The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-02-27
The Brig SOmers.

of the most noted mutinies in the his
tory of the American navy. While
| in mid-ocean the officers of the Uni
ted States brig-of.wa Somers discov-
cred that conspiracy existed on
board the vessel to murder them
selves and turn the vessel into a
privateer for the purpose of piracy
but the ring-leaders were discovered
and executed and the crime frus-
trated. The leader in the affair was
Philip Spencer, son of the Hon. ). G..
Spencer, the distinguished statesman
Of New York, then Secretary of War
in the Cabinet of President Tyler.
On account OF the prominence thus
given the event, the mutiny was
everywhere a topic of discussion,
and reviews of the case were writ
ten by number of noted men, in
cluding J. Fenimore Cooper. The
Cleveland Leader thus tells the story
from the lips of one of the crew:
Captain William Burlington, we'll
known along the lakes and who last
season sailed the schooner Pelican,
was one of the crew Of the Somers.
He was visited at his residence on
the Detroit road, yesterday after
noon, by Leader reporter, and re-
lated the story, though modestly pre-
ferring not to have anything publish
ed as coming from him. At the time
of the mutiny Captain Burlington
was eighteen or nineteen years of
age, and many of the facts have es-
capped his memory. The Somers
sailed from New York for Liberia,
Africa, With dispatches, but was
obliged TO put back on account of
insuffic1ency of crew, and other sea-
men were obtained from the receiv-
ing ship North Carolina, Mr.. Buffing-
ton being member of the second
crew. On the return from Liberia,
before reaching st. Thomas, where it
was the intention to stop and take on
coal and provisions, word was
brought to Captain Alexander Slidell
Mackenzie, the commander Of the
Somers, that conspiracy existed to
capture the vessel and take her to
the Isle of Pines, where she would
be joined by Mexican pivateer, and
the two would commence a career of
piracy.
In those days, comparatively few
steamers sailed the ocean, and of
course the security Of the pirates
was much better than it would be at
present. Wr. Wales, the steward of
the brig, was first brought the affair
to notice. On the night of Novem-
Der 25th, Mr.. Wales was asked by
Spencer, who was midshipman, to
go aloft with him to the rigging,
where he wanted 20 converse with
him confdentially. When alone the
midshipman accosted Wales with
question: "Do you fear death; do
you fear dead man; are you afraid
to kill a man ?" Somewhat sur
prised, though still cool and collect
ed, the steward listened attentively
to what followed, taking the oath of
secresy imposed upon him by
Spencer. The latter then unfolded
the plan for the mutiny, stating that
it was written out on paper and then
under his collar, back of his cravat,
and he would show it in the morning
when it was light SO as to read it
Twenty of the crew, he claimed,
were leagued with him, and the mur-
der of the captain and the officers
of the vessel would be an easy
matter.
When fully apprised of what had
taken place, Captain Mackenzie or
dered strict watch kept of the
movements of Spencer. In day or
two the Captain encountered Spencer
ON deck. and asked him what he
meant by such talk to Wales, but the
young man explained it was all a
joke, and no harm intended. The
written plot was demanded, but
Spencer denied it's existence, and a
careful search of his person failed to
disclose it. It was found, however,
secreted in Spencer's razor case,
written in the Greek language; but
one of the officers understood the
characters and translated them into
English. The names OF the number
of the crew were written who would
be given chance to "walk the
pIank" is, be dropped over
OO0A u-dilu OtHOI0 WIZ W ClC W U0
given their choice between compul-
sorry service as pirates, or a watery
grave. F. Cromwell, the boatswain's
mate, and Elisha Small, seaman
from Boston, were also arrested,
they being frequently discovered in
conversation with Spencer. Thei
three were double-ironed and taken
below. They were speedily tried by |
and found guilty, the
sentence being that the prisoners be
executed from the yardarm. They
Il ZION. Small |
SO as to make
was quite broken
kexhorted by Captain