The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13

not, and II came from Captain McKen-
zie- With a sharp motion the thres
bodies We're hauled up in the bright sun
light and left turning in the air round
and round. Almost AZ the same time the
ships colors were unfurled. For a mo-
ment the crew stood appalled,. SOms
one proposed three cheers for the flag.
The response proved an outlet for every
body. When heard that cheer" said
Captain Mckenzie afterward, 7 felt
for the first time since leaving St.
Thomas that I was master Of my own
ship"
The bodies were let down TO the deck
after dinner. and. a sQualI coming ub.
they were covered with tarpaulins. Lieu
tenant Gansevoort gave mess chest
for Spencer's body The others were
wra pped in hammoclCs. Spencer was
dressed in his full uniform. except for
the sword he had forfeited The men
We're then called on deck TO attend the
funeral
II had grown dark meanwhile and Ian
terms were lighted. The crew passed in
line before the bodies and some OF them
laughed until reproved By the officers
Captain Mckenzie read the Episcopal
burial service. 1t ended with this
prayer. fraught with strange significance
10 everyone who heard and the ears
which could not hear.
Pre- serve US from the dangers Of the
sea and the violence of enemies. Blese
the United States. ,5atch over all that
are upon the deep and protect the in
habitants Of the land in peace and
quiet"
Then, with the ship scudding along IN
the dark. with the rigging whipping ana
swapping in the wind. and the pickering
light Of the lanterns lighting q hundred
awed faces the bodies of the three mutt
neers were lowered into the ocean
There Is mich more TO tell, but even
sunday newspapers are limited in space.
When the brig arrived in New York
about week later the news was car
ried to Washington by messenger.
The Secretary OF the Navy. Abel p
TTpshur, told the boys father in the
house on Lafayette Square. What
agony his announcement ertaiIed can
be sufficiently conjectured- The city
undeveloped, poor and ugly. was rich in
sympathy President Tyler and all his
followers were quick to condemn Nc
Kenzie.
For several DAYS the agonized father
kept TO his house. When, finally ne
did 20 to his office. he fell across the
/ threshold in a faint
Two courts OF inquiry were convened.
and Mckenzie WIS charged with muir
der. Strong letters were written in
Spencer's defense. One was published
in the Ma disonian, paper estab-
lished in Washington for Tyler's aid.
ard signed with the initial 3. but it
was said afterward it was written BY
/ Mr.. Spencer's sOu-in-iaw. The last SEN
tence viii indicate its quality: Let no
wanton opprobrium be keape6 upon the
I memory Of the dead 10 justify the
! bloody deeds OF the living" Horace
/ Greeley published a strong editorial in
/ McKenzie's defense. II met with speedy
answer. For months, until April. 1913,
when the court exonerated Mckenzie.
this fight continued amid great excite
ment.
1 A month before this finding was re
! ported. Mr.. Spencer was transferred
/ from the portfolio OF the War Depart
ment to that Of the Treasury. IN less
/ than a year he resigned from the Cabi-
net The ground given was that he
could not approve the annexation OF
Mexico. but those who know this story
will not think him reluctant to leave
/ the house from which he had sent his
son 70 the Somers. and TO which came
/ the news of his shameful death.
/ In another short year the great philan-
/ thropist was dead A year later. on it's
/ first cruise after the mUtiny. the Som
/ ers-accOrding to the sailors, haunted
/ by three ghosts, swinging round and
round fro1, the yardarm-wert down in
/ the harbOr OF Vera Cruz. And IN little
more than a year after that, the man
/ whom the young midshipnan meant to
murder in his bed died peacefully at
/ TarTytown. y. Y The mutiny of the
J brig Somers was over.