The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-04-14
". VA, MONDAY, APRIL IA, 1878.
Tho /" sOmers /" Tragedy.

there IS no prejudice or partially to
operate on the public mind, it is Nmaz.
ing that the perpetrator Of that great
crime should have been permitted to
escape the severest penalty OF the law.
The exercise Of authority, and hanging
Of his three victims, were slurred over
by the Government, through the in
flucnce Of Mackenzie's powerful col nee.
tions. Itso happened that l WINS made
acquainted with the particulars of the
affair ut the time, and knew precisely
how the criminal escaped the conse-
quence OF his high.handed proceeding.
The vengeance of tho Almighty has
rarely been more signally manifested
than in the fate Of all concerned in this
fearful tragedy. The Somcrs lies at
tho bottom Of the Gulf; Mackenzie
died suddenly Of disease OF the heart !;
the surgeons mate, who sat on tho
court-martial which condemned tho
poor fellows to death, drowned himself
in q fit OF delirium tremens; and another
member Of tho court perished in n
paroxysm Of insanity.
Tho alleged mutiny on tho Somers
was made public Of Washington under
circumstances tending to increase tho
natural horror consequent upon such q
transaction, without precedent in tho
annals OF the country. On tho arrival
OF tho vessel at New York Lieutenant
Gansevoort, her executive officer, was
dispatched to Washington, bearing a
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 without mentioning
the nature Of tho affair intimntcd that
something terrible would soon bo re-
yoaled. Ganseyoort disclosed 'no par.
ticulars, but his obscure givings out
created general and profound conster.
nation. On Monday the official paper
OF the government published tho official
account Of the mutiny, and the execu-
ton OF Midshipman Spencer and two
OF his alleged accomplicos. Mr.. Spen-
Ger, the father of the young man, then
Secretary OF the Treasury, was over
whelmed with grief and horror. The
news came upon him suddenly, without
premonition. He was q tender and de-
voted father. His son, apeculiar and
perhaps wayward lad, was his fayorite
child. He was full Of genius, not un.
amiable 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 my
evidence that would have carried con-
viction to the mind OF n competent
tribunal. Mackenzie attempted to
palliate his guilt by the declaration that
the execution Of the young man was
ordered for the reason thatthe influence
OF his father would have screened him
from punishmentif he had been brought
home for trial. In other words, he had
hung Spencer and his associates because
OF his apprehension that they would be
acquitted il tried by n court having
authority to take cognizancc OF the
accusation.
The trial Of Mackenzie by court-mar-
tial 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 discipline and
honor OF the service required not only
the acquittal Of the chief criminal and
his subordinates, but the formal mp
proval Of their cruel and atrocious con-
duct, itonlyremained to shape the court
and conform its decision accordingly.
There was circumstance known to the
commanding officer OF the receiving
ship Hudson which, il brought to the
public knowledge, would have made the
acquittGl difficult, II not impossible.
When the Somers arrived at New York
she was anchored in the lower bny,
communication with the shore being
strictly prohibited. Mackenzie visited
the Navy.yard, reporting his arrival to
the commanding officer. Hethen called
upon Captain Peck, in command Of the
Hudson. Peck and himself were OF the
same grade in tho 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 tho mutiny and
the hanging Of Midshipman Spencer
and two confederates in the crime. Peck
naturally inquired how many OF tho
mutineers 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 mu-
tinous crew were none OF them under
arrest; thathe had been able to subdue
the insurrection and after the execu-
ton 1t had not been found necessary to
confine any OF the men. "What," cx-
claimed Peck, ga mutiny so extensive
and formidable us to justify hanging
an officer and two OF his associates, and
nobody in irons r. Mackenzie returned
Immediately on board tho Somers, and
seizing upon the first dozen Of the men
upon whom he could lny his hands,
clapped them in irons. The fact never
camo to tho knowledge of the court,
and 1t was carefully suppressed in the
published nccouts OF the transaction.
President Tyler, q warm-hearted and
sympathetic man, approaching tho feel.
ings OF Mr.. Spencer and his family, and
anxious to alleviate their suiferings so
far as lay in his power, commissioned
n gentleman in his confidence to tender
the secretary the place Of minister to
Russin. 1t seemed to Mr.. Tyler the
most suitable mode Of relieving the be-
rcavcd father and his family to give him
the opportunity Of leaving q position
where every thing tended to keep alive
and cxasperate their misery. A change
Of scene lie thought calculating TO blunt
the edge OF their sufferings, and divert
their minds from the contemplating OF