The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-09-18

| of-war was called aft to take part IN
the ceremonies there was a sort al
dread superstition il the mind Of
every one, The night was dark, ana
the storm which had kept us busy in
the afternoon had Left quite heavy
sea, aud the vessel tossed and pitch
led as she cut her black figure through
the bounding pillows, looking as
! though she was a funeral ear carry
/ ing the dead over tie sea. No one
spoke above his breath save slle can
tain, who read the burial service.
The officers and crew Responded now
and then with 81 sort of low
mutter, which sounded like muf-
| fed voices in she distance.
No one on board was quite satisfied
with the proceedings, for sailors are
superstitious,. and the storm follow
ing SO closely upon the strangling OF
these three men, and the curious cast
OF the water and the sorlber dark
ness of the night when itshould have
been moonlight and beautiful-alI
had it's portent to every tar aboard
that ship.
"The ceremonies took place by the
light OF battle lanterns. which height
ened the dismal aspect of the sea-
They were held close to the captain,
whose stern face never relaxed as he
went through with his last sad duty
to those who had suffered the death
penalty. The Pickering light from
these lanterns would occasionally
shoot out in yellow streaks, and rest
for a second upon the solemn faces
of the crew, and then SHIFT here and
there as ii in search of some new vic
tim to receive the last Offices of the
dead. AS [ said, the captain read,
the service, and all of us responded
until he came TO the words:
1--WE commit this BODY to the,
deep
"Ihen all three were dropped into
/ the ocean. There was a splash and
| 3 sudden eulp of the waves. as j,
hungry, and the tragedy was ended
! There was little sleep on board thai
/ night. Men lay awake in their ham
mocks marveling upon what had oc.
CURED, and conjuring up all sorts OF
/ tancies as to what it foretold for
good Or evil. Occasionally one ship.
mate would slip over to another and
speak with him in whispers. Two
men on watch that night declared
the next morning that they could
see the bodies floating in the waves,
although each one was sewed up
+! separately in a hammock, with three
tWenty-four pound shot at his feet.
Two nights later one man avowed
that he saw the MILDLY executed and
thrown into the sea walking over the
foreeastle. So it went on for days
! and nights until our ship reached New
/ York. Then the sailors breathed
/ easier but have never met one OF
I them to this day, and all of them are
old men now, who has forgotten ar
! incident of that arrest and execution.
! never sailed on that vessel again,
but took French leave of the navy
+ very soon after our arrival at the
t Brooklyn navy yard. This tragic
event had nothing whatever to dc
T with my going, but had seen enough
OF the sea, and never recall my ex.
:, perieDce thereon, one of which am
nelating to you, without a shudder.
The old salt who graphically told
! this; tragedy Of the sea is wrinkled
! and GRAY. With him was an old ship
I mate who had been his companion
:. on that Hateful voyage so many years
+: ago. Every now and then he would
add somefresh pointto the narrative
! that the speaker had forgotten, and
! by the two wonderful complete
j story is told. The midshipman that
4 WAS; hanged with the two sailors
| was; Philip Spencer, son of
. John c. Spencer, then secretary
i of war IN T,yler's cabinet. The event
I coslvulsed the nation, and brought
I Capt. Mackenzie to trial, first be-
fore a naval court, and then upon
the charge Of murder, which the civil
:: courts dismissed for the want OF
Jurisdiction How strange it is after
:: adj these years 10 find men still deal
inc in the affairs of every day life
! who witnessed that tragedy nearly
j Fifty years ago-one which Gail
4 Harnilton. in thoughtful review OF
4 the case: pronounces murder on the
part OF Capt. Mackenzie, the COM
nnandant of the American man of,
+ wsir.-Boston Herald.
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