New-York daily tribune., 1843-01-02
y0L. HI. no. aas.

tered the cabin and mentioned the circumstances
He received it with great cooIness-said THAI The
vessel was in good discipline, and expressed hi:
doubts as to the truth of the report | asked hin
If | should see Mr. Wales myself and get the in
formation from him. He said no-he did not wish
| NE 10 do so, or TO say any thing about it. He
assigned no reason at this time for this, but or
dered me to keep strict look ont upon hir. Spen-
Ger and the crew generally, which | did. Abou,
dinner time missed Alr. Spencer from the deck.
This was about 2 O'Clock. | discovered that
he was in the fore-top, and Immediately went up to
see what be was about. He was sitting on the lee
side of the top, with his chin resting on his breast
apparently in deep thought He did not observe me
till had got into the top and standing erect.
He raised his head, and as soon as he discovered
me got up and cvinced some confusion. Heasked
me some questions about the rigging, and about
the foremast head, which / answered in my usual
manner. | think he asked how the lower shrouds
answered, (Which were fitted differently from nny
had known,) and something about the top-mast
s ays. The pcnnant of the after shroud was fitted
with a square spar | observed to him that, as [
came through the steerage, | saw dinner was
ready, and asked him if he didn't dine. He said
he didn't care about it just then. came on deck
and left him in the top should think it was
about hour after that discovered Green in the
top with him. He appeared TO be engaged in
pricking India ink in Spencer arm. The crew
were employed in singing clean hanmocks. |
hailed the top and ordered Green to come out.
Mr.. Spencer put his head over the top-rai and
from his manner thought he wished Green to re-
main, though be asked no question. | repeated
the order, and then ordered Spencert to send Green
and other nes that might be in the top on deck.
Green came down Immediately, but no others
Spencer remained in the top. had not ordered
him to come OUT. | saw 10 others in the. top. |
ordered Green to sling his hammock. He answer
ed That he had done so already. was engaged 10
mastering the men for the purpose OF having the
hammocks slowed. When l got abreast Of the
Jacobs ladder on the starboard side forward, |
observed Mr.. Spencer sitting on the ladder.
turned my eye towards him and Immediately caught
his eye, which he kept staring upon me for more
than a minute, qritt the most internal expression
Ihavc ecer seen upon haman face. u salts
fed me at once of the mans grit As soon as
The hammocks were slowed, l reported the Cir
cumstances to the commander, and told him that
thought something should be DONE in order to Sc
cure him. He re fslied that we would keep sharp
look out-that he did not wish to do anything
hastily: and that by evening quarters be would
decide whst it was best 70 do l think 1t was
Just before the drum beat TO quarters, that
he asked me what l would do if |
in his ss:uation as Commander of the vessel.
told Kim that would bring that young man aft
{allading to Mr.. Spencer) and iron him and keep
him on the quarter deck. He told mo that that
was the course which he intended 10 pursue; and
that he was very glad to fed that agreed with
him. The drum beat TO quarters, and after the
ofhcers' reports were made, he directed mo 20 or
der ell the officers aft except onc which | did
r1 A he act p -
When efe cticers had assenbIes. aft on the star
board side of the after deck, the commander said
to Mr. Spencer, Z" understand that you aspire TO
the command of this vessel. How you are 20 ar
rive at il l don't know unless by walking overmy
dead body and those of my officers think
Mr.. Spencer said "No--t's all Il Joke. The Com
mander said /" It's very serious joke, sir and one
which maycost YOU your life. Do you deny having
had frequent conversations with Small and Crorg-
well?n thought Mr.. Spencer appeared confused.
He said Not was all Joke. lhe Com.
rnander asked him if he had not paper concealed
in his neck handkerchief. He replied e" no. =
His neck handkerchief was then oVerbsuied, and
there was nothing found in it. The Commander
then ordered me to iron him. | laid my hand upon
his sword, disaImed him, and ordered him TO come
out frem amang the officers. lie did SO and or
dered seaman doing the duty of armoTer 10 bring
his sleeves as if to bare lis wrist, and was first
put inhanl,irons. When these were on asked
him if-he had arms concealed about him. lie said
he had not, but perhaps had better overhaul him,
as he supposed would not believe any thing ne
said. searched him but found nothing except
few scraps Of paper. think the retreat was then
beaten The Commander ordered me 10 ann the
officers of the deck with two pistols each-and, /
think, with cutasses, theughI am not positive
The officer at the forocaste had one pistol
and cutlass. Tho orders were, ii Mr.
Spencer attempted to make his escape
or to communicate with g. of the crew, to blow
out his brains. told Mk Spencer these orders
and the reason for doing so--that he might avoid
breaking the rale.
The next day in the morning had conversa-
ton with some of the nen--whom suppose 10 De
true the Carpenters mate Dickerson, and the
Gunner's mate, King; though am not positive that
i, was not the evening of Spencer arrest. thnk
the Carpenters mate said ''that big fellow tor
ward is more dangerous than the rest; ne oughtto
be confined" | asked him whom be tnsant--and
he said Cromwell, The Boa,swain's mate. | think
King was then present. cannot recollect ali the
conversations | had for was constantly passing
about the ship. | am positive that Dickerson and
King, ia that and all other conversations had
with them, up To Cromwell arrest, impressed me
with the belief that it was necessary TO have him
con6ned and after that they appeared TO bsreleSed
They said that they believed HIM 10 be dangerous
and desired that he ght be ironed.
The carpenter told ne that once when ne mad
made for me single stick, he tod Cremweli that
he was going to putt in the Bostswain S store
room. Cromwell said he should not. Dickerson
said it belonged to me (winessl. Cror'weil an
swered that he did nj care d--n, or some
thing ef that sort, ard thai it should Mt go there
He put it there however, and it was allowed TO