Louisiana capitolian., 1880-02-07
AN OLD STORY RET0LD.
THE FAMOUS MUTINY on BOARD THE
SOMEKS.

AN VLU 6IV1t 6blVAOs
THE FAMOUS MUTINY on BOARD THE
SOMERs.
III November, 1912, occurred one Of
tho most noted mutinies in tho history
of the American navy. While in mid
ocean the officers Of the United States
brig -ot-war discovered tlata conspir-
acy existed on board the vessel to- MUIR
der themselves and turn the vessel
into a privateer for the purpose Of
piracy; but the ringlcaders were dis.
covered and executed and the crime
frustrated. The leader in the affair
was Philip Spencer, son Of Hon. John
G. Spencer, tho distinguished states
man from New York, then Secretary
of War in the Cabinet Of President
Tyler. On account Of the prominence
thus given the event, It was every
where topic Of discussion, and re-
views Of the case written by q nun.
bcr of noted men, including j. Fenni
more Cooper. The Cleveland Leader
thus tells the story from the lips
of one of the crew: Capt. William
Burlington, well known along the
lakes and who last season sailed the
schooner Pelican, was Oneof the crew
of the Somers. He was visited at his
residence, on the Detroit road, by. a
Leader reporter, and related the sto
ry, though modestly ,prefening not to
have anything published as coming
from him. At the time Of the
mutiny Capt. Burlington was eighteen
or nineteen years Of age, and many
of tho facts have escaped his memory.
The Somers sailed from New York for
Liberia, with dispatches, but was
obliged to put back on account Of in
snfticicncy Of crew, and other scamen
were obtained from the receiving
ship North Carolina, MI. Burlington
being member Of the second crew.
On the return from Liberia, before
reaching st. Thomas, where it was
the intention to stop and take coal
and provisions, word was brought to
Capt. Alexander Slilell Mackenzie,
the commander OF the Somers, that u
conspiracy existed to capture the YES
sci and take her to Isle Of Pines,
where she would be joined by Mex
ican privatcer, and the two would
commence u career Of piracy. III
those days comparatively few steam
crs sailed the ocean, and Of course
the security Of the pirates was much
better than it would bc at present.
Mr.. Wales, the steward Of the brig,
first brought the affair to notice.
On the night of November Is, Mr..
Wales was asked by Spencer, who was
a midshipman, to 60 alOft IN the rig
ging, where he wanted to converse
with him confidentially. When alone
the midshipman accosted Wales with
a question, ado you fear death; do
you fear a dead man; are you afraid
to kill q MANI" Somewhat surprised,
though still cool and collected, the
steward listened to what followed,
taking the oath Of secrecy imposed
upon him by Spencer. The latter
then nnfoldcd 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 murder of the captain and officers
of the vessels would be an easy
matter.
When fully apprised Of what had
taken place Capt. Mackenzie ordered
a strict watch kept of the movements
of Spencer. In a 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 that it was a joke, and
no harm was intended. The written
plot was demanded, but Spencer
denied it's existence, and careful
search of his person failed to disclose
it. 1t 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 u number of the crew were
written who would be given Il chance
to "walk the plank" that is, be
dropped overheard, and Others were
to be given their choice between
compulsory service as pirates or a
watcry grave. +. Cromwell, the
boatswain's mate, and Elisha Small,
"a seaman from Boston, were also
arrested, they being frequently
discovered in conversation with
Spencer. The three were doubleironcd
and taken below. They were speedily
tried by conrt-martial and found
guilty, the sentence being that the
prisoners be executed from the yard
arm. They were brought up Oh the
morning of November 30 forexecution
Small was unmoved, and asked his
mates to give him good jerk, SO rs
to make sure, but Spencer was quite
broken down. He was exhorted by
Capt. Mackenzie to set his com.
panions good example by dying
bravely, the remark having tht
the desired effect. Capt. Mackenzie
briefly addressed the condemned or
he enormity Of their crime. Spencer
read from the Bible and prayer book
begged forgiveness OF all, and thel
said he was ready to die.
Black caps were made from black