Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-12-29
NUMBER "A.

N0' ttHtE't 49,
, +. s. The mutiny we believe, was dis
covered to Capt. Mckenzie on the asih
Of November and the culpras executed
on the Isl Of Decenber This sntl alter.
native, We have reason 10 suppose, wss
expedited by a movement tnorg the dis.
affected which looked like al attempt at
, rescue.
IT, $. BRIG SoMERs.
II will be seen by the annexed article,
. from the Mad,spnian OF yesterday, that
Court of Inquiry has been ordered ia the
case OF the inutny aud execution On board
the Somrrs:
. TnE q. S. BRIG SoMgns. The melan-
chuly occurrence on board this ship and
! the consequences Of good or EVIL 10 those
concerned, require the greatest caution
and deibrration before the public mind
arrive at any conclusion concarnlng u.
The facts can only be truly and fully ex.
hibited before the constituted tribunals
OF The country, and il becomes therefore
the duty, as we believe, Of the conduc-
tors Of the public press, TO abstain, as
tar as practicable, from giving expression
to opinions, until full ami fair invest
CATION is made into the matter. The
Government has ordered that inquiry.
A Court, composed Of men Of Tho highest
character, and whose names are most en-.
deared 10 the country, has already been
detailed. Justice will DO done--iul JUS.
tIce.
I We therefore deem il improper to ad.
r NIT into n,r rpi.,rps .nv f,,thar ra,n.xka
or comment upon the so' jaci, except such
as the Department sholl authorize. No
thing has yet been published under its
authority. Justice 10 the dead and to
the living, alike require that we should
do nothing to prejudice the case in the
mind the court or of the country. The
honor of the service and the integrity
Of the laws, are safe in the hends Of the
public tribunals. Let us abide this de-
cision.
The rumor that the Somers had been
lost at sea was prevalent in New York
and Albany, some two or three weeks
ego. aud is supposed 10 have been Sc,
afoat by thos. who were IN the secret Of
the plot ON board that vessel The New
York Commercial Advertiser says
This astounding development or this
mutny gives importance to at incident
which, al the time, we did not think worth
mentioning. Some two or three weeks
ago, jus. as our paper Was going TO press.
two persona, having the appearance Of
military men, cume into the publication
office aud inquired whether We had re.
ccved any account Of the loss of the Som
ers; saying that they had heard such
report at the barge Office, whittier il had
came from the Custom House.
We Immediately sent messenger To
the Custom House, and 10 other quarters
in which such information might De look
ed for, iftrue, but we could not learn
thai the report had been received, or even
heard OF. By the following paragraph
from tho Albany Journal it seems that
the rumor was heard OF there also:
| Abou, two weeks snco the rumof
was rife in this city that the u. S. brig
Somcrs had ioundered ai,sea and thai alI on
board were lost. This rumor was based
upon letter received in New York by
merchant vessel from ST. Thomas, in
| which il Yves mentioned that the Somers
had been caught 10 tremendous gale
aud had suffered SO much that she was
hourly expected 10 go TO the bottom. II
is now believed that the letter 10 question
was written by one OF the mutinerrs on
board the Someis, in anticipation of the
success Of their plot, and with view Of
accounting for the expected disappear
auce' of the brig.
Mdshipman Philip Spencer, who was ex.
ecuted, was tho third sou Of the Hon.
John c. Spencer. The Boston Mcrcan-
Tile Journal says Of him
| Philip Spencer was between nineteen and
twenty years OF age. His character has
ever been bad. lie made himself notori.
Gus while at Geneva College, and was
expelled from West Point for misconduct.
I His warrant IS mldsbipman was dated in
October, ls4l. He went out with Com
modorc Morris 70 tho Brazil station, but
elcd with aud nsulted an English
midsbipman in Rio, and disgraced himself
TO such degree that Commodore Morris
sent HIM home with the express uIdef-
standing that he should retire from the
service. Other counsels, however, pre-.
| vailed, and he was ordered to the Somers.
We believe that this is the third mutiny
that ever occurred in the United States
service. Disaifection Las sometimes been
manifested among the crews, and on board
| the frigaie Brandywine, some bali a dozen
wears ago, in the Mediterranean, when
under command Of Captain Renshaw, the
disaflection amounted 10 almost mutiny,
and was qaeled, principally, by The firm.
ness and decision Of Lieut.. Slidell, now
Capt. Mckenzie.
IsLE OF PINEs.--The New York A.
merican states that the Navy Department,
Immediately on receipt Of Commander
Mackenze's dispatches. ordered vessel
Of War 10 proceed with all despatch iiom
Norfolk to this Island, which lies of
Cape Antonio, CUBA. in lat. 81 3D.
The Island has but few houses on it,
which are concealed in bushes--is ofcon.
siderable extent, aid has good wells Of
water.
Extract Of letter dated
BoauTA New C,ranads) Oct. 6, 1912.