The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-12-30
MUTINY AND PUNISHMENT OF
' DEATH ON BOARD THEU.S.
MAN or WAR SOMlIi,S

brlg Somers, commanded by Lieutenant Slidel
Mackenzie, arrived at this port, Some obscure
ramors OF a nuny on hoard of his vessel, of the
punishment or The principal mu'ineeIs, by mnle
diate execution, aud Of u considerable number o.
her crew being brought home in irons, began I'M
mediaey to circulate. These rumors have now
assumed the shape of certain information, and dis
close murderous conspiracy on the pant Of somt
of the subordinate officers and the crew, the de-
lection of which WAS followed by hanging three
the rnglcaders at the yard arm.
On the ll,h Of November the Somers sailed
from Liberia, and on the voyage touched, in order
70 take in water, ut ST. Thomas, which she left on
The 9th December. Her employment on the AZ
'ican coast had been 10 protect the American YES
scls from detention by British cruisers. She car
Ges 10 guns, and had on board about hundred
persons, of whom q considerable number were np
prentice boys.
1t appears that, before leaving the African coast
conspiracy had been formed among the crew to
take possession Of the vessel, and Iun her INTO a
pirate ship. 1t was agreed that nothing should he
done until the Somers had taken in water at St.
Thomas, and that, when the vessel was again a,
sea, the mutineers should rise and kill the captain
the principal officers, and all who were not in the
conspiracy except the surgeon, After this they
were to proceed towards the harbor OF New York,
captured some Of the packets hound TO That port
which it was supposed would have specie on board
and after plunlering them, and numbering every
person on board to prevent their doings from be-
ing published. sail in the SOmers, which is one
Of The swillesl vessels in our service, for some dis
tant sea.
When the vessel was two days out, on The 7lh
Of December, Lieut.. Mackenzie was informed thai
conspiracy 10 rise and take possession Of the YES
sci had been formed among the crew, and tmt
Passed Nldshpman Spencer was ut the head of
ii. The information was communicated by the
purser's steward, who had been solicited TO Join
the conspiracy. Spencer was Immediately ares
ted and II paper was found concealed in his neck
cloth, written in Greek characters, containing n
minute Of the plan Of the mu,iny, signed by such
number Of the crew and the Apprenticeship would
have enabled them to execute their design, if they
could have surprised the officers when off their
guard. The report that conflict occurred pre-
vious TO the arrest Of Spencer must be erroneous.
A court martial was Immediately held upon
Spencer aud one Of his associates They we're
condemned TO DEATH and the court martial, as
well us all the officers, except three who were too
young to be consulted, were unanimously Of opin-
ion thai the safety o.! the vessel required their I'M
mediate execution, more especially ms il could not
be known 10 what extent the conspiracy had spread
;
it was thought, that such Of the crew rs might be
employed to guard the persons under arrest wonId
be faithful to their duty. Spencer md his two con-
iedemtcs were therefore hung at the yard nrnL--
An hour was granted him 10 make his arrange
inenls Tor the fate to which he was condemned.
Spencer is the son Of the present Secretary Of
Wr lie is, il is said, between Is and 10 years
OF age, and has been about year in the navy
Lieutenant Mackenzie was unwilling TO receive
him on board of his vessel.
Immediately on the arrival Of the Somcrs at this
port, dispatches were sent TO Washington with un
account Of this painful affair, and court of en- =
qury will doubtless be Immediately ordered in
which full investigation will DO had. Lieut.,
Mackenzie has the reputation Of being an amiable
and humane MS well as n firm man, and we must
suppose acted in this matter from conviction Of
the necessity Of the step lie was akiug.-.N y.
Ere. Post
The N. Y. american ndds the following to the
C. SEaq's account, showing still more clearly
the Imminent necessity Of the execution Of The
ringeadcrs:
For three days the prisoners were KEEP, in irons,
the Commander hoping 10 be spared the necessity
of taking life. At last it became evident that the
storm was still brewing, and that although the loss
Of their iinglcadcrs had deprived the rest of those
danger was by no means over, aud hence that Il
severe example was absolutely necessary 10 arO,d
rescue, and prevent the final execution and sue.
cess Of their plans. The crew were so dsoIdcrly
and so little under control, that ercry officer on
bOard ranic TO the same conclusion and urged
upon their Commander the immediate execution
orihe prisoners. The man moi engaged IN the
original plot testified in the slronges, terms to the
necessity Of this course. Evidence was obtained
lhui the matter was still in agitation, and that,
prisoner as he was, .Hidshipm0n Spencer was
still, by signs or otherwise, in communication with
his associates. Every thing indicated that the plot
was on the point Of consumninirn, mud wiihout Il
dissenting roce among the officers and petty Of
fccrI. il was nj leas, daiermined that the three
prisoners shout be hung u, The yard arm of the
vessel. This was communicated TO Nlidshipmnn
Spencer, and for u time he bore il without fllier-
ing; but at last his iirn,ness gave way, and he
made full confession Of his guilt, accompanied
with an acknowledgement Of the justice Of his
doom.
From his own confession il was asccraincd tia,
while on board the John Adams. on the coast Of
Brazil, and subsequently when sent home (luving
resigned rather than be tried by Court Martial,
on board The liigae Potomac. he had entertained
in both vessels u determination TO excite muiny
for the purpose of turning pirate. The plan on
board the Somcrs was originated and had made
some progress before leaving New York! The
outbreak was TO take place just after leaving St
Thomas, and every thing had heen arranged Ia
bring about the result successfully. With the lead
crs alive and subject 10 rescue, and with crew
the great majority Of whom were believed to be
Inorc or less implicated how far it was impossible
10 tell, with proof, recurring every minute that til,
plot WIS but postponed, not destroyed, the mcr
being disorediy, fractions and disobedient, il seems
cd the duty orCommandei Mackenzie 10 tesIa,,
no onger. With their leader rescued, the game
their own ngain,and no, only the lives Of all OF
board not Implicated in the plo; would have ri,
the inrInl. Of further delay, but many n faithful
net of piracy and murder would in all probability
ilo,e sweed the list Of crimes.
IL become clear that there were no alternative
aud nccordingy when abou, three days Off from
II Ihnnias. i'm The Drpspncp of tho pssrtublc,