Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-12-22
Correspondence Of The Uaitea States GaseAeh.
New York, Sunday p. NJ,
THE souERs MuTlNY CASE.

Correspondence Of The United States GaseAef.
New YORK, Sunday p. NJ,
THE soMERS MUTlNY CASE.
In my last informed you Of the repor-
ted mutiny on board the u. 5. brig So
ners-but as the officers on this station
appeared not to know or be willing 10
give any Information on the subJect, |
had doubts Of lis authenticity these,
however, are removed, ard haste to lay
the particulars beloie you. There is rea.
son to believe tina, the conspiracy was
PLANNED hero before she sailed that ii
was conceived Ivy Midshipman Spencer,
and that be seduced into his views Two
scamen, Cromwell and Small, who SHIP
ped on board two days after he joined
her.
The crew consisted mainly of appren
tice boys, who are picked up in our large
cities, and who were just the characters
10 lend a willing ear to Spencrr's stories
of the hn~ HE they would Iced on board
Of a pirate--of the women thy would
0btain--the specie they would get, and
then their last sailing brig would elude
all pursuit. Among the papers found on
board in possession of Spencer was one
detailing thr whole scheme, which was To
seize the vessel after she had victuall ej
aud watcfei at Saint Thomas, and carry
her TO the Isle of Pines, neur Cuba, where
they were to be met by conlederates, who
il is presumed, lett here after the matter
was concocted for the purpose of Joining
them there.
AS soon as the vessel sailed for the
coast of Africa, Spencer opened his plan
gradually to the crew, bringing them one
by uHe to his views, swearing them TO
secrecy, and teaching them k,nd Of ca.
echsm which related to ihs obligations
thry had contracted. anl the plan they
had 10 view.
He then made two lists Of their names,
one OF which was headed certain, ana the
other doubtful, his own name appearing
frs! on the former they were also found
on him. Alter leaving 81. Thomas, as
have before mentioned, the scheme was
that two of the hands should at night get
INTO pretended fight on the forecastIe (;
that they would be called aft by the eff.
GERS of The watch 10 know what that
noise was about.
They were then to pretend to enter in
to explanation with hlm, and while be
was listening to them, to seize him una
wares and throw hun overheard. The
remaining officers who were below
might, it was supposed, be easily murdered
as we'll as any one else who had not JOIN
ed them. All this was found among
Spencer's papers with plan for the d..
vision Of The anticipated spnls, and for
the allotment among them Of the women
that might fall into their power. When
the brig was OF her return from the coast
of Africa, and about 500 miles distant
from St. Thomas, overtures we're made
by one of the conspIrators to the purser's
clerk to induce him to join them.
He ieigned acquiescence, and took the
oaths they still mistrusted him however,
and told him that be would be watched,
and if they saw any thing in his conduct
TO excite suspicion, they would at once
throw him overheard. He dare not com
municate to Capt. Mckenzie, but found
an opportunity Of divulelng the whole to
the Pnrser, who in his turn repeated II 10
the Captain. He at once determined up.
on his course after consultation with his
officers, of which there was but one a
bove twenty.ope years OF age, and this
was to seize the rngleaders and hang
them at the yard-arm.
The officers do not seem to have been
induced to take tins step by any aPpre-
hension for their own safety now that
thew were forewarned, but by feeling
that such an atrocious attempt, SO DIS
graceful to the character OF the nag
should be instantly revenged by an lgno'
minous death.
Accordingly the Captain and all his OH
GERS. and those on whom he could depend
mustered on the quarter deck armed &c
the teeth, as you may suppose. Among
them was an old Sergeant OF the Marines
who came out of sick berth when hi
heard what was going on, and who re-
turned when all was over. All hands
were pped on deck; the Captain address
sed them depicting the eBorniity OF thel
crime and his determination instantly 4
punish with death the ringleaders.