Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-01-14
Continued from last ,oeeh.)
NAVAL COURT OF INQUIRY.
MACKENzIE,s NARRATIVE,
u. =. BRtG SoNERs,
New York, Dec, I9, 1912. !

In the evening gave orders to Mr.. Perry,
my clerk, to have all the officers come aft upon
the quarter deck. When they we're brought
up, approached Spencer and addressed him
thus: al understand, sir, that you aspire to
the command OF the Somers With defer
ental air he replied, "Oh, no, sir :" "Did
you not" said |, 'sell Mr. Wales that you had
mutinous PROJECT on foot-that you intended
TO kill the Commander and the officers Of the
Somers, and such of the crew as you could not
seduce to your plans, and to enter upon a course
oi oipiracy 2" 81 may have told him something
like it," he replied, ''but it was only ajoke."
''You admit then, that yon told him Of such a
plan" "Yes sir" "This, sir, continued,
''you must know is joking upon a forbidden
subject. This joke, sir, may cost you your
life. Be pleased, sir to remove yoar neck
handkerchief"
He did SO. took it, and opened it, but there
was nothing in it. l asked him what he had
done with the paper that was i'll it. "The
paper" said he switch had been in it, contain
ed my days work, and destroyed it" an is
n strange place, sir" said I, 'To keep your ac~
counts" He acquesced with an air of the
greatest Difference and blandness. l said to
him, "Your design was to make yourself COM
mander of this vessel. You must have been
aware that you could compass it only by pass
ing over my dead body, aid over the dead bodies
OF all the officers of the Somers. You have laid
out for yourself, sir, great deal to do 1t is
my duty 10 confne you" Turning to Lieut..
Gansevoort, said "Arrest MIR. Spencer, and
place him in double irons" Lieutenant Gan
sevoort stepped for ward, and received from
Mr.. Spencer his sword. Mr. Spencer was
then ordered to sit down he did so. Double
irons were then put upon him, as were also
hand cuffs, for greater security. l directed
Lieut.. Gansevoort to place watch over Mr.,
Spencer, and to give orders to put him TO in
slant death ifhe was detected in speaking or
holding communication with any ofthe crew.
The nature Of these orders was told to Mr..
Spencer. At the same time, directed him TO
allow him every possible indulgence consist
ent with his safe keeping. The task was exc
cuted by Lieut.. Gansevoort, with the greatest
kindness and humanity. While he watched
with an eagle eye over all his movements, and
was ready at moments warning to take his
life upon violation of those conditions on
which his safety depended, he attended to all
his wants, covered him with his own garment
from the squalls of rain by which we were
visited, and ministercd in every way to his
comfort with all the tenderness and assiduity oi
woman.
The officers were then remanded to quar-
tiers; the crew and batteries were inspected
the orders were repeated, and the retreat was
beaten. The officers ofthe watch were all d
pistols, with rounds of ammunition, and every
thing was put in order for the night.
On searching the locker of Spencer, a razo
case was found in it, which he had recently
drawn from the purser. On opening it there
was no razor within, but in its stead piece
Of paper in which was rolled another. On tn,
inner paper was written a string of characters
afterwards found TO be Greek letters, will
which Spencer was known to be familiar. l
fortunately happened that there was or boarc
another individual who was well acquainted
with the Greek--one whose knowledge Of this
as ofeverythiNg else, was devoted wholly to tn,
service of his country. The Greek characters
on oe..""g converted into our own language b
MIR. Henry Rogers, proved to contain the pla
for the proposed mutny. There was a list {
the different members of the crew, some {
whom were marked certain and others doub
fnl some were marked to be kept at all {
vents, and others TO be destroyed Thos
were designated who were TO do the work I
murder in the various apartments; others WEI
10 oper the arn-chest and the stations Of a
were assigned.
The following day was Sunday, and all wei
20 be inspected at 10 o'clock. took my ST
tion AFT for the purpose of observing Cromwe
and Small as they should come along on Il
quarter deck.-The persons Of both were faul
lessly clean and neat--they being determine
that their appearance should provoke no r
proof on account ofa tault in that partcula
Cromwell stood up to his full stature carr
ing his battle axe firmly and steadily;
cheeks pale, but his eye fixed to starboard'
wore determined and dangerous air. Sm'
presen,eda very different hgure--his sppea
ance was ghastly; bis manner uneasy -
,hiNed his wejpht fran side TO side, and