The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-09-05
A SUMMARY COURT MARTIAL.


A summary court martial Was called,
Spencer was gwen counsel, but
towing to the gravity of the case" the
counsel was not allowed to speak to
Spencer, so no defense except equity,
as charged" was made at all. Spencer
and four of his friends among the rer-
tam were sentenced to be hung at
daybreak. Wales was offered his
liberty if he would divulge the plot
and, base coward that he was, he lied
his part we'll and manufactured a
olabolical story of the intended pri-
vate cruise.
This was the damaging evidence-a
midshipman in a country infested (not
by pirates) but men, of war, where
from the very nature of things private
cruise would be impossible, was to
seize ship (whose crew were against
hlm), and with (nine) others, was to
roam the seas as pirate. Spencer
had red flag "a red handkerchief he
had purchased in Spain as a memento
of bull fight), he had once asked the
navigator how to navigate by dead
reckoning, something any mldshipman
in any navy should know, and he knew
enough Greek to write few names.
What deplorable criminal he was,
lost to selfrespect, and ignorant and
regardless of the nations welfare.
'Justice must be DONE" said the cap.
tain. The prisoners were informed at
7 IN the morning that they would be
hung at the yard arm at s. To cheer
them on the captain read a verse from
the Bible and ten from the articles of
war to them. Spencer was asked if he
had anv word to send to his mother.
The message was restricted to few
words, and everything In the shape of
denial OF guilt was taken from it be-
fore. 1t was sent. At eight bells the
ships company were paraded, the off
GERS IN full dress, and the men in
"mustering blue )" the marines were
stationed with loaded arms and ordered
to be ready to fire.
HUNG AT THE YARD ARMS
The captain then ordered the other
midshipmen to "man a yard arm whip
and run Spencer up to the yard arm,
and if any one shlrked pulling the
marines would be ordered to shoot
him down." AS the unfortunate
Spencer was thus basely hung for
crime he never committed or even
thought of the crew were ordered to
cheer. The Somers' log books says
"they cheered with lusty will" Well,
file of marines with loaded rifles
ready to shoot him who failed to cheer
was enough to give a man "lusty
will"
After Spencer four others considered
as the ringleaders were hung in success
sion. Thus ended the mutiny on board
the Somers, and thus was basely hung
the only midshipman ever accused of
mutiny, and he was not guilty.
All this occurred in the West Indies
within a hundred miles of the United
States coast. The most conservative
commentators on the case say that the
captain should have delayed taking
such decisive action until the United
States was re-ched and condemn him
severely for not allowing Spencer a
hearing before the court that tried him.
The FIRST thing done by the captain
when he reached home port at
Savannah was to march solemnly to
church and "thank God for so miracu-
lousy saving a nations vessel from
peril by pirates ''-plrates that never
existed except in the fancy of joking
midshipman and the crazed imagination
of a martinez who commanded the
Somers.
| DENOUNCED IN THE SENATE.
The United States Senate appointed
a committee to investigate the matter
and Missouri's great statesman, Thomas
Benton, who graced the Senate cham.
Der for thirty successive years, brought
the elcquence of his pen and voice out
in defense of young Spencer and
roundly de lnced the course that the
officers on the court martial bad taken.
Through his efforts, more than any,
thing else, It became law that no Off
Ger of the government service should
ever be executed at sea or in foreign
country. Had this been the case when
Spencer met his deplorable fate he
would have been brought into port and
tried by general court martial. The
fever heat of excitement and the first
fright of danger by pirates would have
been Gained, men would have seen
things in different light and the terri
Bile mistake that can never be repeated
would have been averted. Nothing
could be done to change the decision
Of the court that tried Spencer as the
unfortunate victim was dead.
THE FAMILY WRECKED.
Officially the matter dropped here,
but IN the heart of the gallant young
officers family grief for this terrible
disgrace carried beautiful mother to
her grave and wrecked fathers bright
life. The late George Bancroft was
Secretary of the Navy shortly after this
event, and it is said that this caused
him to devise some other scheme for
educating the midshipmen for their
future duties as officers in the navy.
The result was the founding of naval
school, which has since developed into
the present Naval Academy at An
napolis.