Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-12-30
From the N. Y. Tribune of Dec. %.
THE SOMERS MUTiNY.

! horrible attempt NJ nuny on hoard the y. $. brig
SomrrS, which for some DAYS pnu has 50 strongly
| agilntrd The public mind. The Editor states that
| although not offcpl it may I've relied actnnI-
| ly embracing most OF The particulars Of Comuan-
der Mackenze's report to the Secretary of the
| Navy though he wishes no questions asked us
| Ia the source whence he Obtained his information.
The following is the narrative from that paper
which we copy at length, knowing that the most
intense interest is felt in the matter Nv readers
in common with tho whole community:
The Somers sailed from this port about three
! months since, with crew of eighty apprentices,
eighteen ordinary seanen, and an orderly sergeant
| OF marines who acted ny master at arms She
| was commanded hy Master Comnnnilnnt SdcIl
! Mackenzic, well known to our Navy as one Of oui
! most exemplary olfrer- aud to the literary world,
ns The author of a Year in Spain" Her officers
! consisted ct Lieut. Gansvnnr, OF Albany, and FIVE
! orsiX Mtlshpman, among whom WIS Philip Spen-
Ger, son of tlls Secretary OF War; aud two sous of
| Commodore Perry
| Having delivered the despnches with which he
! was charged 10 the commanding officer on the
| coast OF Airica, Capt. Mackenzie sailed for this
| poit, with Tie publicly avowcd intention of touch
ing at ST. Thomas for provisions previous TO CON-
ing on our coast n this season OF The year. duy
or two previous TO December lst and when tie
! vessel was within about five or six hundred miles
of st. Thonns, Midsbipman Spencer hintpd II
part OF his plans to Mr.. Wales, the Pursers Stew
| ard, who affected hearty cooperation, took au
! oath OF secrecy, &c, which Spencer administer
| ell to him, when he was made more fIlly acqIan-
ted with the plan of the mutineers. They had
arranged to raise scufle on the inrecasila some
night after leaving St. Thomas, while the deck
was in Charge of hidShpmnn Rogers, II nephew
OF the late Com. John Rogers aud when the
men engaged in it would Ol course be ordered
alt to account for The cause of the Disturbance
and Mr.. Rogers was thus engaged, they were u
seize, gag aud throw him overheard, with NJ little
TN tba
cabin aud kill Capt. Markepzie; and Others were
appointed To lie stationed nj the main hatch lro'
which the crew must pass to get on deck, aud at
! the seernge hatch, through which all The officers
except the Captain, must pass. A the officers,
| except the Surgeon, we're to be murdered and
thrown oVerh2ard and the crew. who were be
low, were to be mustered deck. The two
ntter guns were to he pointed forward to secure
Inc mlineers from an attack, and such oflIle crew
VINO hal not yet joined, hut who ii,cn eiec-
ted to come in with them, to bs admitted
while the Others were to be thrown overheard
lhey were then to gs. out all The boats and
ligflen thu vessel after which they were to make
tor the Isle of Pines chere tty ,orre 10 meet con.
federate. They were then to cruise in search of
merchant vessels trading between this port and
Europe; which, after being I,Inndered, and The
mates on board killed. were to he unfortunately
sunk anl il there chanceJ To be any females
they were TO be taken on board the Soners, uioia-
f"d, and retained 50 long the pirates might de.
deep! The nrrang rments for the division of the
sros, The allotment Of the females the various otli
ceS on board, &c. were all completed, aud drawn
up IN detail IN Spencers hand writing ; and he
assured Mr. Wales that he had twenty of the crew
with him sure.
From the moment Spencer made the above cir.
chinSnuccS known to MIR. Wales, he was watch
ell with Argus eyes by Samuel Cromwell boat.
SWANS mate, and Elisha Small, seaman, who
were the principal ringIendrrS with Spencer aud
who threatened to throw him overheard, the mo-
nent they saw the least DETECTION IN him. or hnd
the least cause 10 snSpect that he had nude or ill.,
ien'ieti To make any disclosures to my person,
MIR. Wales not daring 10 communicates with
Capt MackenZe, made all the circumstances as
detailed by Nihshipman Spencer known to the
PnrSer, who promptly conveyed the intelligence
To Cnpi. MnrkenZie, when measures were mime
diatey taken 10 ascertain the truth OF the CASE
SpencerS phpers were creupon examined, aud
NIL the details Of their plans narrated by Wnes
'0ere fully confirmed Spencer, Cromwell and
Small, were then secured and all hands muster.
ed OF derk, Capt Mackenzie addressed them ON
the subject of the rropusel mutuy, apprisng
them that all the plans of The muneers had been
discovered aud frustrated, and warning them of
The consequences of any similar attempt.
Capt Mackenzie then addressed circular let
ter tn each of the officers OF board the vessel OK.
ccpt the 0ciing MIdship man, requesting their o.
plnlon AS 10 the course OF conduct which SHOULD
he pursued lowar,ls Spencer aud The TWO men
who had been arrested with him. Ench one re.
turned for answer that they deserved immediate |
death, and Cap. Mackenze's opinion coinr,Jing
with that of his officers II was determined m cnr
nv the punishment into immediate execution An !
hands were accordingly called to witness n,,n;sh,
ment Wins were then rove inn encl, and r.
the fore yard arm, and one Oh The inner ,nrt of |
the ward The prisoner, we're then hrn,,'''t'
deck nnd informed of the punish,nrnt nhni, ~ In
executed upon Them, small m once G,l,v no
frssed his f,ul,. md nsl,oL ,nosr nrnirenIyy ec
gyeness of his commander and he officers ,v,nl,
was at once accorded to him. tle then nh,a;"ed
permission to address the crew. wbicl, ha la
warning them against permitting ,bemseyes o,,ar
10 he seduccI as he had been. in,o ,Ln co,a'i
of the crime Tor which he was abou, to suffer