Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-22

Solners had taken in water at ST. Thomas, and that
when the vessel again sea- the mu,ineers should
rice and kill the Captain, the principal officers, and all
who not in the conspiracy, except the surgeon
After this they were to proceed towards the aroo. OF
New York capture Of the packets bound to that
| port, which it supposed would have specie on
board, and after p!uaGerlng hem and murdering every
person board, 10 prevent their dongs from beng
published, sail in the Somers-whch is one OF the
swiitcst vessels in serycefor some distant sea.
| When the vessel WAS two days out, on the 7th Of
Decenibcr, Lieutenant Mackenzis informed that a
conspiracy TO and take OF The vessel had
been formed among the crew, and that passed mdship
man Spencer was at the head Of it, The information
was communicated by the purscrs steward, who had
been solicited TO join the conspiracy. Spencer was I'M
mcdiately arrested and paper found concealed in
his neckcoth written in Greek characters, containing
minute Of the plan OF the mutiny, signed by such q
number OF the and the apprentices, as would have
enabled the their design, they could have
surprised the officers when of their guard. The report
that conflict occurred previous TO the arrest OF Spen-
Ger, must be erroneous
| A Court Martial was Immediately held upon Spcn.
Ger and one of his associates They were condemned
TO DEATH and the Court Martial, well as all the Off.
GERS except three who two young to be consulted,
unanimously of opinion that the safety of the yes.
sci required their immediate execution, more especially
il could not be known to what extent the conspi-
racy had spread among the crew, nor could there be
any certainty it was thought that such Of the as
might be employed TO guard the persons under arrest
would be faithful TO their duty Spencer and his two
confcderaes therefore hung at the yard arm. An
hour as granted him TO make his arrangements for the
| fate TO which he condemned
| Spencer is son of the present Secretary Of War
He s it is said between Eighteen and nineteen years
nf are and has been about year in the Navy. Lieut..
| h1onE n O
| his vessel.
Immediately on the arrival of the Somers at this
port dispatches sent to Washington with an &c.
count of this painful affair, and court of inquiry will
doubtless be Immediately ordered, in which full
investigation will be had. Lieutenant Mackenzie has
the reputation ofbeing amabe and humane, as well
as firm man, and must suppose acted IN this matter
from conviction of the necessity Of the step he ives
| taking.-.N Y. Ere. Post
Hutiny on board the u s Brig somers, and Execution
Of The Ringtceders.
| The New York papers received last night contain
accounts Of fearful mutiny, that led TO the summary
punishment Of three persons, which recently occurred
board the U. S. Brig Somers, Commander hlacken-
zie while her passage from the coast OF Africa 10
New York, where she arrived on Thursday morning
last as we have heretofore announced
The facts Of the mu!iny us far as they can be come
at, are thus stated by the Editor Of the New York
American who says he has taken some pains TO escer
tain them:
The Somers smiled from New York about three
months ago. for the coast Of Africa, having board
eighty apprentices and eight sranen, and no marines
Her Commander, Alexander Siidcl Mackenzie, her
only Lieutenant, Mr.. Gansevo)r; Of Albany, aad five
or six mldshipmen of whom Philip Spencer, of The
Secretary Of War, the Oldest Two sons OF Com
moGore Perry, among the midshipmen
II is believed, the plan OF muny was arranged soon
after leaving New York, but not maured until on her
return from the coast of Afrca-ihe brig was about
going into Saint Thomas for water and provisions =
81. r al. iSla tho
gave notice 10 Commander Mackenzie that mu,iny
was in progress and after paper was discovered
in which the whole plan o! 1t was detailed. Nl!dship
man Spencer found to be the nstgator OF the mu
tiny aided by the Quartcrmasier and Boatswnn, one
of whom named Cromwell or Crommelin, had been
pirate II seemed too, that than half the crew
were implicated in the revolt and the lew Cheers
ignorant how far the contagon had extended, and
aware moreover, tina. by taking off the leaders, The
re volt would. readily be queed, determined upon
their immediate execution aud they were seized and
their guilt being ascerlaIned, they were forthwith
hanged at the yardarm, their associates, in crime run
ming them up, while the officers armed, stood by to
witness the execution. A large number of the guilty
were then put in irons
The BRIG then touched al ST. Thomas, victualled,
and made the rapid passage of eight days to New York
when fourteen fifteen OF the mutneers IN irons
were transferred to the North Carolina, where they ore
strictly guarded and prevented IRON having communi'
cation with any one.
Midshpman Spencer over twenty years Of cge,
and had, as we learn been sent home from the Brazil
squadron by Commodore Morris with the express I'M
dersandng that he should resign his warrant on arm
val as the condition of his not being brought 10 court
martial. Instead of resgnpg, he was, It seems, attach
ed TO The Somers.
The scheme of the muneers, said TO be detailed
in the paper found, TO murder all the officers but
the surgeon, seize the vessel and cruise off Sandy Hook
interrupt and rob the packets and other inward Found
ships
The necessity for the immediate execution Of the
rneleadcrs arose presume from the fact that with.
out the aid of Mr. Spencer, who wGs 10 navigate, and
The boatswan and Guarlernaser who were to sail the
weasel, The conspiracy would lie hopeless /! confined
and pu, in IRONS without Tie safeguard of marines, the
temptation TO rescue would have been great; and, in
total Ignorance us the officers OF the exlen, of the
nutiny, this would have been fearful hazard.
We must adj that this statement, though substantial.
Is correct believe, does not probably present the
mutiny in aggravated form as The iacS, wien mace
public will warrant
sidshipman Perry was despatched yesterday morn
ing to Washington with the official report; and, mean
time tile Somsrs lies of The Navy Yard, and no one is
permitted 10 communicate with her.
From the n Y Expressly
Horrible uutiny on boa,d The T. S.a,es brig Sou,er,-
.hidshipmaa Spencer hung al the gard arm
The u S. brig Somcrs, Commander Alexander Sill
dell Mackenzie, our readers Will remember, arrived III
this port on Wednesday night and was reported in the
Express on Thursday morning. Little did we think
that to this report should have TO add one Of the
most horrible attempts at mutIny ever known in The
Navy.
The Sorers sailed from Monrovia, (Librra,) on The
night of the Ilth November and from st. Thomas on
the night Of the 9th Of December II seems that her
ble scheme was concocted hore her sailing, TO murder
the commander and chief officers, and tnn the vessel
into Pirate ship AT the head Of this detes!able plot
was ndshpman Spencer one Of the Of The presen.
Secretary of War. He had enlisted some fifteen or
twenty Of the apprentices and some Of the men, but IS
is generally the in such num,n conspiracies, the
hearts Of some of the conspiratnrs failed,
before the nigh, Of the intended massacre arrlved-of
al all events It was discovered.
The story We learn is, that young Spencer offered
his paper roll or the consprntors to the mastefa
arms sign, who signed it 10 quiet their suspicion, and
then Immediately revealed the facts to the commander
The moment The conspiraors found out they were DIS
covered they in body and went to The commander,
demanding The possession OF the ship, and young Spen-
Ger presented pinto! 10 his heart; All this was at