The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-01-11

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!, mt to death, and ofthe high duty owed
10 the flag Of my country. "kIGHT he
exclaimed, "God bless that flag aud prosper
ip' Now" said he, "give me quick and
EASY death" Spencer said to Leut. Can
seyoort that his courage had been doubted ;
but he wished him 10 bear witness that he
died like brave man. He asked what
would b. the signal for his execution. toll
him that | was desirous OF b lsting colors
at the instant TO show that The flag oil the
Somers was fixed 10 the masthead; anf
tina, intended to beat the call 10 hoist col
ors and then II off ard at the third roll
a gun would be fired as the signal. lie
usked leave to give the signal. at once
a ,ceded. lie asked if was The gun under
him. told hin il was but one removed.
lie asked if it wcu'd be fired by lock and
wafer. was told that preparations had
bsen made to fire it with match and i'm
media'ely ordered a supply Of live Goals an"
4 esh Goals 10 be passed constantly and
then assured him that there should be no de-
lay.
The time is now wearing away. Sinai
requested leave 10 address the crew. Spen-
Ger having had leave to give the signal,
was asked if he would give Small the
leave he asked. He said yes. Snail theI
said:
.Ship-m tes an Iltop-mates Take war
ming by my example. never killed mar
bat only said l wonld do i, and for that
an about TO die. Going in Guineamar
brought m, 10 this Take warning ant
never 90 in Guineaman." Turning TO
Spencer, he said, {" am ady to die ar
your"
Clomwel's last words were, "tell my
wife tina, die an innocent man." From
the appearance OF this man in assuming I
be innocent it would seem that Spencer
took all the risk of the affair, and Cromwell
intended to profit by it.
placed myself where | could take in
the whole deck with my eye. No word
was given by Spencer. He finally said be
could not give the word, and wished me
do it. The word was accordingly givel
and the execution took pace.
The crew was ordered aft when address
e them. call dEtheir artenlion5 TO the
aaie ofthe young men who had just been
hung in their presence. spoke OF the
distinguished social position Spencer had
he'd at home, and held up before them the
career Of useful ess and professional honor
TO which course of faithful duty would
have raised HIM. Aft.'r having been but g
few months al sea, he had criminally asp;red
to supp ami me in a command |. had earned
by thirty years of faithful service. Theil
own future fortunes, told them, were within
their own nlrol opened 10 them the
stations ofrespectabiIity and Of future honor
to VIII oh they might rise, but told them i
could only he step by sep, in a regular
course. | ca led their attention sso &c
Cromwell's course. He had received q
handsome education, and his handwriting
was even elegant; but he ha | ,also failed
through his love of god. The first fifteen
dollars he had received from Spencer had
bought him, nd the hope Of great plumber
had secured The purcha-e. An anecdote
had been t Id to me by C ll;ns OF Cromwell,
which carried IFS own moral with it and which
l desired Collins to repeat. He did so: he
told them that Lesscnce went to India with
Cromwell, and that they took on board there
a kcg of doullcons for Mr.. Thorndlke.-
Collins alone knew Of IFS being aboard, and
KEPT tia secret till they went ashore. H.
then tod Cr nawell OF it, who laughed all
him, and said that if sie had known about
1t, be would have.run away with theskeg."I
told the crew they had onlv TO chose be-
tween TIE twc-Ctllins and Cromwell
Small also had ben b'ougIt up to better
things, but hal not beea able to resi>,l
temptation, and had d ed invoking blessing,
ON the flag of his country.
All hands were then called t. cheer tn
ship and gave three hearty cheers. ThreeI
%leariier cheers never went up from the deck
"of al Anne lean ship In that electric
moment | verify believe the purest and loft
aiest patriotism Eurst forth from the breasts
even of The worst conspirators. From that
MON M L felt that Ipas again completeIy
mas'rr Ofmy ressel, and that could do uith
her mhaterer The homer Of my country re-
qmrsd.
DINER WIS pred, and ! not 'ced with
se liHgS of pain that some of the boys, as
they passed The bodies laughed and sncered
a. them. | siil desired that Spencer should
be buried in coffin, and gave orders to-
have one built. But Lieut.. Gansevcor
offered to relinqu sh mess che It he had tor
III purpose. which was soon converted in
1 Substantial coffin. The watch was set,
n; d The boies were lowered. They were
rrcelvey by their messmates. 10 be decentlv
laii out for burial. The Midshpmen as
rist',d in the duty. Spencer as laid out|
d'hed in lis complete uniform, excerpt his
s" ord, which be had forfeit d t!e u ght rt
we:r. noticed that upon the hands of ont
% lie o'hcr: seamen had ii I'd ribbon -.
Ia ia LII