The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1885-08-22
HUNG FROM THE YAHN-AHM.
Philadelphia Times. ]

~ NaN IL Ihy III tnp ONitIu- states
Navy. on the brig Somcrs. in 1872,
when those three men were hung that
were referred TO some time ago." said
John w. Davis. "The sight Of those
three young men hanging at the yard
arm, and their burial at sea at night,
has haunted me all my life. 1t often
comes up before me when Pm walking
along the street. can never forget it.
| knew Spencer, the miGshipman,
well. He WAS u wild, dare devil SORT
of fellow, about 10 years of age, but
good natured and not maliciouSly
inclined. l think the execution OF all
the men was Il grave mistake, and in
looking back at it l now believe that i,
was foul murder.
"We sailed from New York on The
18th of September, 1872, for tie coast
of Africa. but first began cruising in the
West IndiCs. In the latter part of
November, before wc rcHchcd St.
Thomas, Midshirman Spencer, who
was the son of tho Secretary OF War,
was suddenly seized one day, put in
double irons and kept prisoner in
close confinement. Two other men,
the boatsmain's mate, who was acting
as buatswain, and whose name was
Cromwell, and seaman, who was cap.
tain of the maintop, named Small,
were arrested a day or two artcrward,
followed by the arrest of four Others
All were pat in double irons. We had
no marinc guard on board. The officers
appeared to be frightened to death
about something, and the men of the
ships company were afraid to be seen
talking to each other. After Spcnccr's
arrest it was .nOis"d about decks that
he had formed a plot to seize the ship,
along with few Of the ships crew,
and turn it into a piratical craft.
Among others he communicated his
plan to the purscr's steward, who got a
first OF the cOnspirators and told the
whole stony to Lieut.. Mcintosh, the
executive officer.
''IWO or three days after the arrests
number of the officers met in the
Ward-room and called in a uumljcr of
the ships crew and examined them
The statements and oven the opinions
of each were taken down, but the ac-
cuScd men were not allowed to face
their accuScrs; We're not told what the
charges were in detail, and were not
granted any opportunity for eXplan; :
ton or defense. On the 1St of Dccem-
bcr, four days after Spcncer's ARE It,
he, along with Cromwell and Small,
were told TO get ready to die; that they
were going to swing at the yard d-arrn
at once. Spencer and the captain OF
the top acknowledged their guilt, and
were willing to die; but tho acting
hOatswain protested his innocence to
the last, and Spencer declared, also,
that he, Cromwell, had nothing to do
with the plot. Call all hands to wit
ness execution said the first lieu
tenant. The ships company sullenly
ranged themselves on the quarter deck
and at other points, while the officers
of the ship stood around with drawn
and sharpcned swords to cut down any
one who faltered in innicting the awful
penalty. When everything was ready
Spencer and his two companions were
allowed to bid their friends good bye,
then Capt. Mackenzie gave the signal;
IL gun was fired, the colors were h0is-
ted, and at the Same time the three
men, with caps over their faces, were
swung out on the main yard arm. 1t
was a horrible sight to look at. All of
the men died game. Capt. Mackenzie
then made q speech to us about thc
necessity of discipline and the awful
crime OF mutiny. At night funeral
services were read, by tho aid OF the
battle lanterns, and the bodies were nut
on tho uilting board and dropped into
the sea. 1t was Il solemn scene, /
assure you, and it made an impression
on my youthful mini that can meyer
he crauicatcd. In n day or two we
ran into ST. Thomas, and then set sail
for Now York, arriving there on The
I4th of December.
"Thcro was a good deal Of excite
ment when the news of the mutiny ana
hanging got noisch around and hun
drctls of people camC down to the ship
to see us. All Of the others arrested
were dismissed from custody. Capt.
Mackenzie was court martial"i about
month aftcrward, and the court sat
| for forty days, bat acquitted him. II
was composed of his brother officers
Mackenzie was not liked by tho mon.
lie was Il brutal martinez, anyhow
Fiogging was allowed in the navy in
those days, and he was very fond OF
| administering the scat for trivial
| OfcnstS :. The friends cf the executed
men tried to havC Mackenzie indicted
| in New y Ork for murder, but The iudgc
decided that the civil law Was not
! applicable TO his case"
We have always held that thC ic.