At intervals a gun was fired or a rocket sent up to guide the missing ones, but none appeared.

Every man had been killed by the explosion of the ketch.
Investigations made afterward seemed to establish that Somers was attacked by three gunboats, and, finding escape impossible, it was he who ran along the deck, lighted lantern in hand, and deliberately blew up the _Intrepid_, destroying not only himself and companions, but many of the enemy.

The mangled remains of several bodies were found some days later and given burial on shore, but not one could be recognized.
Captain Bainbridge and some of his brother officers, who were prisoners in Tripoli, were allowed to view them.

He said: "From the whole of them being so disfigured, it was impossible to recognize any feature known to us, or even to distinguish an officer from a seaman." In November, Commodore Samuel Barron arrived, and succeeded Captain Preble in command of the American squadron.

He brought with him the _President_ and _Constellation_, thereby increasing the force to ten vessels, carrying two hundred and sixty-four guns.
Having failed to bring the Bashaw to terms by force of arms, the Americans now resorted to what may be termed diplomacy.