Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-22
Cc@,n ,t,a,,,y E,,ning:s G,obe.)


uutiau on Jourd tic EXECUTION If Young Spen
GER San of ihe Seerefary Gf Var.
The following statement Of the fatal affair on board
the Somcrs is derived from the officer who came express
TO Washington with en- account OF Tie 'Fahsac.'on,-
The summary punishment inf c,ed for crime no! con.
sumna:ed but medtaed, requires lie most absolute
prnof of its necessity to justify H. The circumstances
adduced make strong case; but thorough scrutiny
can clone satisfy the public mind, IN tins hfs instance
annals OF an Official execution without iui uai
and Tor offence IN contenplaion
Wc deeply sympalhze with the distressed father ard
mother OF the prominent actor end sufferer the Tragedy
on board the Snmers. Their hearts will never believe
that the young stripping whom they nurturen IN the,r
bosoms could have been cupa5le of carrying through
The dreadful and bloody work which he conceved they
VIII consider wild dream of an INDUCED disease ID
the imagination, from which The senses would nave
revolied, when aroused TO enter upon acton What
ever public op non may decree, the heartstr'cReh pa
rents will carry their graves the conviction that their
child has persisted Cor his thoughts, ard not ms deeos
md tina; his deeds would have deserved The hor-
rid fate he met The prevailing sentiment in the city,
however, jas;'ies The condnc OF the captain oil Tue
So;ncrs
"On Saturday last, officer arrived (eyp'ess) from
the United States brig Soners, commander S!idel'
Mckenzie lying al New York, with dispatches relating
10 a most awful which has taken place on
board that vessel The Somers it viii be rec"liecled
was manned chiefly with apprentice boys, and sailed
about three months ago for the coast oil Africa When
On her return the L. States ii became known to The
commander that there conspiracy on loot among
the crew, headed by officer, TO rise on the ship
murder the captain and principal ohcers, except the
surgeon, and turn pirates.
! "'rhp most energetic measures became necessary
adshprnan Spencer and two OF the pey oilcers were
nm atelr arrested and inquiries set on loot TO ascer
tain the xtent of the nuny. Investigation proved u
To be 10 a most alarming extent The captain called
upon the officers 20 express their opn"n as 10 what
the exisencies of the case required Alter
formal investigations they 1t as their unanimous
opinion that safety Of The ship and required
that tho rngeaders should be put to death; and, after
giving them a short time for preparation, they were
swung up at Tie yard Confessions OF guilt were
made by Spencer and une OF the men, ard The justice
oil their sentence acknowledged with their dying breath
In Spencers Deckcloh was found paper, written IN
, C pier, detailing the whole plan.
THE crew was 10 rise al nigh in his (SpeDcers) watch
and The mu,ny 10 commence by sham fight on the
orecasts he 10 conduct them aft, If 10 report
them 10 The officer Of the deck They, in turn,
appear greatly excited: and, if erger each 10 tell
his own story were To crowd round the officer, and,
clupp,na Their hands on his mcu.ii, throw him over
ho,rd In tie mean time, Others t" go down, as u
for The purpose ofcang the Captain and first Leu!en
ant, and stab them in their sleep. The quarter deck
guns loaded with grape, were then TO be pointed dowr
the haches and those who had not joined, shot down
or brought TO terms. They were then TO cruise OF
New York for packet ships, supply themselves will
wives from the passengers, murder te rest, ana ot
and sink the prizes, that no traces might be lelt II
Impossible TO CONCEIVE more trying and a"Irny re
sponsble situation than that in which the officers o
this ship were placed Alone upon the wide ocean
with no marines and hut one lieutenant 10 support thu
captain; with n crew Of only fifteen petty officers
seamcp, among seventy odd boys and two of the mos
influential of these fifteen rpgleoders Of the mutny
and others giving it their conference, with reason |,
believe that majority of the youths were implicated
md not knowing how lar the plot bad extended among
the officers themselves, the one which called
for the utmost decision and energy These crcum
stsnces-the standing Of commander Mckenzie and hi
officers in seryice-the fact that Lieut. Gansevoort Qhs
oldes, officer on board, except the Capain) was ar
acquaintance and friend Of young Spencer aud hi: