The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-14


with the Greek alphabet under the head
lines sure" and doubtful and puz-
zlingly crossed with pen marks. That
night there was a mysterious and unac-
eountable falling of a topmast and some
confusion among the sailors in clearing
the wreckage. Mackenzie, taking this in
cident in connection with Spencer'S story
armed all the officers and doubled guards.
Samuel Cromwell. boatswain's mate
and Elisha Small, ordinary seaman, had
been noticed to hold furtive meetings
with Spencer on several occasions. and
from their actions as they passed Spen-
Ger, who was in irons in corner of the
quarter deck, Mackenzie was induced to
arrest and fetter them. He next muster
ed the crew and apprentices. and made
them an address, taking Wales discovery
as a text, and bidding them take warn
ing if any were disposed to thoughts or
Intentions toward rescuing Spencer
Cromwell, and Small, or carrying out
mutinous designs.
officers on the next day reported to the
commander that the crew acted discon-
tentedly, and worked languidly, and that
some of the ships company and appren-
tees collected in groups and conversed in
low and suspicious tones When Spencer
had been four days in irons, Mackenzie's
fears constantly increasing, he summon
ed his six officers in council, asking them
to consult together and enlighten him
with their opinion as to the best course
to be pursued. They METAL quite young
and ineXperienced-and found the three
under arrest ito have been guilty of full
and determined intention to commit mu-
tiny on this vessel of a most atrocious
Character" They recommended although
no overt act had been committed) that
the prisoners be put to death Not one of
the alleged mutneerS was brought before
the council or allowed to make any ex-
PLANTATION or be heard in his defense.
Commander Mackenzie's plea when con-
curing in the opinion of his subalterns
was: I'm the necessities of my position
! found my Justification" He lost no time
in carrying out the sentence of death, and
all hands were piped to punishment. He
at once informed Spencer of the decision
and his fate, and, indeed, had not the
face of the doomed youth been turned aft,
from his position he could have seen the
whips preparing at the main yard arms,
which were known preparations for
hanging on board a naval vessel. The
young midshipman was told that ten min
utes would be allowed to him and to
Cromwell and Small to dictate any dying
messages to their families, and to make
their peace with heaven. Describing the
occurrences Mackenzie said:
1.-The intimation overcame Spencer en-
tirely. He sank with tears upon his knees
and said: I am not fit to die / then re-
peated TO him from the catechism, and
begged him as an officer to set to the
men he had corrupted and seduced the ex-
ample of dying with decorum. That i'm
mediately restored him to entire self-pos-
session. He engaged in prayer and
went and made similar communica tions
to the other two. Cromwell fell upon his
knees, completely unnamed, protested his
innocence and invoked the name of his
wife Spencer had already said to me:
AS these are my last words / have to
say, trust they will be believed; Crom-
well is innocent Small. on knowing his
fate, said: I have nobody to care for
me but my poor old mother, and I would
rather she would never know the man
ner in which / died. Returning to Spen-
Ger, he said to me: Have you not form
ed an exaggerated estimate of the extent
of the conspiracy" / answered in the
negative. He then wished to be shot in
stead of being disgracefully hanged.
told him this could not be. / extended
his time to the end of the hour. He asked
for Bible and prayer book, which were
brought. In one he read a bit, and,
kneeling, repeated from the other the
prayer for the dying. He dictated to me
a message to his father which I wrote
down. He added: 'Ah, this will kill my
mother The prisoners were now uniron-
ed, and under armed guard conducted to
the gangway, where the nooses hung.
They asked me to have their faces cover
ed, and bags were drawn over them I
directed that all the crew and apprentices
should man the rope that was to swing
them into eternity"
The commander gave the word, but be-
fore it was heard Cromwell had address,
ed his executioners, and said: Tell my
wife and Lieut.. Morris that 1 die an in
noceut man." Small also addressed them.
urging them to always do their duty TO
q n rxF TIa as.rr
to the peak, the signal gun fired, and in a
few minutes all three hal been checked to
death after some struggles Tho COM
mander now called; Three cheers Tor the
old flag" which were given, and then
Three cheers for God Almighty were
also given.
Spencer's body was put into a rude box
duly weighted and the other two were
wrapped in their weighted hammocks and
all were dropped over the side, while with
prayer books distributed to the crew Mac
kenzie read the burial service for the dead
Referring to this afterward, Mackenzie
said: Il could not but humbly hope that
Divine sanction would not be wanting
to the deed of the day."
Others of the crew were now put in irons.
those who had been suspected of insubor-
dination and secret intercourse with the
executed men, and in irons were brought
into the port of New York, but discharged
by order Of the Secretary of the Navy. The
latter ordered court of inquiry at once,
with Commodore Stewart-Old Ironsides
and grandfather of Charles S. Parnell-as
presiding officer, and Ogden Hoffman-the
most eminent criminal lawyer of the then
great bar of this cty-as judge advocate.
The daily newspapers took sides imme-
diateiy on the issues. The Courier and
Inquirer edited by James Watson Webb.
strongly justified Mackenzies action, and
Mr. Bennett in his Herald, as strongly
condemned it, asking why the accused had
not been brought before the council of
officers for defense and why could not the
prisoners have been kept in irons and
brought to New York for trial. Com
mander Mackenzie was even arraigned
for cowardice by the editor of the admins
tration paper at Washington, the Madi-
sonian. The Journal of Commerce COM
mented in a non-comnittal way. The Sun
gave the facts, but made little comment.
except to draw attention to absence of
overt acts. Mr.. Greeleyin the Tribune. took
a judicial view. Charles King afterward
president of Columbia College, in his even
ing paper, the American, supported Mac
kenzie.
The doings and saying Of the court Of
inquiry were printed at length daily. and