Arizona republican., 1914-07-06
TRIAL OF
SOMERS' MUTINEERS

American nation wrung when in Dec
ember, 1872, the story became known
of the mutiny and tragedy on board
the United States brig Somers, then
under command of Captain Alexan-
der Sliden Mackenzie. The chief
ringleaders of this amazing plot of
lime and blood was no less a per
son than Midshipman Philip Spencer
a son of the distinguished statesman
Hon. John c. Spencer, of New
York, who was secretary of war un-
der President Tyler, officiating in
that capacity at the time of the
mutiny.
The development of the mutinous
scheme transpired on the voyage of
the Somers to the United States
from Liberia, from which place she
sailed on the 18th of November, in :
tending to proceed home via st
Thomas. On Saturday, the 26th of
that month Lieutenant Gansevoort
went into the cabin and informed
Captain Mackenzie that a conspiracy
existed on board the brig to capture
her, murder the commander. the Of
ficers and most of the crew, and
convert he- into a pirate, Acting
Midshipman Philip Spencer being at
the head of it.
The way the mutiny became known
was through the steward of the boat,
who had been approached by Spen-
Ger. He told him the scheme and
how he with twenty others on the
boat were going to secure possession
of it, and the steward told the
purser who communicated the in
formation to Gansevoort. 1t was the
latter who gave the information to
Mackenzie, and the captain told Can
sevoort to watch Spence. closely.
They soon found discriminating evil
dence against him. Then Mackenzie
directed all the men to duty and
approached Spencer and said to him.
Il learn that you aspire to the
command of the Somers.' Spencer
denied this Mackenzie then repeated
to him what Wales, the steward,
had told him, and to this he replied
that it was a joke. Then the captain
directed Gansevoort to arrest him
and put him in double irons.
The lieutenant was directed to
watch him closely and to have him
instantly put to death if detected
speaking to or holding intelligence
in any way with the crew. Two per-
| sons, Cromwell and Small who had
been named as accomplices, were al
so placed in irons. Then the cap
tain called all his officers together
and they sat for an entire day in
| trial over the three convicts as tC
what should be done with them, and
the unanimous result Of their DELHI
Grafton was that Spencer, Cromwell
and Small should be put to death.
| In the justice of this opinion Cap
tain Mackenzie at once concurred
and if the necessity Of carrying its
recommendation into immediate eff
feet. The petty officers were ther
mustered on the quarter deck, ant
they were each armed with cut
lass. pistol and cartridge box. aftel
| which the captain said to them:
| My lads, you are to look at me
to obey my orders-and to see my
orders obeyed. Go forward
The captain then gave orders tina
immediate preparations be made fol
hanging the three principal criminal:
at the main yard-arm; and all hand:
We're collected to witness the pun
| ishment When the captain an
nounced to Spencer that he wa:
about to die he sank with tears upoI
his knees and said he was not fit t.
die. Captain Mackenzie repeated t.
him his own catechism. While Spen.
Ger was engaged in prayer, Macken-
zie went and made in succession thu
same communication to Cromwell
and Small. Cromwell fell upon hi!
knees completely unnamed, protes
ted his innocence. and invoked The
name of his wife. Then Spencer
said "As these are the last words
l have to say, / trust they will b.
believed: Cromwell is Innocent"
Though the evidence had beer con
elusive. Captain Mackenzie was stag
gered, and at once consulted Ganse
WORT, who said there was not {
shadow of doubt. He was told t.
consult the petty Officers. he wa!
condemned by reclamation by all o
them, as the one man of whom the.
had real apprehension.
| Before he was hung Spencer mad
a confession in which he said: sc
deserve death for this and man.
ether crimes. There are few crime
that l have not committed Thel
he asked Mackenzie's forgiveness TO
what he had meditated against him
1 This was granted. Preparations wer
completed and at the firing of gul
/ the three men were stretched from
the forearm of the vessel On tn
Il arrival home the tragedy was investi
! gated by a court of inquiry, and Cap
tain Mackenzie's course was full,
approved. A court martial was ais
subsequently held, at Mackenzie's re
quest, of which Commodore Johl
Downes was president, and the trial
which lasted forty days, resulted il
his acquittal
Tomorroy: Trial of "The Nun o
kent."
WATCrr NOD rrrU H,xxvry ~rr A c.,-