Richmond palladium., 1842-12-31

From the moment Spencer made the above cir
cumstances known to Mr.. Wales, he was watched
with argus eyes by Samuel Cromwell, boats"aih 5
mate, and Elisha Small, seaman, Who were the
prime cIpai ring Headers with Spencer, and who
threatened to throw him overheard the moment
they saw the least signs OF detection IN hun, or
had me least cause To- suspect that he had made.
pr intended 10 make any disclosures TO any per
Mr. Wales not daring communicate with
Cant VI ickeuz,e, made all the circumstances as
lie allied by MtdshIpman Spencer, known to the
Purser, who promptly conveyed the intelligence
To Capt. Nj ickenZIe, when measures were ;mme-
dIately taken 10 ascertain the truth OF tbe case.
Spencer's papers were thereupon examined. and
all the details OF their plans narrated by Wales.
were fully confirmed Spencer, Cromwell, and
Small, then secured, and all hands being
mustered deck, Capt. Mackenzie addressed
them the suffice, Of the proposed mutiny, ap-
prIsed them thai all the plans Of Ihe mutIneers
bad been discovered and frustrated, and warning
them Of the consequences Of any similar attempt
Capt. Mackenzie then addressed a circular let
ter each of the officers on boa rd the vessel,
cept the actIng Midshiptnen, requesting their o.
pinion al to the of conduct which should
be pursued towards Spencer and the two " no
had been arrested with him. Each one returned
for answer that they deserved immediate death,
and Capt, Mackenz'e's opinion colncIding with
that of his officers, II was determined TO carry the
nlshmen, to Immediate execution. All hancs
were accordingly cali'd 10 witness he punishment
Whips were then rove INTO each end OF the tore
yard arm, aud one the inner part of the yard.
The prisoners then brought on deck and IN
formed of the punishment about TO be executed
upon them. Small at once fully confessed his
fault and SKI most pentently the forgiveness
of his commander aud his officers, which was at
once accorded to him. He then obtained permIs.
sion O address the crew, which he dId, warning
them against permitting themselves ever to be
seduced as he had been, INTO the commitlal Of l.e
for which he was about TO suffer deaih
Spencer asked a respite of ten minutes for him
self and companions I'D guilt IN order that they
might prepare to die. This was granted, and he
was asked # he wished to write to his IA her
mother; bat he replied that he did not. lie then
acknowIedg ed his gulit and the justice Of his pun
lshment. and remarked that he would rather meet
such a death here, (at sea) than to be subect ed
to the inf fimv of exposure on shore. The ten
minutes asked for by Spencer, was extended to
upwards Of one hour, nearly the whole ot which
tIma employ ed by hun IN en- lea vorIng to OBJ
tnin forgiveness of Small for having seduced him
Into the cumnitta! of crime, tor which he was
50 soon to expiate with his hte. Small withheld
his forgiveness for Ieuglh Of time; bot 4, last,
IN reply to Spencer's oft reiterated request OF
ID, forgive me, Small be said that he uliy par
doned hn
Every thing being in readiness, the moose was
placed around the neck of eacl, Of the culprils,
and the officers stationed about the decks to
A About one o'clock, (sea tme) on the lst of De-
cemher the signal for execution was gwen by
firing gun to Ieeward, aud the guilty men were
up,
After hanging abou, an hour the bodies were
lowered down and delivered to their several mess
mates to he LAID out and sewed up; and IN the
evening they were committed to the deep. Cap
tain Mackenzie reading the service usual on the
occasions OF burals sea. Snall's last words
were to invoke a blessing on the American flag,
and 10 ask forglvnes for having dshonored IT; /;
b the others died without any marks OF penn
tence Immediately after the execution, all hands
were He'd cheer ship, and three hearty cheers
were given for The American 1tg, which was
then waving the gatf, after which all hands
we're piped down and the usual duties OF the YES
sci were resumed.
F.nr oi.the men who appeared to be most deep
" tmplicai ted, were placed Immediately
upon the discovery of the pro Jected muuny; but
. the olhars suspected To he concerned, were per
mltted % to duty until they reached this port,
when they were also roned and sent on board
/ the NORTH Carolina.
These re unQuest ionablv The ma terIal facts at
/ tendlrg this attempt to seize upon national
ship aud convert her into Pirate, and the con-
+ sequeu, prompt and just punishment of The ring
leaders. Wha' adds greatly to the disgracetul
character of this dangerous and daring attempt
! TO obtain possession of "A National vessel is the
fact that one of the officers OF the ship deysed
and at the head OF The projected mutInv; and
when bear mind that Spencer Informed
Wales that he had coufyderaIe at The ls'c OF
Pines " here the Somers had not been. and that
his chief confederates. Cromw ell and Small. ship.
ped on board after : spencer had ,Ined, there can
he no re asonabe doubt that the mnnity
ranged 10 ,hs port. What confirms this suppos
lion Is the fact now ascerta'ned, that Spencer de
ciared before his departure, that he would never
return to this ci.v and on the passage out assum.
Cd 10 he able to tell mems fortunes, and assured
his fellow mdsh pmen in the Steerage, that they
had not long 20 1--we words which at The line ere
treated rs badinage, but which were doubtless
based upon knowledge OF his desperate schemes
All The petty officers who remained true 10 their
flag, have behaved IN the most exemplary man
ner; and the Serjean, of Marines, whose name
has escaped us, left the sick report the day the
mutiny was discovered, and performed his duty