Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-12-29
THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER %, 1912.
The SOmers-The Mutiny.

The New York Courier of Monday
has the following circumstantial narrative
Of the late mu,iny and execution on
board the U. S. brig Somers. There APP
pears TO be no doubt that it was derived
from an authentic source, and will there
fore be read with deep interest:
Now tina, the matter is before the pub.
lie, we fee! fully authorized to give the
facts of this extraordinary, yet entirely
jus,ifiable proceeding, 10 the full convic-
ton that the truth and the whole truth, is
what the public are entitled to know, and
upon which, alone con correct judg.
ment IN the premises be formed. We
would merely premise, that although our
account is not official, and although il may
not compor, with Mr.. Mckenzie's
notions Of Naval Etiquette to approve Of
such detailed statement as we are pre-
pared TO give, yet il may be relied upon
as actually embracing most Of the partic.
ulars OF that gentleman's report TO the
Secretary Of the Navy; and as we do
not hold ourselves responsible TO the dis
|tinguished Naval officers now on this sta
ton for what we may deem proper 10
make public under existing circurnstan-
ces, we hope that they will agree with
US, that the sooner the truth reaches the
public the better it will be for all parties
as well as for the character of the Navy;
and in consequence, not give themselves
any unnecessary trouble 10 ascertain onr
source Of information.
The Somers sailed from this port "a
bout three months since, with crew Of
eighty apprentices, eighteen ordinary
seamen, and an orderly Sergeant Of Ma.
rines, who acted as master Mt arms. She
was commanded by Master Commandart
Slidell Mckenzie, well known to the Ma
Wy as one Of the most exemplary officers,
and to the literary world as the author of
year IN SPAIN" Her officers consist.
ed Of Lieut.. Gsnsavoort, Of Albany,
and five or six MIdshpmen among whom
was Philip Spencer, son of the Secretary
of War, and two sons of Commodore
Perry. Having delivered the dispatches
with which he was charged, 10 the Com
mandng officer on the Coast of Africa.
Capt. Mckenzie sailed for this port with
the public avowed intention OF touching
a. st. Thomas for provisions previous 10
coming on our Coast at this season of
the year A day or two previous to De-
cember LIST, aud when the vessel was
within five or six hundred miles from 81.
Thomas, Midshipmnn Spencer limited a
part of his plans TO Mr.. Wales, the Pur.
sor's steward, who affected hearty co.
operation, took an oath Of secrecy, DC.
which Spencer administered 10 him, when,
he was made more fully acquainted
with the plan Of the mutineers. They
had arranged to raise scufile on the
forecastle some night after leaving 81.
Thomas, while the deck was in charge Of
Midshipman Rogers, a nephew Of the
late Commodore Rogers; and when the
men we're engaged in il would Of course
be ordered aft to account for the cause Of
the disturbance, and Mr.. Rogers was thus
engaged, they were to seize, gag aud
throw HIM overheard, with as little noise
MS possible. Spencer was then TO enter
the Cabin and kill Captain Mckenzie;
and others were appointed 10 be stationed
at the main hatch, through which the
crew must pass to get on deck, and a, the
Storage hatch, through which all tho off
GERS except the Captain, must pass. All
the officers, except the Surgeon, we're TO
be murdered and thrown overheard and
the crew, who were below, we're TO be
mustered on deck. The two after guns
were TO be pointed forwards, to secure the
mutineers from an attack, and such oil
the crew who had not yet joined, but who
then elected to come in with them, were
to be admitted, while the others were TO
be thrown overheard.
They were then TO get out all the
boats and tighten the vessel after which
they were to make for the ISLE OF PINES,
,shere they were 10 meei a confederate. -
They were then to cruise in search OF
merchant vessels, trading between this
port and Europe; which after being plum.
dered, and the males being killed, we're
TO be indiscriminstely sunk and if there
CHANGED to be any females, they were to
be taken on board the Somers, violated
and retained so long as the Pirates might
desire, when they also were TO be COM
mItted to the deep! The arrangement
for the division Of the spoils, the allotment
of the females, the various officers on
board, &c., were all completed, and
drawn up in detail in Spencer's hand wri-
ting and he assured Mr.. Wales that he
had twenty Of the crew with him sure.
From the moment Spencer made the
above circumstances known TO Mr..
Wales, he was watched with Argus eyes
by Samuel Cromwell, boatswain's mate,
and Elisha Small, seaman, who were the
principal ringIeaders with Spencer, and
who threatened to throw him overheard,
the moment they saw the least signs OF de-
lection in him, or had the least cause to
suspect that he had made or intended to
make any disclosures to any person.
Mr.. Wales, not daring to communicate
with Capt. Mckenzie, made all the cir.
cumstances detailed by Mdshiman Spen-
Ger, known to the Purser, who promptly
conveyed the intelligence to Capt. McKeD.
zle, when measures were Immediately
taken TO ascertain the truth of the case.
Spencer's papers were thereupon examln.
ed, aud all the details of their plans ss
carrated bv Wales ,rer, f,,yTo onfyp,ed