The Press., 1911-03-29
KILLING A MUTINY
Dramatic Incident In the Early
 History of Our Navy.
THE PLOT ON THE OLD ESSEX

Commodore Porter Got Wind of the
 Conspiracy Just as It Was Ripe, and
 His Prompt and Drastic Action Cow
 ed the Crew and Saved the Ship.
 There has never been a fleet mutiny or a squadron mutiny in the United States navy. The most notorious case in the naval history of this country was the conspiracy to mutiny on the brig of war Somers, which was discov- cred before it came to head and re- suited in the execution at sea of Philip Spencer, midshipman, son of the then secretary of war, and one petty officer and one sea man.
 Another famous case was the one in which Commodore Porter acted with such vigor and promptitude that he completely crushed the rebelllous spirit his ship When Commodore Porter was In com mand of the Essex in the early history of our navy there was an attempted mutiny on board. Here is an account of how 1t was suppressed which is vouched for as authentic: While the Essex was lying at the Marquesas is- lands, recruiting and refreshing her crew from one of the long and arduous cruises in the Pacific, Commodore Por- ter was informed through servant of one of the officers that a mutiny had been planned and was on the eve of consummation; that it was the inten- tion of the mutineers to rise upon the officers, take possession of the ship and after having remained as long as they found agreeable at the island to hoist the black flag and cruise on their own account
 Having satisfied himself of the truth of the information, Commodore Porter ascended to the quarterback and or dered all the crew to be summoned aft. Waiting until the last man had come from below, he informed them that he understood that a mutiny was on foot and that he had summoned them for the purpose of inquiring into it's truth. Those men who are in favor of stand ing by the ship and her oficers.' said the commodore, will go over to the starboard side; those who are against them will remain where they are The crew to a man moved over to the star board side. The ship was still as the grave. Fixing his eyes on them stead lily and sternly for few moments. the commodore said. Robert White. step out The man obeyed, standing pale and agitated. guilt stamped on every lineament of his countenance, in front of his comrades.
 1.-The commodore looked at him a moment. then. seiZing cutless from the nearest rack, said in a suppressed voice, but in tones so deep that they rang like knell upon the ears of the guilty among the crew: Villain! You are the ringleader of this mutiny! Jump OverboardI The man dropped on his knees, imploring for mercy, say ling that he could not swim. Then drown. you scoundreIr said the con- mOdOre. springing toward him to cut him down. Overheard instantlyr And the man jumped over the side of the ship. He then turned to the trem- bling crew and addressed them with ! RpDch feeling, the tears standing upon his bronzed cheek as he spoke. He asked them what he had done that his ship should be disgraced by mutiny. He asked whether he had ever dis honored the flag, whether he had ever treated them with other than kindness. whether they had ever been wanting for anything to their comfort that dis cipline and the rules of the service would allow and that it was in his power to give.
 "At the close of his address he said: Men, before l came on deck l laid train to the magazine, and l would have blown all on board into eternity before my ship should have been dis graced by a successful mutiny. never would have survived the dis honor of my ship. Go to your duty The men were much affected by the cOmmodOre's address and immediately returned to their duty. showing every sign of contritiOn. ..
 "But mark the sequel of this mutiny and let those who, in the calm se- cur1ty of their flresides, are so severe upon the course of conduct pursued by officers in such critical situations see how much innocent blood would have been saved if White had been cut down instantly or hanged at the yard, arm. As he went overheard he sue ceeded in reaching a canoe floating at little distance and padded ashore. Some few months afterward, when Lieutenant Gamble of the marines was at the islands, in charge of one of the large prizes. short handed and in distress, this same White, at the head of 8 party of natives, attacked the ship. killed two of the officers and number of men, and it was with great difficulty that she was prevented from falling into their hands."-New York Post