Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-01-03

HORRIBLE AFFAIR.-Late New York papers give
details of muny on board of the United States
Brig Somers, in which midshipman Spencer, son
OF John g. Spencer, present Secretary OF War; was
engaged 1t appears the brig sailed from Liberia
on the coast of Africa on the llth November, and
before the time of her sailing scheme was concer-
ted for Wandering the captain and chief officers of
the vessel. Spencer, who it seems headed the plo,
had enlisted some twenty or thirty young men on
board to carry the horrid project The plot WAS
fortunately discovered the very night of the in
tended massacre, after the vessel had been to sea
some two weeks The moment the conspirators
found out they were discovered, they met in BODY
and went to the captain, and demanded possession
of the vessel
All this was at nj ght-the officers however, after
something OF struggle, overpowered the mutt
neers and regained complete possession of the yes.
Sc. A Court Martial was immediately instituted
and Spencer with two others were condemned to
be executed;wthln ten minutes after the decision of
the Court, the three CONDEMNED culprits were hung
at the yard arm of the vessel The remainder of
the mutlneers were put in irons Spencer was
about ~ years Of age, and received his warrant of
mldshpman on the 10Th November, 1871. The
New York Journal of Commerce says that the Off
GERS OF the vessel orebore for some time to disclose
the transaction, the arrival of the vessel al New
York; deeming it prudent, the matter should first
be communicated to the Government.
The news OF this mutiny will fall heavily upon the
Secretary OF War, and general feeling of sympa-
thy will be felt for him in his family afflicIon.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
The report is document of great length making
some SIX columns in the papers.-The present U.
States service is made up as follows:
III Commissioned officers
IL Store military store keepers.
25O Men for the ordinance service
1880 non-commssioned officers, musicians and
prlyates.
~ Chaplains and school teachers.
The estimated expenditure of this department o..
the government for 1913, is over million of dol
lars less than the expenditure OF 1912, and nearly
two millions less than in 1910. The diminunition
OF expenditures is owing to the cessation of HOSTILE
ties IN Florida. The report estimates that the
whole military establishment of the United States,
exclusive OF appropriations for Notifications and Or
dnance, can be maintained for about So, OOO, 900
per annum.
The report embraces great variety of subjects
connected with the war department; the following
extract relates to appropriations for harbors on lake
Michigan.
g | cannot omit to call attention to report of
Capt. Williams, respecting the urgent necessity of
harbor on the west side of Lake Michigan and
the improvement of the navigation at the mouth of
the St. Clair river. These are exceedingly impor-
tant 20 the United States to enable us to furnish
supplies to the Indian tribes, and military stores and
subsistence for the the troops which, even in time
OF peace must be maintained in that quarter and
which, In the event OF hostes, will afford the on
y barrier between savage ferosity and our frontier
settlements. But to fellow citizens of that re-
glon, who have purchased the public lands, safe
access to the markets of the east is so essential as
to justify their calls upon the government for a COM
mon share OF Its protection. The commerce Of the
lakes, comprising the production of seven states
and one territory, which must annually exceed %
millions OF dollars, would seem entitled to consider
alton and assistance, not only account OF the
great interests involved in its success, but on the
ground also, of fair apportionment of the fostering
and protecting aid of the government. This COM
merce affords the only effective of supplying
the nation with mariners, who will be found ndls-
pensable IN that quarter, in the event of hoshtes