Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-01-16
TRAGEDY OF THE soMERs.
COURT OF ENQUIRY-Trxru DAY.


On Monday afternoon, Mr. Browning, Roatswains mate
examined, and testified as follows;
My opinion asked whether ! thought it would be
safe TO try 10 bring III the brig with three Prisoners and
told them thought thought it unsafe because in
dark nights and squay weather the officers might be engn
ged taking in SAIL and hard TO tell who engaged
IN not would be easy a dark night for parcel
of where the officers running about the deck
for each pick out his mark, stick hi knife in him
and after killing oil the officers but the Commander it was
easy take command Of the vessel and only this but
do believe there forward except those three
capable of taking charge Of that vessel There
capable Of taking charge of that bTg than am OF
balloon. Cromwell and Small understood navigation and
have them working None others Of the crew but
those three did My opinion asked whether feared
rescue, and told them did. also snd that the cooks
about the gallery much be feared any men
about the ship, they big bigger than any, and
aft the deck
do not believe Spencer enough to sail the
brig without the assistance Of Cromwell and Small. do
not thing ne knew dozen ropes aboard Of her
z. BY Captain Niackenzic-Did you ever have any con
yersauon with Wilson about tins mutiny
A. Yes. One morning athreakfast, Anderson said that
u % be found said eyes, for would ay
$1,000 that would turn States evidence" with
that Wilson said, ycs any knew what he had said
me II would hang him without Judge jury" asked why
lac did 90 and tell the Captain. Tic finished h-
and ait What report he made il any don't know
This was the morning after Cromwell arrested Then
Mckinley asked i did think best that be should
and let the fret lieutenant know what Spencer had said
10 him told him he had better 90 mp the rst lieutenant
and make report pf every hiDR-he knew be would be
thought the lie went NO and made
I report and was put in confinement.
U. What of usage had you on board the Sorners7
\. VERY good had better ~ the service nor in
any ycsse served 90. IL isn't because the Commanders
there say II to give i1m good nao for would say the
shore.
In reply to the Judge Advocate hc said. Il did not be-
licyc then or d" believe that the y,s-e could have
been brought safely port had the execution not taken
place.
Andrew Anderson captain Of he forec.sie. testified 9,
the tucsD the disObedcnco of the crow after the
a
ordered noit sud found Cromwell Small Code rnan and
Wilson there doing nothing but talking. lie asked them
several times for assistance but received reply from any
] oi them His treatment board b.. said nddling
good and il Die decided opinion that hs execution
had not taken place the brig could have been Brought
. 10 port.
Henry King, sworn-he discipline wasyery arer,be
arrest and up the execution. The larger boys seemed %
hang back, and very unwilling 60 a1f watched
them closely and they seemed 20 hsnr about the deck
observed great many things during the time that caused
a. have suspicion. 0bserycd Wilson fJ stow away an
African dra about gun No. J-that is e after gun on the
arboard side and Mr. Spencer confined on that side
close by that gun. found also handsgkes end three
hesvers which had slowed away andbps under the boats
aud where thought nobody could get 90 them had been
taken back to where had removed them from. he'd
slowed them away under the cutter which n the launch
There we're two-Sulyan and GOIdeunau-hat had ssen
about the stern Of the launch that night in s frst watch
~ was about 10 o'clock h1 found they bad been refnyy.
co. ana had seen these there 1bOutg OF 10 Goock.
when ic waich was called ~ tic fret place Wilson
went To- wa uo quarter u do, launch who're do hand
spikes had been.
twas dars and could say whether he mig not have
gone TOT ne jacket have seen them tas ing about the
decks and they seemed very us about b. kro l,C,rs
hey were eonhned Cromwell and Spencer w,rs very nee
I, together Inc night Spencer arrested ID ~ o'c,ek
Itom"ell called The wrong watch. Though, Wilson want
ca 70 get the knife 70 Mr. spencer for be We. looking Al
him oil the time and not attending t. his work
Questioned by Capt Mackenze,-Did not a nur,i., d,
The crew miss their muster that night when you found tho
heaveTs7
4 A,-Yes, sir, four or five.
Q-Wha sort OF usage had you on board the somer.,
J. A,-Vey good
By the Judge Advocate do not believe the vessel eo,
have been brought ssie into port By her officers had tho
ecution not taken place; don't think that had We beer
taken M heavy squall we could hsve saved the mast,
The gathered about the decks and We Jid not Know