Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-12-30
From the Morning Chronicle.
IMPORTANT.

Muhny on board Of The U. S. Brig Of
War, SOmers-G son of the Secretary Of
War and trO other of The MunneerS han
ged to the Yard Arm.-The New York
Tribune contains an account OF the
prompt quelling Of mutiny which took
place on board the brig Somers, which
arrived at New York city or the 18th
from the coast of Africa, where she had
been cruizing for some months.
The Somers left Liberia on the llth
ult., and touched at ST. Thomas on the
9th inst, On leaving the latter port,
Capt. M'Kenzle noticed symptoms OF a
mutlny on board, and ordered the officers
10 wear their SIDE arms. When two
days out, one Of the stewards, by acct
dent, laid his hands on a paper, which
he Immediately placed in the hands Of
Captain M'KenzIe, disclosing a plan,
which had been writtel by Midshidman
Philip Spencer, and signed by him and
a part Of the crew, pledgiDg themselves
to murder all the officers on board, and
every other person who should resist
them; and afterwards to cruize as pl-
rates, an lie in wait for packets and 9TH
err vessels that might chance in their way.
They had sworn that they would not
leave a soul living on board Of any YES
sci they might capture.
Captain M'Kehzie Immediately after
receiving this paper from the steward,
summoned his officers together, and after
due deliberation, determined that the
safety of their lives depended upon
prompt action, it being impossible fol
them to know how many more besides
those who had signed the paper were con.
cerned. Accordingly they determined
on the execution OF the four leading mu.
~tineers.
This was the 7lh Of December. The
Captain Immediately ordered all hand:
on deck, and ordered those Of the crew
who were opposed to him TO go up on thu
forward deck. Passed MidShipmdn Spen
Ger, son of John g. Spencer, our Secre-
tary of War, the BoatSwain'S Male ant
the Master of Arms, Immediately led t'
wdy, and were followed by thirteen ap
prentices, and about sixty Of the crew
They arrayed themselves on the forward
deck, without doubt %supposing that they
would be followed by a large proportion
of the crew. Captain M'Kenzie instant
ly ordered them to be put in lrons.-
They were shackled and securely con,
fined.
IG the evening a Court Martial wa
summoned, Spencer and his two compan
ions as the three ring-leaders, wer
tried, convicted and sentenced, and H.
neat morning were hung al The gard arm
The rest we're brought IN irons TO NeN
York, where they are still kept in shack
les and close confinement.
Capt. M'Kenzie's decisive conduc
thus saved the crew and vessel, and
worthy of all praise, however the reIa
tives and friends Of the rash young ma
who rushed madIy to a disbonorabl
grave may depIore his untimely end.
The crew, consisting Of about fou
hundred men, were appalled, at the taI
OF their comrades, and the mutiny WI
heard Of no more.
On the arrival Of the brig al N Yor
a messenger was despatched TO Wash
ington city, and W. presume, the who
affair will be investigated soon.
Some portions Of the above accour
lead us 10 suspect lis entire accuracy
The Tribune states the number of It
crew as four hundred. This is mol
than double the usual compliment Of me
for a brig of war. Other papers STA.
the number of the crew as one hundre'
If this is the number, IT is a little stranE
that Captain M'Kenzie should have bee
able to quell the mptiny with the sma
compliment Of men left, after takir
from the number Of the ships crew Il
mulineers, who number from sc to
according to different statements. IT
account is probably exaggerated, II
New York papers Of this morning wi
doubtless bring a more correct STATE
ment.