The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-01-06
From the N. Y. Courier and Enquirer.
NIusiny or Beard the II. =. ux,. .

and Enquirer, in relation to. the mu,inv nm hoard
the Brig Somers,. may .be regarded as semi.
official statement Of the Affair.". Some of the fact.
stated are such could only have been obtained
from persons attached to the Somers, either n.
officers or subordna,es:
The SOmers sailed from the port OF
New York about three months since, with
crew of eighty apprentices, eighteen
ordinary seamen, and an orderly Sergeant
OF Marines who acted as master-a,-arms.
she was commanded by Master Comman-
dant SLIDELL MACKENZIE. we'll known to
me Navy as one of the most exemplary
officers, and to the literary world, as .he
author OF a "Year in Spa.n." Her Off
GERS consisted of Lieut.. Gansevoor, If
Albany, and five or six Midsummer
among whom were PHILIP SPENCER. SON
of the Secretary Of War, and two sons Of
Commodore PERRY.
Having delivered the dispatches with
which he was charged. to the Comman-
ding officer on the Coast of Africa, Cant.
Mackenzie sailed for this port with the
publicly avowed intention of touching a,
81. Thomas for provisions previous to
coming on our cost at this season of the
year. A day or two previous to Deem
Der lst, and when the vessel was within
about five or six hundred miles from ST..
Thomas, Midshipman Spencer limited
part OF his plans to Mr.. Wales, the Pur-
ser's steward, who affected a hearty CO.
operation, took an oath of secrecy, &c.
which Spencer administered to him, when
he was made more fully acquainted with
The plan of the mullneers. They had ar
ranged to raise scuflie on the forecas,le
some night after leaving st. Thomas,
while the deck was in charge of Midship-
man Rogers, nephew of the late Com.
John Rogers; and when the men engaged
in ii would Of course be ordered aft to &C
count for the cause of .l,e disturbance, and
while Mr.. Rogers was thus engaged, they
were to seize, gag and throw him over
board, with as little noise as possible
Spencer was then 10 enter the cabin and
kill Capt. Mackenzie; and others were
appointed to be stationed at the main
hatch, through which the crew must pass
to get on deck, and at the Storage hatch,
through which all the officers except the
captain, must pass. All the officers, ex-
cept the Surgeon, were to be murdered
and thrown overheard and the crew,
who were below, were to be mustered OH
deck. The two after guns were to be
pointed forward, to secure the mutineers
from an attack, and such Of the crew who
had not yet joined, but who then elected
to come in with them, were to be admit
ted, while the others were to be thrown
overheard.
They were then to get oul all the boats
and tighten the vessel; after which they
were to make for the I" Isle of Pines"
tcherc they were to meet confederate!
They were then to cruise in search OF
merchant vessels. trading between this
port and Europe; which after being
plunlered, and the males on board killed,
were TO be indiscriminately sunk; and il
there CHANGED to be any females, they
were to be taken on board the Somers,
uio!ated, and retained SO long as the Pr
rates might desire, when they also were
to be committed to the deep! The ar
engagements for the division of the spolls,
5 tie allotment cfthe ftmafes,' the various
Offices on board, &C., were all completed
and drawn up in detail! in Spencer's hand
: wri,ing; and he assured Mr.. Wales that
he had hventy Of the crew sure.
From the moment Spencer made the
above circumstances known to Mr.. Wales
he was watched with argus eyes by
: Samuel Cromwell. boatswain's mate, and
: Elisha Small, seaman, who were tho
-, principal Iingleaders with Spencer, and
, who threatened to throw him overheard.
the moment they saw the least signs OF
detection in him, or had the least cause to
suspect tina, he had made or intended TO
: make any disclosures to any person.
Mr.. Wales not daring to communicate
with Capt. Maohinzic, mad. all the cir
8 cumstances as detailed by Midsh'pman
Spencer, known to the Purser, VINO
d promptly conveyed the intelligence 10
. Capt. Mackenzie, when measures were
Immediately taken to ascertain the rum
It of the case. Spencer's papers were mere
g upon examined, and all tire details OF thelr
d plans as narrated by Wales, 'cere Juty
E confirmed. Spencer, Cromwell ana
}, Small, were then secured, and all hands
! being mustered on deck. Capt. Mackenzie
n addressed them on the subject Of The pro-
$ posed mutinY, apprising them that all lhe