Before the Turk could strike a third time, Decatur ran in, and the two instantly engaged in a fierce wrestling bout.  The American was the most skilful, but by sheer strength his enormous antagonist threw him to the deck, and, gripping him by the throat with one hand, he reached down to draw a small curved knife, known as a yataghan.  It was behind the sash in his waist and directly in front.  Decatur threw both legs over the back of the Turk and pressed him so close that he could not force his hand between their bodies to reach his weapon.  Decatur’s pistol was at his hip.  He was able to withdraw it, and he then did the only thing that could possibly save his life, though the chances were that the act would hasten his death.

Reaching over the back of the Turk, he pointed the weapon downward toward his own breast and pulled the trigger.  In most cases the bullet would have passed through both bodies, but, fortunately, the ball encountered some obstruction and did not reach the imperiled American.  He shoved off the bulky form, which rolled over on its back, dead.

It must not be supposed that while this furious hand-to-hand encounter was under way the respective crews were idle.  They, too, were fighting fiercely, and, closing about the struggling commanders, each side endeavored to help its own.  The crowd surged back and forth and became mixed in inextricable confusion.  One of the Turks saw a chance to help his captain and made a vicious blow at his opponent with his scimiter.  Reuben James, a sailor, who was so wounded in his arms that he could not use them, thrust his head forward and received the stroke upon his skull.  The wound was a frightful one, but, beyond dispute, it saved the life of Decatur, who never forgot the man that had done him this inestimable service.

Reuben James was one of the volunteers who helped Decatur destroy the Philadelphia.  He recovered from his terrible wound and did excellent service in the war of 1812.  In one battle he was three times wounded before he would allow his comrades to carry him below.  He lived fully twenty years after the death of his beloved commander, dying at a good old age, though he was scarred with sabre cuts, wounded times innumerable by bullets, and compelled to suffer the amputation of a leg.

The bombardment of Tripoli was less successful than expected.  The shells were of such poor quality that no impression was made on the defences.  All naval operations have proven that, as a rule, ships are comparatively powerless for aggressive work against forts and batteries on shore.

An investigation into the cause of the failure of so many shells sent into Tripoli brought out several interesting facts.  Captain Bainbridge, who carefully noted the results of the bombardment while a prisoner in the city, stated that out of forty-eight thrown on one day only one exploded.  It was found that the fuses in many of the bombs had been choked by lead that was poured into them.  This was probably done by French agents in Sicily.