Intrepid, the
The ketch
Intrepid, used in the destruction of the
Philadelphia (q. v.), had been converted into a floating mine for the purpose of destroying the piratical cruisers in the harbor
[
60]
of
Tripoli.
In a room below deck 100 barrels of gunpowder were placed, and immediately above them a large quantity of shot, shell, and irregular pieces of iron were deposited.
Combustibles were placed in other parts of the vessel.
On the night of Sept. 3, 1804, the
Intrepid was towed into the harbor by two boats, the whole under the command of
Captain Somers, attended by
Lieutenant Wadsworth, of the
Constitution, and
Mr. Israel, an ardent young man who got on board the
Intrepid by stealth.
These, with a few men to work the torpedo-vessel, and the crews of the boats, constituted the company engaged in the perilous enterprise.
the
Intrepid entered the harbor at nine o'clock in the evening.
The night was very dark.
Many eager eyes were turned towards the spot where her shadowy form was last seen.
Suddenly a fierce and lurid light streamed up from the dark waters like volcanic fires and illuminated the surrounding objects with its lurid glare—rocks, flotilla, castle, town, and the broad bosom was followed by an instant explosion, and for a few moments flaming masts and sails and fiery bomb-shells rained upon the e waters, when suddenly all was again dark.
Anxiously the companions of the intrepid men who went into the harbor awaited their return.
They never came back.
What was the cause of the premature explosion and men will never be known.
The belief was that the ketch was captured by the Tripolitans on the watch, and that
Somers, preferring death to miserable captivity, had himself applied a lighted match to the powder.
A fine monument of white marble, erected to the memory of the slain men and the events—first placed at the navy-yard at
Washington,
D. C.—now stands at the western front of the national
Capitol.
