Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-06-28
Death of the Relic OF Comm Odore
Mackenzie Recalls an ODD Time
National Sensation.
TSt. Louis Republican.

St. Louis Republican
The death, as reported by telegraph OF
Mrs Alexander Sidell Mackensie, at the res
idence of her son Brigadier General r. S
Mackenzie, U. S. A., San.a Fe, N. M, will
recall to mind the excitement created some
forty years ago by the hanging of Spencer
Cromwell and others on board the brig Somers
commanded by her distinguished husband,
Commodore Alexander Sideu Mackenzie. The
Commodore had achieved quite literary
reputation and his name was familiar to
American readers. He was the author Of a
Year in Spain, by Young American" and
"Spain Revisited" He was author Of pop
ular life of Paul Jones, and some other
works which were tavorably received, be-
sides being a valued contributor of the
Knickerbocker and other periodicals Of that
day. The Somers went out in 1914 with a
crew OF 100 men and 96 apprentice boys un-
der age, and ON the return from the coast
of Africa, While approaching the Isle of
Pines, mutiny was suspected, which
demanded severe measures as the officers
believed, to secure the safety Of the ship.
After an investigation the young men above
mentioned were hung to the yardarm. 1t
was believed that the conspirators intended
to murder the officers and divert the vessel
into a piratical cruiser. Commodore Ma
kenzie on reaching New York marched to
the nearest church and returned thanks to
Almighty God for their safe deliverance.
He also sent to Washington sealed dis
patch, conveying the first news oil the
tragedy that had been enacted. The intelli-
gence, as spread through the country,
caused sensation, and what added to the
interest was the fact that Spencer, the ring
leader in the suspected mutiny, was son
of John C. Spencer, the then Secretary of
War under President Tyler's administration.
AS was natural Secretary Spencer wrote a
letter, which was extensively published, de-
nouncing the act of Makensie as illegal and
unnecessary, and saying if there were any
grounds for believing that a mutiny was
contemplated the prisoners, after their ar
rest and confinement in irons, should and
could have been brought with safety to the
United States, where they could then unds r
20 legal trial. The Commodore was tried
by G urt of Inquiry, and also by Court
martial, the trial lasting two months, and
he was acquitted. Complaint was made
during the trial because Benjamin F. Butler
and Charles OConoI, employed by the
father OF young Spencer, were not allowed
to sit by and put the questions approved by
the Court Whatever may be thought of the
character and necessity of the execution at
this late day, the act of Mackensie was
complimented by the merchants of New
York and applauded by the press at the
time, and the public voice generally was in
his favor. Regarding the further history of
Commodore Mackenzie, it may be stated tnat
five years after the tragedy on the brig So
mers the Mexican war broke out, and
towards its close Mackenzie was sent on
secret mission by President Polk lat the in
stance of the late Senator Slidell, brother
of Alexander Sidell Mackenzie, whose name
was changed to meet some beQuest,) to
Santa Anna, then at Havana with scheme
to restore that ex-Dictator to Mexico, upon
some agreement advantageous to the United
States; but the conference did not succeed.
Mackenzie, few years Later, was killed by a
fall from horse, and the brig Somers went
down to the bottom of sea the with all on
hoard