Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-12-24

two ofthc hands should NJ ngln get into pra
tended hahi on the forecsse; that they would b.
called at ~ the officers of tbe watch 10 know
what tina, noise vas about,
They were then ~ pretend I, enter into e1plana-
tions with him, and whEe he was listening to
them TO seize him unaSNres and throw him
board. The pmanng officers being below, might
i, was supposed be ensiiy murdered, as wct 10 any
one rle who had uot joined them. All this
found am rng Spcneer's papers with plan 'rthe
division Of the anticipated spnis. and for the Rilut.
ment among them Of the women thst might fall
into their power. When the brig was on her re-
turn from the coast Of Africa, and about 500 miles
distant from St. Thcmas, overurcs were rode'y
Of the conspra,ors to the pursers clerk to in.
duce him TO Join them.
He ienei acquiesccncr and took the cahs
they sti mslrus,cd him, hewever, and tod him
that he would be watched, and if they saw any
thing in his conduct 10 excite suspicion, they
would at once throw hiwm moaerhoard. He dared
not communicate TO CD Kcnzir, hat found an
opportunity of divuginl whole to he Purser,
who in hs turn repested It to the Captain. lie NJ
once determined upon his course after consula,ion
with his officers, Of which There was hi, one above
twen,y-onc years of age. and this 10 seize the
riselad ders and hang them a; the yard arm.
5 III officers d. not seem 10 have been induced
t6fakc this step by any apprehension for their
own safety now that they were forcwarne5, hut by
a feeling that such an atrocious attempt, so dis
graceful to the character ofthe fag should be in.
santly revenged by an ignominious death.
Accordingly the G 'ptain and all has officers. and
those on whom he could depend, mustered on the
quarter deck armed to ths teeth as you may sup.
pose Among them was ar old Sergeant Of Ma
rines, who came out Of a sick berth when he heard
what was going on, and who returned to it when
all was over. All hands were pipcd on deck the
Captain addressed them depicting the enormiiy Of
their crime and his 1eeimiR ltion instantly to pun
ish with death the ringleaders.
They were all dumb struck, and Spencer, Crom-
well aud Small were told to prepare themselves for
| the yard arm. They admitted their guilt but Spen-
Ger asked for time in order to obtain the pardon
! of Small, who he said he seducej into the crime,
! ard that he could not dic happy unless he forgave
! hlm !!e did not want to write to his fl,her or
mo her he j. lie wor'd rather he executed there
and spare them (his parents) the pain they would
suffer ii be was carried to the United States sud
! tried
This. ii is supposed, was concerted plan in case
| of discovery, t. give time to the crew 10 rescue
them.-They did not attempt it however. After
the lapse Of an hour the three hung. and their
bodies given to the waves of course, such further
| precautionary M a,ures we're used during he vow
age expcii,nt and on arriving tc.e tnr.
! teen Of he seam II were sent n board 'ha Nortn
! Carolina inirons The apprentices. I He.vc Or.
still o. 'oarl the Snmers, under strict guard Thee,
ar the main facts of 'he case. might go more
into detail, but have not the time before the maj
closes.