Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-01-03

orimIy. as he took Off Spencer's crayat,
axnoctlng 10 find written evidence of
the plot.
Mackenzie frowned and Spencer
smiled. The crayat contained nothing.
where Is the paper you told Wales
about?p querled Mackenzie.
at was record of personal matters,
ana tore 1t up said Spencer, politely
warding off every query, but not al
LAYING suspicion, for he was at once
MT IN irons. A search revealed the
missing paper III razor case.
Even then Mackenzie was mystified.
as the characters We're strangely
drawn and he could not make them
out.
! Midshipman Rodgers was shown the
naper and saw that Spencer had used
Greek letters but English words
There, then, was the plan-the names
Of the crew counted upon to murder,
MAIN or destroy--and the revelation
was complete.
For all the captain knew the ship
was ready for mutiny. All OF these
men might be ready at Spencer's sig
nal to carry out his devilish designs.
f,romwall and Small were ironed after
close questioning. Cromwell denied
yehemently that he had anything in
common with Spencer and declared
that Small was the one who had last
held secret conference with the mid
shipman. Cromwell displayed nerve
and courage. which did much to bear
out his insisted innocense. Small was,
on the contrary, fdgety and furtlye in
his glances from the time of Spencer's
Imprisonment.
1t became a time Of awful suspense
on board the Somers.
Capt. Mackenzie found all of his Of
ficers true as steel, and talked to the
seamen They We're not so tractable.
Some were insolent. There were NUT.
terings fore and aft, and cloud of
discomfort and sedition. seemed to be
settling down over the brave captain
and his command. SO great was this
spirit Of insubordination that a council
of officers was held, witnesses were
examined, and for "a hours there was
continuous court-martial in the cap
tain's quarters.
DEATH WAS DECREED.
/ The verdict was unanimous, and
death was deereed against Spencer,
Cromwell and Small.
There could be no delay.
j The murmuring, which meant mutt
ny must be quelled at once. 1t could
only be quelled by strict observance
Of laws which govern the world over
the discipline Of ships.
! Death, ignominious and disgraceful
death, by hanging at the yardarm, is
the penalty prescribed then as now for
mutinous conduct, and the tragedy OF
a terrible example must needs be en-
acted at once
I 1t was an awful move for Mackenzie
to make. He was only a poor captain
and Spencer was the son of power
full and popular cabinet officer. But
he had no time to wonder whether the
act would be upheld in Washington.
II he was clement lie might soon be
a corpse fed to fishes.
The terrible discipline of war. which
hangs a spy and goes further than the
Mosaic law Of life. was now to be car
ried out. Spencer and his confederates
we're arragned like criminals In a
court and sentence was pronounced BY
Capt Mackenzie, who recited the con-
spiracy and concluded:
"You plotted to remove me from the
world while slept with out the privi-
ilege Of Whispering a fond farewell TO
my wife and children. | shall not be
so unjust Il you. If there Is message
you would send to your family tell 1t
now. There are those here who Will
deliver It, Speak quickly. Ten min
utes more and you must die"
Spencer was in tears and bemoaned
his fate. lamentng that his sinful SOIL
was not prepared for death. But he
found time TO insist that Cromwell
was innocent, and 1t has always been
question as to Cromwelfs guilt
There was no time to give him the
benefit OF doubt.
; Spencer begged for time. He prayed
: ms never A guilty wretch prayed FOL
forgiveness.
. "But viii it avail meT he cried out
, "Can I b. forgiven by God at the last
hour"
) "Remember the thief upon the cross,
said Mackenzie, and Spencer confessed
to other crimes.
} HAD PLANNED OTHER CRIMES.
/ He admitted that he had been insane
on the scheme of piratical seizure
that on other ships he had planned
/ deeds fully rs dark and fiendish, hu
, had never succeeded.
! Then in his sobs and groans ant
cries for mercy he remembered, as VII
+ the vileSt wretch on earth. his mother
} she who was then favorite figure II
the great social circle OF Washington
, and he feared that not only would mel
heart 90 broken TO the grave, but ina
! the father would be abased from nj
proud position.
An. mat was 4 horrible hour on th'
deck ~ the United States brig Somers
p and The ropes were seen dangling Owe
, the yard arm which swung out Owe
/, the sci. Spencer begged to be shot