The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-02-22
&W HE9s OF YESTERDAY
Echo cf Famous Naval Sensa-
ton Of the FOrties.
sastrlsution" That oysresms Alex
der Mackenzie for Hanging Tires
Mutincus Apprentices, One %
the Secretary Of Wars Son.

tie Secretary Of Wars Son.
Ry E. 3. EDWARDS.
Some ten 81 twelve years ago 7 was
Che guest al tie country home near
Tarrytovn. y. y, " tie late G. e
Clarke. chen Fice-pIesident oi the New
York Central raiiwas system and for
many years The right hand of Commo
dofe Vanderbilt and bis son William
r.. in Vie financial administration of
thar system Mr. Clarke vas anxious
81 show me some ol the historic spots
in Iarrgtown and ID its vicinity and
especially SLEEPY Hollow. sflll redoient
Riih the traditions OF Washington irv
ings ard also to point on 70 me tho
srot where the three pickets of The Rev
customary army bad captured Major
Andre. AS we we're riding along the
highway not far from the point ahon
the side q it where tie monument
erected and commemorated 10 tha
capture Of Andre stands. Mr. Clarke
suddenly told the driver to rein ia
the horses TO a walk
fl was about there. he said paint
ing that Alexander Siidell was killed
| presume. however that you do not
know him by that name. vet he was
brother Of John slidell. who was
member Of the United States senate.
representing Louisiana. and who was
one OF the two commissioners Of the
Confederate government who were
taken from the British mail steamer
Trent BY Captain Wilkes at the begin
ming Of the Civil war. an action which
almost brought about war between
England and the United States
Alexander sliaell. better known as
Alexander Mackenzie. was the cause
Of one Of the most sensational Incl.
dents in the history OF the United
States" Mr Clarke continued. THE
name ol Mackenzie be legally as
sumcd II was bis mothers maidea
name, and Il Is my recollection that be
assumed i at the request Of one Of
her near relatives. an uncle. It may
be that a promise Of Inheritance
csused him to make this change in.
surnames. AT any rate, he was an of-
ieer IL the Unlled states navy, and Ia
1872 was u command Of The 5rig-of-
war somers.
Upon that brig we're large mum.
Der Of apprentices: they practically
constituted the crew. One Of them
was a son Of John c. Spencer, who
was at that time secretary OF war ID
the cabinet Of President Tyler.
when the Sonlers was In midocean.
returning from ths African coast. Com
mander Mackenzie heaFd that mu.
tiny was brewing H. instantly III
vestigated and had three of the ap.
prentices arrested as ring leaders Of
the alleged conspiracy and court-mar-
tailed on the deck They were found
guilty and were hanged from the yard
arm. One Of them was the son Of the
secretary OF war.
Il remember well what a tremendous
sensation the news Of the execution
created; / was then 20 years Of age
Mackenzie was himself court-martial.
ed. but il was found that ne had act
ed strictly in accordance with the
rules. aud he therefore could not be
convicted. But il he was ACQUITTED
= courtmariial. he must have suffer.
ed agonies. in view of the fact thar
the American people almost to a man
turned their faces against MIN. He
was told publicly and privately that
there would be aNful reli8ution fol
him.
About four years later. during the
Mexican war-in which Mackenzie
took part on land. BIZ the way-csme
the report that the brig somers had
sunk IN midoeean with the loss Of q
large part Of its crew. and ia public
and private It was said thar r.tri
button for the hanging Of a mere bor
was begun Two years elapsed ana
then one day about six years after
the hanging Of young spencer-aiac.
kenzie. who had retired Is Tafrytosn
was out riding horseback along. this
road. that was his only recreation
Suddenly the horse shied-no one
could ten al what-an threw Mac
kenzie over his head. They lifted
him from the ground few moments
later. Lis neck was broken. And once
again It sassald by the ssDerstitlous
'Retribution ie- be haYging Of young
spencer-the final retn5utlon
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