Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-12-29

oSe'" NiS sNose', eAcSpt tne uCNHg mlu
shlpmsn. requesting their opinion as I,
the course of conduci which should b,
pursued towards Spencer and the tw.
men who had heen arrested with him. -
Each one returned for answer tina, the,
deserved immediate death. and Capt. Nc
Kenzie's opinion coinciding with that o
his officers, il was determined to carry ID,
punishment into immediate execution. -
All hands were accordingly called 10 wit
ness punishment. Whips were then ROY,
in each end Of The fore ynrd arm, en-
one on the inner part Of the yard. Th'
prisoners were then brought on deck AM
informed OF the punishment about 10 b,
executed upon them. Small Ut once ful
ly confessed his fault, and asked mos
peni.ently for forgiveness Of his comman
der and the officers, which was at once
accorded to him. He then obtained per.
mission to address the crew, winch he did
warning them against permitting them,
selves ever TO be seduced as hs had been
into the committaI of tie crime for which
he was about to suffer death.
Spencer asked respite Of ten minute,
for himself and companions in guilt, il
order that they might prepare to die
This was granted, and he mas asked If h.
,cished to mrife to his father or mother
but he replied that HE DID NOT. He then
acknowledged his gull and the justice Of
his punishment. and remarked that h.
,uf,ptI H. T.,
sea- than be subjected TO the infamy o.
exposure on shore. The ten minutes
asked for by Spencer was extended to
upwards oil one hour, nearly the whole
Of which time was employed by him in
endearvoring toobtan forgiveness Of Small
having seduced him into the commitlal OF
crime for which he was so soon to ex.
piate by his life. Small withheld his for.
giveness for length of time ; but al las
IN reply to Spencer's oft reiterated re-
quest Of "Do forgive me, Small" he said
that he fully pardoned him.
Every thing being in readiness, the
moose was placed around the neck Of
each OF the culprits, and the officers were
stationed about the deck 10 see that every
man had both hands on the ropes. A.
bout one o'clock, (seo iImr) on the lst oil
December. the signal for execution was
given by firing gun to leeward, un6 the
guilty men were run up.
After hanging nbou, On hour the bodies
were lowered down and delivered to their
several mesmstts to be- laid out aud sew.
ed up; and in the evening they were
committed to the deep. Capt. Mckenzie
reading the service usual on the occasion
of buridLs at sea.
Smal's last words were to invoke a
blessing on the American flag. and to
ask forgiveness for so dishonorlng IT; but
the others died without any marks of p-ni.
sence. Immediately after the execution
all hads we're called to cheer ship and
three hearty cheers were given for the A..
mercan flag, after which all hands were
piped down, and the usual duties OF the
vessel we're resumed.
-Four Of the men who appeared TO be
most deeply Implicated. were placed in
irons Immediately upon the discovery OF
the projected mutny but the others sus.
pected to be concerned, were permitted TO
go TO duty until they reached this port,
when they were also ironed and sen, on
board the North Carolina.
The following are the names of the
men and boys now confined on board OF
the receiving ship, and awaiting the action
Of the Navy Department.
Charles A. Wilson, sail makers mate.
Daniel Mckinley, landsmsn.
Benjamin F. Green, ordinary seaman
(apprentice.)
Alexander Mckee, 81 class apprentice.
George w. Warner, ordinary seaman
{apprensice.)
Chas. q. Golderman, Ian isman Jap
pren,ice.)
Eugene Sullivan. lst class apprentice.
George Kneavah, landsman (appren.
tice.)
Richard Hamilton, LIST class apprentice.
Charles Van Velsor, ordinary seaman
(apprentlce.)
Henry Waltham, (mulaito) wardroom
steward.
Edward Gallia. smulat.o) steerage
cook.
These are unquestionably the material
facts attending this attempt to seize upon
national ship and convert her into Pr
rate, and the consequent prompt AMI just
punishment ofihe riDgleaders. Whatadds
greatly 10 the disgraceiul character of
this dangerous and daring attempt to OBJ
tain possession Of Nation vessel, is the
fac, that one of the officers Of the ship
devised and was at the head Of the pro-
jected mutiny; and when we bear IN
mind that Spencer informed Wales that
he had confederate at the Isle Of Pines
where the Somers had not been, and that
tis chief conlederates, Cromwell and
Small, shipped on board after Spencer
had jnined, there can be no reasonable
doubt bu, the mutiny was arranged IN this
port.
What confirms the suposition is fact
now ascertained, that Spencer declared
before his departure that he would never
return 10 this city, and on the passage out
assumed to be BILE to tell mems fortunes,
and assured his fellow Midshipmen in The
steerage, thst they had not long to live !
words which nj the time were treated as
badinage, but which were doubtless based