The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
to Quit Pub-
lie Life and Give Up
His Ambitions

fcers approached. and by adopting gen
orally an attitude of such bitter and
hateful antagonism to their superiOrs
that It was impossible 20 disregard their
conduct
Action followed quickly
Spencer, Cromwell, and Small were at
once arrested. The midshipman was
told by his commander that he had
planned TO commit murder. Spencer s
answer came, after a mOmentary hesi-
tation. in a laughing explanation that
IT was all a joke. Cromwell and Small
did not even say that For want Of a
better place, the men were kept on the
deck. in chains. Almost Immediately
they began to signal to each other and
the crew 1t became necessary to let
20 one OF the sails. The deck officer
gave the order. there was a hitch in the
sheets, and suddenly the whole tOpmast
went overheard. The crew gathered
quickly Spencer reached behind him
and seized a battle AK. But the Of
fcers. armed. were able 10 prevent fur
ther disturbance. and the torn rigging
was drawn up on deck
Meanwhile a search had been made
Of Spencer's effects Not thing was
found which seemed discriminating. Two
officers recalled that the young mutinee~
had repeatedly drawn pictures Of pirate
vessels. had asked questions Of them as
to the Isle OF Pines, and had talked
frequently or noted pirates Spencer s
neckclOth was as empty of paper as
that Of Captain Mckenzie himself
Then one Of the under officers brought
10 the commander the lads razor case.
In lieu of the razor. It contained a roll
Of paper. and there. written in Greek
al
ficers were set down to be murdered
Half the crew was marked for prefer
ment on the pirate. Several Of the 9TH
ers We're starred as doubtful" The
remainder We're either to walk the plank
or join the pirates
Captain Mckenzie at once summoned
his subordinate officers by a letter. in
which he touched upon the lack Of space
for the proper imprisonment of the
three men, cited the manifest dispOsi-
ton of the crew TO rescue them. and
asked their judgment as to the steps he
should take TO prevent the brig from
falling into the hands of the prospective
bucca neers- All that evening. Novem-
Der 30. these officers examined the sea
men as witnesses, Captain Mckenzie
and the officer of the deck watching the
crew while the investigation continued.
/ lnaltE came the UuClDS-
The officers were unanimous that the
imminent danger Of losing the ship and
the clear guilt Of the three men de-
manded their instant execution.
Next day. in the morning. Somers was
told he had but ten minutes to live He
asked for an hour. and Captain McKen-
zie. without granting his request. ar
ranged that an hour should elapse be-
fore the men were hanged. whips"
were run from the yard-arm and a gun
arranged as the signal when the ropes
were 10 be jerked upward. The young
midshipman and Small broke down and
I confessed
! Spencer admitted to Lieutenant
/ GansevOort that he had not only
/ planned this mutiny aboard the Somers
/ but had also planned 10 take the Poto-
mae and the John Adams while serving
/ on those two vessels. He said he knew
I IT would get him into difficulty; he had
/ tried to break himself of il; but IL was
/ a mania with him He begged the Off
/ GERS to forgive him. He did not object
J to the sentence-he thought It was right,
! he said. and his punishment just
/ Small confessed to the conspiracy. and
! on permission from Captain Mckenzie,
made a speech to his shipmates. in
/ which he said;
.Messmates and Shipmates: Z am no
pirate. I never murdered anybody, but
/ ] only said 1 would. Now see what
words will do. Take warning by me-"
/ Cromwell stoutly maintained his inno-
cence. In this ne was ar first supported
! BY Spencer The latter subsequently,
withdrew his support and Lieutenant
/ Gansevoort cited evidence to the com
mander which Captain Mckenzie thought
| conclusive.
At midday the men were hanged Spen-
Ger was 10 give the signal, but could