombardment of the city.  At the same time, several of his gunboats engaged those of the enemy.  Lieutenant James Decatur, brother of Stephen, made chase of a Tripolitan vessel, reserving his fire until the two almost touched, when he poured in such a destructive discharge of musketry and grape that the terrified enemy surrendered.  Lieutenant Decatur sprang aboard of his prize, when, at that instant, the Turkish commander, a man of massive strength and build, fired his pistol in the American officer’s face and killed him.  In the confusion caused by this treacherous act the enemy’s boat got away and started for the city.

[Illustration:  CAPTAIN STEPHEN DECATUR.]

Meanwhile, Captain Decatur had been doing characteristic work.  With three gunboats he attacked a force three times as numerous as his own.  Impetuously boarding the first craft, after a discharge from his long boat, he engaged the numerous crew in a furious hand-to-hand struggle, in which all were made prisoners or forced to leap into the sea to save themselves.  Then Decatur began towing away his prize, when he was told of the murder of his brother.

The grief-stricken and enraged captain instantly cast his prize adrift and started after the “unspeakable Turk.”  The boat was easily recognized, and, delivering a destructive fire, the pursuer ran alongside and the Americans rushed aboard, with Decatur in the lead.  The enormous size and gorgeous uniform of the Turkish captain made him so conspicuous that Decatur knew him at once, and, rushing forward, lunged at him with his boarding pike.  The Turk must have felt contempt for the American who dared thus to assail him, for his assailant was but a boy in size compared to him.  He speedily proved his physical superiority over Decatur, for he not only parried the lunge of the pike, but wrenched it from his hand.  He in turn drove his pike at Decatur’s breast, but his blow was also parried, though its violence broke off the American’s sword at the hilt.  The active Turk came again, and his second blow was only partly turned aside, the point of the pike tearing through Decatur’s coat and inflicting a bad wound in his chest.