Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-29
TRAGEDIES OF SEAS.
---------------
Execution Of Three MutineerS Oh the
0. S. War-Ship SOmers.
BLOODY SCENES ON THE THLYER.
Two Indian Demons Stab, Cut, and
Kill for Thirty-SiX Hours.
A PERIOD OF GLOON And DESPAIR.
The ship Fired and the Survivors OF the
Mutiny, Half Of Them wounded,
Take tn the Boats.
BLOODY SCENES On THE THLYER.
A PERIOD OF GLOON And DESPAIR.
fwri,,en for the pispatea.l

arst and last execution OF q United States
naval officer for mutiny occurred. oh
December 1, 1872, three men were hanged
on board the United Statos brig Somers
for a conspiracy TO mutiny. the leaoer
OF this conspiracy was Philip Spencer
mIdshipman, and his co-conspiTators were
seamen named Small and Cromwell. Spcn-
Ger was the son Of the Secretary OF war;
and his execution raised a great excite
men,. The social and political influence
OF his family was such as TO cause con-
adorable division In public opinion. In
spite Of the admissions Of the condemned
men that they were guilty.
Tte execution Of the three mutineers
Of the Somers was one of the most IN
tensely dramatic scenes ever witnessed
on an American warship. An eye-Wit-
ness OF the terrible scene furnished the
writer with the following account;
I'VE weighed anchor on the morning OF
September L. 1912. bound for the coast OF
Africa, and nothing occurred out OF tn'
usual line until the arrest OF Mr.. Spencer
on the evening Of November 9th, at
o'clock quarter. The captain then gave
orders for all hands TO leave the quaruf-
deck The officers, with the exception Ol
Mr. SUencer assembled on the quarter
deck with the captain. Then the captain
told the executive otflcer TO request MT
gpencer TO come aft to the quarter-deck'
and as he approached the ofhcers' VINO
wore formed in circle around the cap
tam. opened a space for him TO step In
side and closed up again. Captain NC
Yenzie then addressed Spencer in these
words:
"Mr Spencer, I understand that you
aspire 20 the command of this Ship
Spencer replied that It was all joke.
The captain said II was joking on too
serious a matter, and ordered Lieutenant
sRanswoort 10 take Spencers sword ana
put him I'm double irons
"On November Both drum-head court
martial was held consisting Of the OIL
GERS Of the brig. and the papers that
had been found I'm Spencers writing, con-
tanning the names Of some Of the crew
who had consented 10 join In the mutlny.
were examined. The testimony taken
proved conclusively that Spencer Small,
and Cromwell had been engaged in a mu-
tinous conspiracy and they were found
guilty, and sentenced to be hanged
TO the yard-arm" At about 10 o'clock In
the forenoon all hands were called TO
witness punishment.
Captain Mckenzie, In slow and mea-
sured tones said 20 the three cOnspira-
tors:
".Mr. Spencer and Seamen Small and
Cromwell, you have been tried by court
martial for mutiny, found guilty. and
have but ten minutes longer TO live
Small and Cromwell Immediately called
for Bible and prayer-book, and asked God
TO have mercy on their souls. Spencer |
asked the Captain IL he could not grant |
IN
was granted, and the men were not |
hanged until ~ o'clock When Spencer |
was being led from the port to tho |
starboaTd side Of the vessel, through n |
small passage-way wide enough for only |
one to pass Cromwell met him face TO |
face. and Spencer had to wait until |
Cromwell passed through. When they |
mel, they did not notice each other, but |
when Spencer got over to the starboard |
side. where Small was, Spencer stretched |
ont his hand, and asked Small TO forgive |
him.
THE EXECUTION.
Small said My God, Mr.. Spencer, |
how can you ask me 10 forgive you |
when you have brought us to such an |
end as this? Whereupon, Captain Nc |
Kenzie stepped forward and said to |
Small: Forgive him. and don't go out |
of the world with bad feelings against |
anyone Captain, as It is your request |
said Small. 4 will forgive him. and they |
shook hands.
Spencer admitted the justice Of his
death-sentence, but begged to he shot
instead Of hanged. Captain Mckenzie
told him that this was impossible. and
at noon Spencer was hanged to the starr
board main yard-arm, and TO the two sea-
men. Small and Cromwell, TO the port
yard-arm.
va nj N
made out OF two mess-chests and Smalrs
and Cromwells were sewed up in their
hammocks and all three were launched
overheard with shots to sink them.
THE Somers arrived at the Brooklyn
navy-yard on the morning Of the 18th Of
December and for few days there was
intense excitement throughout the United
States The captain was tried by court
martial and honorsbly acquitted
Cases like the above are rare In the
annals Of any navy. but I'm the merchant
marine of all countries cases OF mutiny
and INSTRUMENTATION at sea were not un-
common forty or fifty years ago, but that
they have become much less frequent in
recent years Is regarded as an evidence
OF the gradual improvement OF American
seamen. Although sailors, as rule, are
praceably inclined there are occasionally
met with among them some OF the worst
characters who escaped from prison and
ship in our vessels abroad in order to
escape the hangman's rope. Occasionally
fierce desperadoes are met with on board
ships. ready to ply their trade of rufiian
or even murderer at the slightest provo
cation. and this fact renders the position
OF master or officer of a ship doubly
hazardous. IL is not alone dangers
from the elements and from pesulence
49, hn 90 IN N N
must encounter: they must also be pre-
pared To meet mutiny arson, and per-
chance murder itself Perhaps the most
notable and interesting example OF the
latter kind OF danger of remarkably
desperate nature occurred on the Amerl-
can ship Frank r.. Thaycr, of Boston,
some years ago. The particulars of the
blood-curdllng scenes enacted on the deck
OF the Thayer have long since passed out
of the recollection of all except those
who were Interested In the ship or her
officers.
LIKE a NOVEL.
The following recital reads more like a
novel than like a plain, unVarnished &C
count OF one of the bloodiest sea TRACE
dies in marine annals:
The Frank n. Thayer OF Boston,
commanded by Robert X. Clarke, of
Jamaica, l.. l., was a splendid shin of
buryport, Mass. in 1928 She had taken
an American cargo 10 the East, and
took return cargo OF hemp at Manila
from which port she sailed for New York
In the month Of November. On the day
he sailed the captain shipped two of the
native Indians TO I'LL up vacancies in
his crew. The voyage was prosperous
but devoid Of stirring or unhappy event
until midnight OF Saturday. January "a, |
when the ship was In latitude p degrees
south. 40 seconds west. At the change OF |
watch the two Indians fell upon the |
mates, Edward Holmes OF Bath, Maine, |
and w. Davis, OF Brooklyn, ~ V, and |
stabbed them fatally. one then hurried !
TO the cabin to serve the captain in like |
manner, but, having been aroused by |
the cry OF Captain Clarke, Captain |
Clarke!' made by the second mate as /
he fell dead at the foot OF the fore cabin, |
the latter was on his way 10 the deck |
without, suspicion Of danger uhus es- |
Gaping being murdered In his BERTH. and |
was met az the after companion-way |
and sIahhed hsy rpa 81