Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-01-03
AN HEROIC CAPTAINS SORE d.
JENNA.
But DUTY DONE AT EVERY COST
A Cabinet Officers Son Hanged From
the Ships Yardarin for Proposing
Piratical Plans.-A Story Of Attempt
Cd Crime That Shocked the United
States Nation.

Oh board the brig Somers, commanded
then By Alexander Mackenzie. Tine
grief and shame which prevailed TINS
old Spencer home at the Christmastlde
Of 1872 can only be imagined when the
tale Of young Spencer's crime IS toid.
Veterans Of the navy, Old officers Of
the retired list now living in wash
lngton, speak Of the Spencer case with
emphatic comment as the most shock
ing and unparalleled portion Of naVa.
history.
The more shocking, too, because
there has always been d controversy
as to the guilt Of one eonspirator
whose life paid the penalty, imposed
! only on pirates hanging from the
yardarm Young Spencer went to sea
| imbued with a love of adventure, says
washington correspondent Of the
Cincinnati Enquirer, He had read pi-
ratical tales, and reyeled in stories OF
corsair crimes and longed to discard
the stars and stripes for the skull and
cross bones of the black flag.
The brig Somers was on the home
ward trip from Liberia. During the
voyage Capt Mackenzie was told that
conspiracy for mutiny was being
organized; that the plot included the
murder of commander, officers and
many of the crew, after which the
flag Of the corsair was to be raised
and deyilish schemes Of piratical char
acter were to be carried out. Capt.
Mackenzie sat as one stunned when
this was told him, and would not be-
| lleye 1t. Much less did he want TO be-
llieye when told that Midshipman Spen-
cor a sor Of one Of President Tylers
cabinet officers, was at the head OF the
conspiracy. The astonished captain
| tried To persuade himself that Spencer
was only receiving in sport some stories
of pirate life and had worked upon
the superstitious sailors. But no
Facts with confederation showed that
Spencer himself had fancled the life
OF d pirate that he had taken into
his confidence several of the shlp's
crew. and that he had actually con
WINGED them that the conspiracy could
be carried out successfully. capt
Mackenzie was compelled to believe
that his own life was in danger, thal
the plot was to kill first the captain
then the officers, and imprison those
who might be persuaded to join in The
mutiny later on.
TOLD HIM ON THE QUIET,
Spencer had taken Wales, the ships
steward. to a secluded spot one night
and had unfolded the plan, beginning
with abiurationS of secrecy and ther
these questions:
"Wales, are you afraid to die? Dc
YOU fear corpse? Would you bt
afraid TO kill man?"
Wales was not quite sure about his
position on such questions, but sus
pecting Spencer, led him on to a full
disclosure of the plot Already Spen
Ger had secured the aid of score q
sailors. They had taken the pirate''
oath, such rs Spencer had read abou
in Capt Kidd stories. and Wales tool
the oath also, just to show his gooC
will. Spencer was plausible. He tol,
Wales that the ship contained a grea
treasure Of money, that a box shippe'
as wine was in reality box of gold
and further, that when the deed wa
done. the officers dead and their car
casses thrown to the sharks, the shil
could be steered straight TO the Isl,
OF Pines, a pirate refuge. once Their
4 ,long. low, raSish craft" flying NJ
flag save that of the pirates, and wa
to prey upon passing merchant vessels
Once a ship was captured and DIES
poiled it was 10 be destroyed Tn
crew should be killed, the womei
should be saved for lustfnl purposes
and when ravished should be sewet
In sack and he tossed into the Sc;
like the discarded of unfalthful slav
of n sutton. Fiendlsh. iIdecd, wcr
the fancies which Spencer breathe'
into the ears of Wales that Noyembe
night rs they sat on the booms in tn
rigging Who could have thought tina
Il midShipman on leave, attending tn
receptions of his fathers home on La
fayette square, this young villain wa
planning the most dastardly dec
known IN naval memories!
That interview with Wales closes
with 4 threat Of death from Spence
should there he il diyulgenee Of tn
scheme. but Wales went ut once t
his chief aud told Ii all Indeed Spen
cor had carried his plot into details :
far that a written plan Of Il al WI
iii his cravat, sewed MP from sigh
An unsupported system of eSpionag
was established over Spencer, and n
MAS seen in conference with Cromwell
and Small, two Seamen, hitherto 9
uahlemished record Roth men ha'
receiyed money and forbidden sur
plies of brandy and tobacco iron
Spencer, and all III very bad form, 70
pirates had been very drunk together
In fact. outside of his fendish, pirai
zeal schemes, spencer was demorali7
ing the ships crew and It was time {
have him step ny TO the captain
office.
IN WAS ALI. a JOKE.
Then when alone With Capt Macken
2ie Spencer was confronted With "a
st,t.,. - ITS fai,I rSauSnirafay