New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-04-17
The Somers Tragedy.

tragedy at this remote period, when there Is
no prejudice or partality to operate on the
public mind, il i amazing that the perbeira-
tor OF that great crime should have been per-
mitted to escape the sevcrest penalty Of the
law. The cowardly aud tyrannical exercise
Of authority, the Illegal and atrocious hang
ing Of his three victims, were slurrei over nv
the Government, through the influence Of
Mackenzie powerful connections. 1t 80
happened that was made acquainted with
the particulars of the affair at the time, and
knew precisely how the criminal escaped the
consequences of his high-handed proceeding.
The vengeance OF the Almighty hns rarely
been more sgualiy manifested than in the
fate Of all connected in this fearful tragedy.
The Somcrs lies at the bottom Of the Gulf;
Mackenzie died suddenly Of disease Of the
heart; the surgeons mate, who sat on the
court martial which condemned the poor fell
lows to death, drowned himself in lit of de-
iIrIum tremens; and another member of the
court p9rIshed in paroxysm of insanity.
The alleged mutiny on the Somers was
made public at Washington under circuu-
stances tending to increase the natural hor-
TOR consequent upon such a transaction.
without precedent IN the annals OF the coun-
try. On the arrival of the vessel at New
York, Lieutenant Ganesvoort, her executive
officer, was dispatched to Washington, bear
ing sealed report to the Secretary of the
Navy. He reached there on Sunday. and his
awful intelligence was not made public until
the following day. The city was filled with
startling rumors, and President TYLER, with
out mentioning the nature of the affair. init
mated that something terrible would soon be
revealed. Ganesvoort disclosed no particu-
lars, but his obscure givings out created gen.
eral and profound CONSERVATION. On Mon
In ha ptii al &c 4
lIshed the official account Of the mutiny. and
the execution Of Mdshpman Spencer and
two of his alleged accomplices. Mr.. Spen-
Ger, the father of the young man, then Secre-
tary OF the Treasury, was overwhelmed with
grlef and horror. The news came upon him
suddenly, without premonition. He was a
tender and devoted father. His son, a pecu.
liar and perhaps wayward lad, was his favor
lite child. He was full Of genius, not unami-
able in disposition, fond of study, and addicted
to curious speculation shy, reserved, and
given to solitary musing. The story of the
mutiny and the nefariOus designs charged
upon young Spencer was unsupported by any
evidence that would have carried conviction
to the mind of a competent tribunal. Mac
kenze attempted to palliatc his guilt by the
declaration that the execution of the Young
man was ordered for the reason that the in
huence OF his father would have screened him
from punishment if he had been brought home
for trial. In other words, he had hung
Spencer and his associates because Of his ap-
prehenaiOn that they would be acquitted if
tried by court having authority to take cog
nizanCe Of the accusation.
The trial of Mackenzie by court martial
was nothing but solemn farce 1t having
been determined by the Navy Department,
under the influence of Commodore Perry and
his associate post captains, that the dsci-
pline and honor of the service required not
only the acquittal of the chief criminal and
his subordnates, but the formal approval of
their cruel and atrocious conduct, it only re-
manned to shape the court and conform ITS
decision accordingly. There was a circun-
stance known to the commanding officer of
the receiving ship Hudson, which, if brought
to the public knowledge, would have made
the acquittal difficult, if not impossible.
When the Somers arrived at New York she
was anchored in the lower bay, communica-
ton with the shore being strictly prohibited
Mackenzie visited the navy yard, reporting
his arrival to the commanding officer. He
then called upon Captain Peck, in command
OF the Hudson. Peck and himself were of
the same grade in the service, and they were
on terms Of familiar intimacy, having been
messmates on former cruise. Mackenzie
gave his friend his version of the Somers
affair, horrifying him with the statement of
the mutiny and the hanging of Midshipman
Spencer and two confederates in the crime.
Peck naturally inquired how many of the
mutlneers were IN irons on board the vessel,
and expressed his surprise that she had not
| been brought up to the yard Mackenzie
replied that the mutinous crew were none of
them under arrest; that he had been able to
subdue the instruction; and after the exc
cution it had not been found necessary to
confine any of the men. "What," exclaimed
Peck, "a mutlny so extensive and formidable
as to justify hanging an officer and two of
his associates, and nobody in irons!" Mac
I kenzle returned Immediately on board the
SOmers, and, Selling upon the first dozen OF
the men whom he could lay his hands, clap
ped them in irons. This fact never came to
the knowledge of the court, and it was care
fully suppressed in the published accounts OF
| the transaction.
| President Tyler, warm-hearted and SYM
pathetic man, appreciating the feelings OF
Mr.. Spencer and his family, and anxious to
alleviate their sulferngs as far as lay in his
power, commissioned gentleman in his con-
hdence to tender the Secretary the place OIL
| Minister to Russia. 1t seemed to Mr.. Tyler
the most suitable mode Of relieving the be-
reaved father and his family to give him the
opportunity vi lcdNIH9 pOSllIOu WHeTe every
thing tended to keep alive and exasperate
their misery. A change of scene he thought
calculated to blunt the edge of their suffer.
ings, and divert their minds from the con-
temptation of the cruel and atrocious crime
Of which the son of their hopes had been
| made the victim.
| Mr.. Spencer expressed his gratitude fol
the kindness of the President in warm terms
and requested his agent to make his acknowl
edgements for the thoughtful consideration
which had prompted the offer, and to say that
| he would prepare to depart on his mission al
| the earliest possible moment.
a week or more elapsed without the Pres
dent hearing from Mr.. Spencer. He remained
in his house, excluding himself from all soci
ETY.. Mr.. Tyler then directed his agent Il
call again on the Secretary and ascertain hi.
intentions. Meantime a change had takeI
place in his feelings. Indignation and re
sentiment had 80 far taken possession of hin
that he had determined not to leave thu
country. He would remain in the Cabne
for the time, but he intended to retire from
Office presently, and devote himself to tn
vindication Of the memory Of his murdered
son, and the punishment OF the cowardly vii
lains who had taken his life without the colo
Of law or justice .-4a Oh Stager, IN HaLpey'
Magazine for april