Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-12-22
from the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
Muiiny--Extra0Tdinary De-
vclOpnnenss.

We " o. orig SoiItff, CoHbnununr MdchcG-
zic, from the coast ~ Africa and last from
~. Thomas. In the first report OF her arr
vul no IHenllon was mads oi any unu ,ual oc.
curTence; but rrpOrts-variant IN some par
ticnars, but Of the same genera tenor-have
since become public, that soon after her dc.
parture from the African coast a mutlny
broke out, headed by Passed Midshipnau
Spencer, who had drawn of into lis bad re-.
volt some forty or fifty ot the crew. a
smaller number, including the apprentices
remained faithful 10 the officers, and after
short but severe conflict the mutinceIs were
ovcrpowcred and put IN irons.
a court martial was held the same night (;
Mr.. Spencer, the gunner and the master. at
arms were found guilty and sentenced to
death, which sentence was carried into exc
cution the next morning by hanging at The
yard arEL
The plot Of the mulineers IL said to have
been long IN arrangement and preparation,
nnd their intent was to murder the officers,
seize the brig, which is remarkably fast
sallrr, then cruise off Sandy Hook for the
capture Of one or more ot the Liverpool
packets, supposed TO have large sums IN
specie on board, and after this go a pirating
Mr.. Spencer, the leader Of the revolt, was
. son OF the Hon. Secretary of the War De-
partinent. The agony Of the fathers feelings
under this terrible inflcton language would
vsinly cndcavor to express.
Another account says that large proper
tion Of tho mullnrers were from among the
apprentices; and that the two executed with
Spencer were not petty officers but Sailors
This account says that the plot was disclosed
by the master-at-arms, who was solicited to
Join in II.
Immediately upon the arrival Of the Somers,
we understand, the surviving mutlneers were
transferred to the North Carolina, and it is to
be presumed that they will be brought 10
trial.
Thus Ruch was written and published in
the morning edition OF our country paper,
und contains an epitome only Of the ruInors
which reached our ears last evening. We
have spent the enilre morning IN vain al
tcDpts to obtain information of more minute
aud reliable character than is ordinarily
found in Nie first floating reports of startling
events. Captain Mackenzie has been so
circumspect IN his conversations that not
even his nearest relatives in the city had
heard syllable upon the subject, previous To
his departure TO visit his family al Sing Sing
last evening. Meantime the morning papers
tnvc gwen various accounts of the dreadful
affair, from which we compile the particulars
appearing the most authentic.
The Somcrs is a fine sailer, has ten guns
snd crew Of about twenty able men aud
forty apprentice boys, making with the
officers some seventy five persons on board.
The conspiracy, II appears, had been in prep
sraton for some time. The Somers, being
on her way home, II was known would put
into st. Tbomas tor supplies. The design
Of the mutnecrs was to delay the execution
of their purpose until after these supplies had
been laid IN, aud the brig was again at sea.
All things being ready, at given signal
the mutinecrs were to have a scuflc on the
forecastle in the night, while the captain and
first lieutenant were asleep. On the op-
pearance of the latter TO gucll the disturbance,
he was to be seized and thrown overboard.-
They were then to murder the commander
and the ward-roon officers, with the excep-
ton Of the surgeon--who was TO be kept for
their own use-and take possession of the
vessel.
The obligations they had entered into were
of the most desperate kind. They had sworn
that they were not afraid OF blood that after
the brig had been watercd aud was prepared
for o cruise, they would rise, and kill every
officer except the surgeon, who nigh! be
necessary Tor them; that they would then
proceed off the Hook OF New York harbor,
and capture the hpmeward bound packets,
which they expected would contain large
sums in specie. OF the people on board the
captured vessels they swore That not one
should be left To tell tales the females ia
he subject TO the brutal Iusts OF the captors
before being put to death.
On or about the Ith of December instant
the whole plot was disclosed to Captain
Mackenzie by one Of the crew, who had re-
fused To Join in the mutny. Spencer, the
H. nd uua =
Immediately arrested, and papers were found
upon them disclosing the horrible purpose IN
full, aud signed by so large number ot The
crew as would have enabled them to obtain
the mastery in momcGt of surprise III
deed, the whole plan is said to have been IN
writing, written, in part, IN hlcroglyphcs, Ia
prevent discovery, aud in the oath were The
words-"You swear that you have no fear o'
shedding blood"
Alter these horrible disclosures, a court
martial was held upon Spencer and those
most prominently connected with hlm. IL
was impossible to know how far the con
taminotlon had spread, though II had evident
ly spread to most dangerous extent. Io
crush II at all hazards was Indispensable.
The court martial determined that nothing
shcrt Of the prompt execution OF The ring
leaders would ensure the safety oi the brig
Spencer ahd Tue Two pctty oiuCeiS ""e""s
mentioned were thercupon ordered tn De-
HUNG At THE YARD ARM, as stated above
Whether this execution was lnstunter, or not
we have not the means of saying as the re-
ports are conflicting. One OF them states
that the sentence was pronounced IN the
evening, and carried into effect the nex
morning.
Another account states that it took place
forthwlth-lhat Spencer prayed Tor shor
delay that he might write letter to his la
iher; but the request was reiuscd-tht
young mutinccr beng told that his intention
had been To murder his commanders ant
officers without giving them moment io
preparation. and that they now meted out Il
him the fate he had intended for them.
II wns n moment Of fearful importance
when The disclosure was first made, as 1t wa
necessary TO decide the question OF mastery
ins,untef, aud the officers could not !heI
know the exact strength of the mutlnccrs.
The captain Immediately ordered oil hand
on deck and ordered those OF the crew whit
were opposed TO him TO 90 upon the Tor
ward deck Alldshipman Spencer, the boat
sw,in,s nntc nud The master at arms lmme