Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-12-22

conduct which should be pursued toward
/ spencer. and lh" two men who Ind boon ar
rested with hun. Each one returned an
answer that they deserved immediate death,
lnd Captain Mackpnzie's opinion conc dIng
l WIN that ot hls officers it was determined to
carry the punishment into immediate eXocu-
! non. al hands were accordingly called
/ WHIPS were rove into each end of the fore
yard arm, and one on the inner part OF the
! yard The prisoners were then brought on
deck and informed Of the punishment about
TO be executed upon them. Small ot once
fully confessed his fault, and asked most
penl'ently the forgiveness OF his commander
and The officers, which was at once accorded
him. lie then obtained permission 10 adj
dress the crew, which he did, warning the III
against permitting themselves ever 10 BE-
seduccd as he had been into the commiita oi
the crime Tor which he was about to suffer
death.
Spencer asked a respite of ten minutes for
himself and companions in guilt, in order that
they might prepare To die. This was grant
ed, and he was asked # he wished TO write to
his father or mother; but he replied that he
did not. lie acknowledged his guilt ard the
justice Of his punishment aud remarked that
he would rather meet such n death there
(at sea. than TO be sub jected to the lnfamy OF
exposure on shore. The ten minutes asked
for by Spencer were extended to upward oi
ono hour, nearly the whole OF which time
was employed by him in endeavoring to OBJ
tain forgiveness Of Small, for having seduccd
him into the committal of a crime which he
was so soon to expiate with his life. Small
withheld his forgiveness for II length OF time;
hut at last IN reply TO Spencer's of relterate d
,f al hn
that he fully pardoned him.
Il Every thing being in readiness the moose
was placed around the neck of each of the
culprits, and the officers were stationed about
the decks to see that every man had both
hands on the ropes About one o'clock,
(sea time. on the lst Of December, the sig
nal for execution was given by firing gun
to eeward, and the guilty men were run up
Il After hanging about an hour the bodies
were lowered down and delivered TO their
several messma,es to be laid out and sewcd
Il up ; and in the evening they were committed
n to the deep, Captain Mackenzie reading the
4 service usual on the occasion of burials at
| sen. Small's last words were to invoke
blessing on the American flag, and to ask
forgiveness for having so d,shonored II but
the others died without any marks OF peni.
tence. Immediately after the execution all
hands were called to cheer ship, and three
hearty cheers were given for the American
flag, which was then waving at the gaff, after
which allhands were piped down and the
usual duties OF the vessel were resumed.
I -Four Of the men. who appeared to be
most deeply implicated, we've placed 10 irons
Immediately upon the discovery of the pro-
jected muriny; but the others suspected to
be concerned, were permitted to go to duty
until they reached this port. when they were
also ironed and sent on board the NORTH
Carolina.
The following are the names Of the men
and boys now confined on board the recev
ing ship, and awaiting the action OF the Navy
Department.
\ Charles A. Wilson. sail makers mate.
/ Daniel Mckinley, landsman.
Benjamin F. Green, ordinary soamnn, zap
J prentlce.)
Alexander Mckee, Cd clnss apprentice.
II George w. Warner, ordinary seaman zap
prcniice.l
Charles G. Golderman, landsman, (nppren
tice.)
I'll Eugene Sullivan, Ist class apprentice.
George Kneavah, landsman, apprentice.
Richard Hamilton, LIST class apprentice.
Charles Van Velsor, ordinary seaman, zap
, prenilce.)
Henry Wal,ham, (mnlatto) wardroom stew
ard.
Edward Gallio, (mulatto) stceragc cook.
These arc unqucstionnbly the materla
facts attending this attempt to seIze upon
= national ship and convert her into pirate
; and the consequent prompt and just punish
mcnt of the rnglcadcrs. What adds greatly
; To the dIsgraceful character of this danger
nus and daring attempt 20 obtain possession
Of national vessel is the fact that one OF IN
officers ofMe ship devised nEd was at 'h'
, head Of the projected mntiny; and when w
bear in mind that Spencer informed Wale
that he had confederate at the Isle o
, Pines, where the Somers had not been, ant
that his chief contedcrates, Cromwell AM
( Small, shipped on board after Spencer ha'
= joined, there can be no reasonable doubt thn
the mutlny wns arranged IN this port. VIVA
} confirms this sup3oslton IL the tact now as
] cerinIned, that Spencer declared before IN
: departure, that ho would never return 10 TIN
. city, and on the passage out assumed to b'
n able to tell mems fortunes. aud assured HI
; fellow mdshlpmen IN the steerage that the!
/ had not long To 1--we words which at the tlIn'
F., were treated as badlnage, but which were
!, doubtless based upon knowledge OF In
utSptih'C eCutHits'
t All the petty officers who remained true
. to their flag, have behaved in the most cN
, cmplary manner and the sergeant OF ma
rlnes, whose namo has escaped us, left th'
sick report on the day the mu,iny was dis
. covered, and performed his duty daily unit
D his arrival in port, when he was conveyed t
D the hospital seriously and dangerously i'll.
, OF the conduct OF Captain Mackenzie ant
his brother officers, there can be but on'
8 opinion. Like all who enter the naval ser
, vice, they arc well aware that their proies
y sion necessarily subjects them 10 be place
Q IN positions far more trying than the hnrr
$ and excltcments Of battle and never hav
l. we known an instance when prompt and dc
n cisve action was so lmperously called Tor
!, in this case. The faithful discharge of lhel
y duty to the country and to the men place.
. under their care. aud above oil, their duty Il
$ the whole maritime world, required that tn
C object of the nu,lneers should be frustrated
s They could not possibly discover how TAR lh
f Infection had extended; the men most I'm
:. pllcated would have been the first 10 asser
/, Il their innocence aud the most patriotic II
d their professions; aud II II had been attempt
v ed To bring home Spencer and his two pr'n
clpal associates, who could determine tha
A II tho mon splpctel IN uuaTd them. were no