rim
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In Bankruptcy.
• ••1M 001 S•.; • •
ilmrrrioNs for Discharge and Corti-
J. Beate under the . Bankrupt Law, haviC
edbyy
CONRAD HAD, Farmer, Cumberland co.
JOHN McCORMIC,K, Trader, - • do..
MAN M. -AVOODADIANTiate - Mereliantilt• —
Iron Master of the firm of Min 51. - Wood. •
burn & Co., Joseph Laughlin and. Co. and •
• • James Wilson, Agent, • ' do.
JOSEPH W. PATTON., late Iron Master, do.
JOSEPH A. EGE, Individually and as
. MICHAEL P. EGE,S Partners of ihe firm
• • ,ofM. P. &J. A. Ego,
- • late Iron Masters, do. • •
JAMES COLE, Tailor, do.
. FREDERICK A. Iik.:NNEDY, late
. Coach
Maker, . . - do. •
nod FRIDAY the. fist dav of MARCH nesly at
o'clock, A.M. is.appointe'd for tha hearing there
. of, before the said Court,sitthig iii Bankruptcy,atthe
District Courtroom in the City of Philadelphia,wlien
Amid where.the Creditors oldie said Petitioners, who.
-hove proved their Debts, and all-other persons - th in- -
• Sorest, may appear and.-eiciw cause, if any they have,
why such' Discharge and, Certificate should not be
granted. FIIAS. HOPKINSON,
Clerk of the District Court.
Phila. Jail. 4 4 ,1843. • 10-10
NOTICE.
iETITIONS for the :Benefit Of the
Bankrupt L.tw, have been filed the Cita!' De
cember, I 842, - • -
JOHN •SOUIIDECK, late Merchant, now
Innkeeper,. Comherininlen,.
JEREMIAH MYERS, Farmer, - C:umberlapd co.
ANDREW late Distiller, now
• Mason, -, . Curnheilapil.eo.
December 26, .1..
MICHAEL M. E(E, • late manager &clerk
at Mount Dolly Iron Work s, Cumberland co.
' Which Petitions will-be•heard before the District
Court of-the linked States Or the Eastern District
of Pennsylvania, sitting in Ilankrupteyot the District
Court room in the City of Philadelphia, on FRIDAY
the 9.11 tr, day of JANUARY, 1813, at II o'clock; A.
3vlnao4lo where all persOos interested may_
. ap.7,
pear and 6110 W it any they have, why the
prayer of the•sabl Petitions .Should not he granted,.
and the said Petitioners declared Bankrupts,
• ERAS. DOP KINSO&, .
Clerk of the DistriCt Court. -
Phila. Dec. 21, 1842. St-3
- 11
Afin•
finale muter the Bankrupt Lam,bas been filedhy
WILLIAM DEAN, Saddler, Cumberland co.
WILLIAM 13. NI 1 LLEG.AN, Coach Maker, do.
and.FRIDAY the 24th day of 1 4 1:1312UARX next,at
1 I o'clock, A. NI. is appointed for the hearing there
of, botitlßT - aalit — CFatiT, -- iiirtiiillaukil'iptry , at
the District Co :rt Remo ' in the City of Philailtd
phla, when and Allem the Creditors of the said Pe.
tit:toners, who have proved their Debts, and all other
persons.iit interest, may appear utuf show cause, if
any they have, why such Discharge and Certificate
should not he planted.
FBAS. HOPKINSON;
=Clerk of the District Court.
10-7
Phila. De•c. 14, 1842
E - ScD . Gtdas)(D.
A PETITION for Discharge and Certificate
under-the Bankrupt Law, has been filed by
GEORGE HOLLINGER, (of the firm of
Hollingekand Daviii,) late Contractor,
Cumberland co.
and FRIDAY the 27th day of JANUARY
next, at 11 o'clock, A. M. is appointed for the
Nearing thereof, before the said Court, sitting in
Bankruptcy, at the District Court Rpom in the
City of Philadelphia, when and Where the Credi
tors of the said Petitioners,who have proved their
Debts, and all other persons in interest, may ap
pear and show cause, if any they have, why such
Discharge and Certificate should not be granted.
FRAS. HOPKINSON,
Clerk of flip District Court.
. Philadelphia, Nov. 3, 184. • 10.5 i
sloexen.
PETITION for Discharge and Certificate 'un
it derthe Bankrupt Law, has been filed by
THOMAS PLUNYEda r bmkeeper - , - eundrerain co.
and - PRIDAY the 27th day of JANUARY next, at
11 o'clock, A. M. is appointed for the hearing there
of, before the said Court, sitting in Bankruptcy, at i
the District Court Room, n the City of Philadelphia,
when and where the Creditors of the said Petitioner,
who have proved their Debts, and all persons in in,
terest i may appear and show cause, if ally they have,
why such liischirge and Certificate should not he
granted. FRAS. HOPKINSON,
lock of the District Court.
Phila. Nov. 9 , 1832. 10-54
--- •
1111011ETITIONSIer Discharge and Certi
ficate under the Bankrupt Law, have been filed
by
JACOB A. RAIJM, Innkeeper, Cumberland co,
WILLIAM NOAKER, Saddler & Distiller, . do.
JOHN DAVIDSON, Millwright and late
Butcher in Company with Samuel Davidson, do.'
and FRIDAY the 10th day of MARCH • next, at t t
o'clock, A. M. is appointed for the hearing thereof,
before the said Court, sitting in Bankruptcy, at the
- District Court room, in the City of Philadelphia.
when and where the Credbarioplanentikvav
-.Wbo-insseelitiMinifitrDetaffi, .and all other persons
in interest, may appear and Show cause, if any they
have, why such Discharge and Certificate should not
be granted. FRAS. HOPKINSON,
Clerk of the District Court.
Phila. Dec. 28, 1842.' • . 10.0
110.1t141ET VEILAVIRT%.
IUST recei ved,' Blue Black' and 'fashion
.. able colored Silk . Velvets, at the store of
Dee. 21 . 0842. • MIAS. OGILBY.
QR04410. O,LOTR-2 D 6/o.'
A
FURTHER supply of Low priced
Jail. BROAD CLOTHS, mutable. icie , overoonts.
Also CASSIMERES & SAT-TINETS, just newly.
ed at the Store of :.cgo. vir. HITHER.
November 2.11932, ' tf-55
•RkTS •lc.. CA.I"
.
NEW sttpply of fine Russia HATS,Just re
ceived. Aife Jo of Fur, Cloth,Colette and
air seal C & F Il ,
now opening and reale, very
low, at the store o . .. obis. ; coGlLli y .
Aide, Sept. 28,1842.. ' : ,11-48
800
rE
- 1911 H - subscriber wilt sell a ihesper and better
du rs e BOOT than tan be fonod in Carlisle.
• MBlT.is—Lody's,doolde• soled Morocco and Kid
Shoe's; Ties and Buskins, a superior artiele,tegether
with Bey'ekip Brogans, woolens' low priced Shoes,
children% Stit t : - • HARRIS. .
9 9 .!495., 134 2 r ; • , tf.sl
lathee MP Whigs.
OtUST opopiog . / I so p pl Of Steel IPopSklngo. for
• ladle* Grip s, S naps for CPA Fisteniogr, Whim!
0 . 0. Hair gins, Mewl Eyteto byoe Foos or dosoor
ZYkt MntheliTuM.Trifontin&sOke
•
110 4 1 4er ,sfft"
, • I , .. -
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'Those whp may read the following, stanzas
.from the pen or one of the old bards of England, will
we think, be ready ,to confess that it possesses me rit.
Old Shirley was a delightfoll poet, toterapnrary with
Sedley, Lyttleion and Quads:
' DEATH'S CONQUEST. •
, Some meri with•s*ords gYny mail the field,
- Anti plant fresh laurels' where Ehey 'kill ;
But their strong nerves at last must yield,
They tomb.but one another still—.
. Early or late
• • They stoop totate, • ••
And must gitro,uit their murmuring bteAtli,
..___When-they,-pale , captives, creep to. Death. '
• The gariniuls wither on your brow;
, t • Then boast no more your mighty deeds;
151 - ion Deathle purple altar now
See where the victor victim bleeds;
AN heads must come •• -
To the cold tomb ;• • -•
• Only the actions of the just • .
Smell sweet, end blossom in di • fish
• D. S. BRIO SOMERS,-
-- New ITArk, December 19, 4842.. S
Since my arrival at this port I have been
diligently engaged in preparing for the De
partment at Washington, a full and &tail
ed narrative-of allibe circumstances con
nected' with the mutiny on hoard -14e U. S.
brig of -war Somers ow - her recent voyage
from Africa; but having been frequently=
interrupted, especially by the solicitude of
friends, I have been forced to relituptish my:
140 intention'and confine myself 'entirely
to a sketch of - the prinCipal occurrences.
After leaving , the Azores and 3lndeira, in
October, 1 proceeded, according to orders,
to Totteriffit and Porto Praya. Thence 1. 1
went to Liberia, expeCting to 'find the
R.,-sloop of war Vandalia. — Bpi on arriving
•
there I learned that site, had sailed on the
stlt- of- October- for-the - --Un t - ed-Sta as-I
Understond. •
The despatches with which l'was en
trusted fc.r her liein g .thus , rendered onto
use werti left with theitnited- States agent
whose receipt for them is enclosed. On
the 11th of November I sailed for the
finite& States, by the way of St. •Thornas; -
where I thought it necessary to take in a
supply of bread, water and other refresh
ments. On Saturday,. the 25th of Novem
ber, Lieut. Gansevotilq camp s into the cabin
apd informed me that he had learned from
Mr. , Wales that a conspiracy existed on
hoard the ship to capture the vessel, to
murder the captain, bring over as many of
the crew as possible, murder the rest, and
convert the vessel into a pirate ; and that
Midshipman Spencer was at the head of
the conspiracy. This, Lieut. U.. said, had
been told to him by Mr. Wales, whole
narration was as follows:
On the night of the 23th of, NOvemiter,
between 6 and 8 o'clock in the evening,
Wales said he Wag' aroused by .Spencer,
who asked him . to go upon the booms, as
he had something to say to Mtn'. lie, got
up, and, on arriving, at the booms, he was
asked by Spencer, you fear death I do
you• fear a dead man.l6lOLy_out,fearto - kill
a man!" Wales,
.with admirable cool
ness, induced Spencer? to get On, took the
oath of secrecy, and entered into all his
plans. Spencer told him that he had about
twenty men in his plot ; that they wontd
'easily get possession of the ship, murder
the commander and oiTtcers,and commence
piracy. lie gave Wales all the details or
his plan,. which were_admirably suited fiir
his purpose, and -arranged much
. better,
Mr. Wales said, than he could. have done.
it himself. As an inducement to embark
in the enterprise, Spencer said that a large
box of wine on board contained a large
amount of gold and other 'treasure.
His object was to go tojpe Isle of yines . ,
where-cratruTliiraerailates, who had been
a-pirate before, had a confederate ; that he
would attack no vessels that he could not
capture, and destroy all that ' he captured ;
that he would select from them such females
as were proper, use them, and then dis
pose of them ; that he had all the details
of the plan drawn Ont.on paper; which was
in the back of his cravat. He allowed
money to Mr: Wales, and before eeparat
ing threatened hiaivith instant death if he
revealed what be had told him.
Such, proceeded 'Caplan' Mackenzie,
watt the purport of the information which
I received' from-tieut„ Gazsevoart. To
me the whole affair seemed so 'matrons
that I treated it with ridiculerand helieved
that-Spencer had' been amusing;himself and
Wales with some story of piracy he' had'
learned-kern - sonit - otifeliii of of murder.
, Still I could not help feeling. that it was
eportinir with a serious subject, and that
My duty required me to be upon my guard,
and I resolved closely to watch the move=
went, of Spencer: , I directed the Alit
lieutenant to °bathe , htM vary mariowly.
learned', that in th e' 'auntie olt the 'daY
Spencer had been itt ward-roOM, for
some time; and bad busied .himitilf itt er
andninia Attie pt-the.West.:lOdicac-sid
El!
3'o3 l s l tWre
By enzar.Er
The glories of our birtfi - and state ,
Are sltadows,not substantial things;
T_ herb ii,ncisti•rnor against fate— -
heath lays Ms Itiy hand on Kings g
Sceptre and ctown • •
Must tumble doittli.. •
And in the dust be equal made • • •
With the poor crooked tcythe . and spade.. •
NARRATIVE OF LIEUT. MACKFNZIE,
'lll2r2mzteml:Exlizz) •cJ=9'aam uEVz3t uamw2.
that he had made.ttome inquiries concern
ing the Isle of Pines. The lieutenant told
,him that he believed it was a place much
fiewiented bypirates, and drily asked him
if he had any acquaintance there. Spen
cer passed the day sullenly, and was often
observed _to be examining a paper, and Wri
ting with a pencil, and making rings with •
_
his penknife.
Lieut. Gansevoort soon after made some
excuse for. following -him , to - the foretop,
when hi found him engaged in working
I l e
some love devices, upon.his arm. He ex
pressed a desire to learn the ra
_, of: the
chronometer, and'Was referred to the nias-:
ter of marines.. He was frequently seen
engaged in holding secret conferences with
boatswain Cromwell and Small, and , was
knOwn to have.given- money-to differetit
persons of. the crew. He had also incited
the steward to steal brandy, which be had
given to ;he crew, and with which he had.
once of tdrite got , drunk himself. '
Speneer had the faculty of throwing - his
lower jaw odt of joint, and of thus playing
with it a variety of mnsical airs, and he was
found frequent)* thus 'arousing •the crew.
In his intercourse with me he was servile
to the last - degree I but among the cre.w
leained that he was loudly and blaephem
ouely vituperative against me; and that he
'had often abused -riie -in-the most - outrage•
ous and violent terms, and declated that it
- would give him real pleasure to roll me
overboard from' the, roundtop. I found that
I I he had drawn a representation of a black
flag, and asked members•of the crew what
they thought of it ; that he had often said
that the vesier could be easily taken ; that
he had not long before exemiited the palms
of the `hands of one of the midshipmen,'
to tell his fortune, and had 'predicted for
liim a speedy and violent-death.
These. things induced me to lookback
over allil , had.heard or observed of Spen
cer. When young Spencer first reported:
himself to me for duty on board my vessel ,
I gave him.my hanrand welcomed him on
board. I heard; not long after, that he had
been involved in difficulty ..when_onithe.
Brazil station, and that - he had been
missed for - drunkenness. Upon hearing
thiti, I ernestly-deisiregas removal froni
my vessei--pvincipallypn account of the
young men I had with me; two of - whorttl
were connected with me by blood, two by
alliance, and four were entrusted to my es
pecial care. The circumstance of hii.con
flexion with a high and distinguished oili
cer of the Governmect, by enhancing; if
'possible, his baseness, increased my desire
•
to get rid of him.
On this point I beg that 1 may not be
misunderstood. I revere authority, and in
this republican country I regard its exer
cise as an evidence of genius, intelligence
and virtue. But I have no respect for the
base son 0 f honored father. :On the
contrary, the conduct of that man who sul-.
lies by his crimes the .pure fame and the
high honor of his parent, seems to me to
be. far more base than one equally guilty
from,an humbler station. But I wish noth
ing to dp with baseness in any shape, least
of all. on board a vessel belonging tb4he
•United States. On this account I wished
to get rid of Spencer. Two others - potin
after joined the vessel, and thus seven were
obligeEtcLoccupythe_space - fitreMialy for
' I had heard that: Spencer had ex-.
pressed a willingness to be transferred, and
hoped that.he would now consent.
I desired Lient, Gensevoort to elate to,
Mr, Spencer that if he would apply to
Commodore Perry to detseh him from the
Somers I would second hie application.—
The application was accordingly made and
I seconded it c earnestly urging that it might
be,.granted in order to secure the comfort of
.the young officers,' Commodore Perry,
however, declined to detach Midshipty4
Spencer, bnt said he would consent to de
tach Midshipman Rodgers. I could not,
however, consent to pert with Mr. Rogers,
whom I had, ong,Anow.n..-to,bcarracematr
Paged `seaman, a gentleman and an officer
of the highest attainments, both in and be;
yond hie profession. The Somers accor
dingly sailed with seven in the steerage;
they could not all sit down together at the
table; two of them had no lockers but slept
upon the steerage deek,and subjected them
selves to considerable inconvenience,•to all
which; however, :they 'readily submitted
without the slightest murmur or complaint,
and performed every duty , which fell to
them to.the perfect satisfaction of all,the
officers.;
All these things I called to recollection,
, and endeavored carefully to review 'the
whole conduct of . Spencer, • I treated
him prechiely as I treated other• Midship
men dicing!! I had perhaps reproved him
somewhat less-tbas -theTothers
deviations from the strict lino of his door.
yhis arose from my conviction , that there
could.be but little hope of essentially serv-,
ing one wherhnd Proved' to be so decidedly
bbi .
-ownentunv, ,
dist he was
in the habit of assoeiS ng but little with the
other ofncerS,-bat,that hi was emistatali
intimat, with" the crew - ivas often,M
the: habit' *clotting -with 'them Mid 'Smiling
t Ahem, iniiMe - nr*
whenever becme
known but upon such - p.icasjclits o',';and
VAINIZSMERst 3#411a VAVVAIBIt an, nova
hadireguontly observed in hint a strange
flashing of the eye.
Recalling iheie things h addition to What
had been revealed, I ivsoi4eit id make my
self sure of his person, though I thought I
would first lei Mr. Wales have another in
terview with him, and'obtain further know
ledge, of , his mutinous' plans,. •If he was re
ally in earnest,however,enough was known
Already. "
An - the - evening I gave ori!era to Mr. Per
ry, my clerk, to have all thi'officericome
aft upon the, - quaver deck. Wken they
were brought up, I approached Spencer and
addressed 'him thus': • "I understarfd;sii,
that you aspire to the command of the So'in,
ere." With a deferential air' he repliedi
"Oh, no, sir!" - " - Did you not," said I,
" tell Mr. Wale's that you, had a mutinous
project op foot—tho you intended to kill
the Commander and Officdtrrofthe Somers,
and such of the crew as you could notse
duce to your plane, and• to enter upon a
coutse-_of . piracy ?" "I may have told him
something like it," he replied, "but it was
only in joke." " You admit, then, that
'you told him- of such a. plan ?" Yes,
sir." " This, sir," I continued, you , mast
know is joking upon, a forbidden subject.
This jiike i 'sir, May . cost you your life..Be
pleased, sir, to iemeve,yeur neckerchief."
He did so. -• I took - it opened it; big
there was nothing in ke. I asked him
what he had done with the paper that was
in if. "_The paper," said ; which had
been in : it ; eontained my day's work and I
destroyed it." -4 It is a range place, air,"
said I, " to keep yiiur arcounts."-. Heac
quiesced with an air of t he greatest dere- .
renge and blandness. " Your design to
make. yourself commander of this vessel.
You 'must have been aware that you could
compass if only by passing over my •dead
body and thedead bodies of all the officers
of 'the Somers: - You - bid - - laid - out for
yourself,'sir, *great: - deal to dd: lEis my
duty to confine you." Turning to Lieut.
datisevoort I said, Arrest. Mr. Spencer,
and• place him in doable irons." Lieut.
.Gansevoort stepped forward and received'
from Mr. Spencer his sword. Mr: -Spen
cer was then ordered to'lsit - dowri ;. he did
so, Double irons were-Ten put upon him,
es were also hand.caffs, for the sake of
greater security.' I directed Lieut. Gan-r
-sevoort to place a watch over Mr. Spen
.cer, and 40-give—orders—to
slant death if Ifetwas.deFected in speaking
or holding communication With any of the
Thenatu're of theseorders was told to
Mr; Spencer. At the mme time, I direct
ed him to allow him every poSsible indul
gence consistent with lie safe keeping.—
The task was executed by Lieut. Ganse
voort, with the greatest kindness and hu
manity. While he wriched with an eagle
eye over all his movements, and was ready
at a moment's warning, to take his life up
on a violation of those conditions ont'which
his safety depended, 11 i attended to all his
) wants, covered him wpv his own garment
from .the sgcalls:of twin by which we
were visited, and miniitered in every way
to-his-COI - Wort with alithe tenderness and
assiduity of a woman.:
The off'ic'ers were then remanded to
vivatters the crew aol batteries were in-
apectedoheifitileis - Werepeated, and the
retreat: was .beaten. rho officers of the
watch were all directel to - be fully armed
with cutlasses and pistols, with rounds of
ammunition, and ever 3. thing was put in or
der for the night.
On searching the bcker of Spencer. a
razor ease was iound f ie it, which he had
recently drawn from purser.. On open
ing it, there was no ipor within, but in
its stead a'. peice of taper in which was
rolled another. On do inner paper was
.writtema string of diareeters, afterward
found to be Greek letdrs,with which Spen
cer Was known 'to bd familiar. It fortu
nately happened that here was on board
:tirscinkeiderahAi t
with the Greek-.6ntrhose knowledgg of
this, as of every- thing else, was devoted
wholly to the servici of his country.---;
The Greek characters on being converted
--J
into our-,trwn - lapenige by, M. Henry
Rogers" proved to cotinv-the_plan_for the
proposed mutiny., 3 pre was a list of the
different members of the crew, some of
Whom Were markedkermin and others
doubtful; some wets l arked.to be kept at
all events; and others! to be 'destroyed.—
- . .
Those were designated who were to, do the
workof murder in th various apartments ...- ...
others Were to tipen,t a arrn.chest, and the ,
stations of all were a signed. .
Thiffolio - wingl
't,.aYi was Sunday, :and` all
were 'to be inspected tlio'elock. _ I took
my attain nit for the Purpose of observing .
Cromwell and Sind as theV Arlie, ,come
along Oil the
_quarter colt, . TAO Persons
of both were foul&
. 1Y clean and, neat- 4
they being deterrni d that- their appeaf•
'ance should :provok no reproof on ac;
,
count of , a fault in ' t ' t particular: . Oioth;
,
. _
i i i
weir stood up to p l i
, ,ill stature, , carrying
his `battle" axe firm ,y iiind steadily ;' his
cheeks pale, bnt his,, ye fixed to starboard .
He; wore A determin and *dangly."' air qt.
801 0 prey iited A It : differeni fiere-.
1 0*, 20p4arrica kik. , toady Itie Torn"
P •-----" ','''^' :C ' ' ' ' '' ;' '' ' - '.. ' ...
uneasy ;—he shifted Ilk Weight frontside
to side; and his battle ate from • lian'd to
hand.
His eye was never for a titoinent
but always turned from me. I attributed
hia conduct to fear ; though rtowl believe'
Ore . 14filues's upon'.
,iohich he had 'entered
was repugnant to hie nature, but that his
love for money and rum was too strong
for hie fidelity.; rive belle-Or 10 'o'clock,
was the • time for Divine service. ' The
First Lieutenant 'asked if he should call
dip roll, I told him it would be best•to
wait till the' time was rive bells
struck and all were called to 'muster. The
crew were all present, were normally attenz
live, and their responses were more than
ordinarily full and audible. In the exami
nation; their countenances exhibited noth
ing to excite distrust.
' In the afternoon the sky-sails and stud
ding-sails were set latteely; one of the
best apprentices, was sent aloft on the roy
at yard to make some alteration in the rig
ging. At once a sudden jerk was given
to the brace by Small and . another. 'who
has hot.been discovetleil, antl.the, fore-top
mast, with the topsail, top-gallant-staysail
and head galf-tolisail, at once came, down.
Qaslev was on the royal yard, I Scarcely•
dared to leek to see. the spot where the boy
dhould fell.: The next moment his shad ,
ow appeared at the mast head, and I pres
ently discovered him examining, with ad-•
minable coolness, what- was to he done.
• I did not dare to believe this carrying 2 7 ,
Way of the topmast the work of treachery;
but I knew:that an occasion of this sort,-
such as the loss of the boy, which.should
create confusion and interrupt the duty of
the officers, would be sought_ by them; if
they were bent on the prosecution of the
enterprise.. All possible measures were-ta
ken confusion. The rigging was
immediately restored and the
,sails bent .
a
fresh.: E.very:member of the crew was
employed, and all things were - made . to go
on with regularity. To my astonishment,
upon the occurrence of: disaster all the
conspirators who were named in the pro
gramme of Spencer, no matter in what
'part of the vessel they were engaged at the
time, immediately mustered-at - the
main
mast-whethert animated by sonte,,fiew
born real to servo their country, or intend
ing to carry out their designs, I cannot say.
Frhis circum3tance at .onee . confirmed my
belief in the continued existence of the
danger. The , eye
,of Spencer travelled
continually to the mast-head, •and he cast
quick and stealthy glance's about, as he
had not done before. The wreck vas
soon cleared away, trill stipper piped:
After supper the seine persons mustered
at the mast head, and the sails were set.—
After quarters they dispersed. Still I did
not think it safe to leave Cromwell at lib
erty during Oi s e night, which wasomphat
lenity the season' of danger. After eau
suiting with Lieutenant Gansevoort, 1 de
termined to arrest Cromwell. An officer
%vas sent to guard . the rigging. I met
Cromwell at the foot of theJaeob's ladder,
going aft, and stopped him. • I asked him
about the conversation he 'had with.Spen
eel.: He denied that it was.he, .and said,
'" It was not me, sir: it.was • Small.,"—
(Cromwell was the tallest man on board
the vessel, and Small the shortest.)` Crom
well was immediately put in irons. Small
being thus accused by an associate; was
also ironed, The utmost vigilance was
enjoined upon the officers. All were
armed, and either - myself or the first Lieu.
tenant Was constantly on deck.
The next morning, which was Monday,
the 26th of Navemberowo ctimes-of-con•
siderable magnitude came to light,. •
.9ne McKinley, Green; and One or two others
of the men hod been detected in stealing m i sse d t h e i r. muster; they could not he
from a boat, and the steward had stolen asleep, and why they should be absent
money and given saaic , dig to Spencer.— just-al that time, when they never had;
This was no time to relax the discipline been before, woe not .easy to be seen.—
of the ship, and both the men were pun-Nyhen c
”iebed-•t:Aatlrz ItirravTriaine excuse. They probably had agreed
soon after found that a man named IVal- .to meet at the tifee,and to common - Cc some
!ham had told McKinley where three bot- act of violence: Green said he could not,
ties of wine were-placed anti offered their get aft. - 1 sent him forward, and ordered 1
to him.
,McKinley was stationed near the him to take thr forward look-cat-for four
arm-chest, and reperted.,this to the first hours. 1 directed a close watch to be kept
Lieutenant. . Punishment of Waltham; up, and .distributed the others in a similar
however; was postponed till next day.— manner. ,
Punishment of thoother_two being over, I :All o'clock others missed their Muster.
thought that a fit opportunity to endeavor I heard of this with the grmitest uneasi
to make an impression on the - crew. I ness. Where, I asked, was this. to end ?.
had . good reasons to think that the danger If the. inen open a bright night like this
of the c onspiracy, was not over. ':1 be- seem mutinona and dispoired to undertake
!hived that a majority of the crew'mightbe the rescue of those, confined, on a bad
said to be in general disaffected, an dispo. 'night, in a storm, in the midst of utter
-sed to resist discipline: Some mysteri' darkness, hew'. much, greater will be the
ens agency' • cad evidently been' at work - meltability of tt•reacue r-_:-If-all-suspected --
since the departure of the Somers from should he 'rated. would, the danger be
4Vew York ;'. tind-this"was, new. .;diaclosed. over? What sympathy might not be felt
lc eXplaiind to the creW-tkegotterat now-Torthe-prisorteral---These- matters crowd: ,
ture of Bpi3neerii:•plbt and kilt,. attracions
. ed upon. thy mind. 'I considered the km ,
character elite 'ffesigiii: lie. hod formed: .:• I : peril which hung over ; the lives of
. ,
I thought' . of the
took especial , care not to betray a suspicion 'the' °Meets a nd; crew;
1 . 0 every direction 47. ; 01r-
that 'I thought any one. of WOO Watii.deep-''seas Igraverlia.
iy itiplicitedi,but ' exhorted:all nf.'them,to cliautspert,..Unirmed and ,defenCelessf...'l
repent Of .their, intootioos: a nd attend i1 : 4)0i 7 51 ,. thongbt of-what was due - to the interests
f o gy to their .d u 'ty,. 't to o k good care to , of , commerce, to' the 'safety Of,:the 'll'i . es . ;*:
assure'thin. tiiittthe'inalttriii.'4;-00 crew 530-thi),de 0 0 10 7.0 10 ;! 1 04Y4
'lait at all events share thtilateritifie-Pfro.: the 'American flag, entrusted '.'to , trtrilaril: ,
itere7:. 'I
strosii to'. dii.feint:o4"ji,inOirftiow'r4 .to .ipy.fitinc•t t : :40 . :,t60,1,51 : ,' 0040*,
*3 . olo,tilit*Ot siiicOgiikilio*lo Phen7 iiio4 ll 4 l soo4 . . me
, - rii!i -61:7 '00 1 0 ,ne r
.- ';iit'itittlit:iiiiiiitatettiiiiiiV.4 brought iiti : aeisftf :ef:44.!iiiji:joitie.ftirtiiefire,lo:l:kr
,
before them image's of friends' at home; I
endeavored to impress upontheir • minds
the.endearing nature of those ties of kin
dred from which Spencer had 'sought to
severthem foreVer, and expressed the hope
that-within three weeks We- shou ld. all be
again among our friends . I thanked god
that he had firo'rided them all with dear
friends who, were deeply interested in they
welfare, and that they had: the - protipeet - of
so soon being once more among-them. '
l i iirieffectof my address on them • was .
yarioutt-A , Many of them'Seemeddelighted.
at their 'fiarrowdelivery, anti others seem-.
ed Struck with horror it the thought of the
terrible d ‘ ange r il - Thep ,- had escaped. Some
seemed overwhelmed with terror at the an;
ticipation of.punishment that awaited them.
Oth.ers .were overcome by thoughts of re
.turning- lionie, - and wept profusely at the
mention of the friends they hoped so soon
l'ict See. I could not help believing that all
1 the crew were now tranquil, and that the
vessel was again safe. Having observed
that Spencer was endeavoring to bold in
telligence with some of them, I directed the
faces of all the prisoners to be -turned aft,
and that no tobacco should be allowed them
when the supply they had upon their per
sons should be exhausted. • I told thearthat
I would iee that they had et.ery. thing
--
,
necessary for their comfort; that each
should' have his ration ;- that they , should
be abundantly supplied with every neces
sary-for their health and convenience.—
But I told 'them that tobacco was only a
atimulant,„and that; as 1-wished their minds
to become as quiet and tranquil'as possible;
I could not allow them to use it:.
The day after Mr. 'Spencer's tobacco
was stopped, his spirits gave Ivey. He
would sit for'a long time with his face
buried in-his - cloak, and when , he raised his
head Itis face was bathed irrtears.' , ' HO.Was
louehed.by thelind attention of-Mr. Gan
! sevoort. He told him-that he was northen
in a state to speak of any thing but that he
`would the next day
,tell him all—would
answer any tfuestion,thaVmight he put to
On Tuesday, after quarter's, -all hands broad in the middle, and running tria point:
were again called to witness Punishment, He tnatle it very sharp on both aides: -It
and Waltham was punished to the extent was a singular weapon, of no use except
of the law for offering three bottles of wine 6„ kill: He had been seen also the day'
to McKinley. I then spoke to the crew before sharpening WI battle axe with a file, .
of the necessity of conforming in a ll p ar ' and had brOugh one part to an edge.. This
-ficulars-to-the-orders-of--tha-Teett 3l 3-w-hich—was-a-thing-neverAloweiltirknoWirbefore
'were known. I told them that every pun- on board. McKinley was now arrested.,
ishment inflicted on board must be made Ho was'evidently the individual in every' .
known to the Secretary of the, Navy, and way the most formidable of all' concerned, .4.
that the less they' were in amount, the NlcKes was also put in irons. They were ,
greater'itrould be the credit that would at- made to sit down; - and when the irons . ,
Each to the commander and the crew. ,' were ph"t i on I walked around the bafterterb
But the whole crew I soon found were
ar from tranquil. They collected in. knots
upon the deck---seditious words were heard
among themand they assumed an insp. ,
lent and menacing tone., Seine of the pet-,
ty racers were examined, and found to be
true to the colors, but it was the general ,
impression that the vessel-was far from be
ing safe. There was reason to fear thaton
that very night a rescue would be attempt , !
ed. I obtained a variety - of intelligence
concerning conferences among the disaf
feeted. Individuals whom•l had not sup
posed to be implicated were found closely
ssociated — with - ireveral ;Wife — were -sown
to be among the 'disaffected, and several
times there,were syniptorns that they were
about to strike the blow. Mr. Wales once
detected C. A. Wilson in drawing out a
hand-spike from it.; Place ; and on present
ing his socked pistol at him, he only offer-.
ed some lame eionse.. • I became eiceed
ingly anxious, and remained constantly on
deck , . '
At 12. O'c'tclt the watch 'tvat—etilled'.(--7
STIMUNtra
security 'for the vessel Which "had beets ,
. .
given to my charge. • .
I took counsel with the first lietifetiant,
andviai faithied in My pirpotiei by find ,
ing his opinion identical with my own.-
In so grave a case, involving. lief many in ,
terests and such high responsibilities“ reit,
desirous of having the opinion of alloy
officers upon • the matter, though not_ a'
shadow of doubt remained in my mind of
the guilt of the priioners, should their eti
ecutiori, be deemed necessary: I did not"
forget that the officer's were still boys;and .
that all the- responsibility of the„ proc - eedi
ing niusUreet upon the older and higher of
d'cers. • Still I felt desirous have their
opinion, and accordingly - addressed them
the following letter ' - . •
U. S. Brig SuMERS,'NO4. 30,1842. •
I am ilesirou's of availing myself of yoeir coon.
sel in the very responsible situation in which I
find 'myself' placed. You are aware of the circum;
stances which have resulted in the confinetuettt of
Midshipman Spepeer of Boatswain's mate Crom.
well, and of seaman Small I and I purposely ab;
stain from entering into details concerning them,
Necessarily ignorant, as I am, of the extent of dis.,
affeetroti among the crew who have no long been-
tampered - with, and knowing the suspicion *Ma
attaches to some •of the ctow who are at large, .I
address you and ask your united counsel as to the
best course now to be pursued ; and I call Upon
you to take info deliberate and diepasstOnate con::
eideration, the conduct which will be necessary
for a safe continuance of our sourse, and to en
lighten me with your _opinion_as to-the ptopet
method to be pursued. "-
• lam your obedient servant, .
ALEX. SLIDELL Mscxxxxix, Canintantiet,
To Lieut. Ganscvoort, and others.
'After I had written this letter, Lot before
I had sent it, at about 0 o'clock, Wilson
being foiled in his attempt to get n'p , an •
outbreak at night, and feeling that he was •
narrowly watched and was no lager left
at liberty, came forward and- made some'
lame , and worthless confessions, and re=
quested that he mi'ht not be put idirons.'
I told him that - if be had made any real
confession, in sincerity and truth, be should
ifot be molested ; bUt th - at it was an insult
to hie officer to offer him so'la►p'e• ' a story
as thut-he had told.. Nothing More could .
be got out of him and he was immediate ,
ly put in' irons.•
While on the African_coast n i krieif that
he had-procured an extraordinary knifes
followed by Lieut. Gansevoort, and made
a 'careful inspection.
On the receipt of my leter the . .6fficets .
immediately assembled and entered upon
-
the..examination of witnesses, who were
sworn and their testimony written down.
In addition to this each iiitnest signed the
evidence he gave. In this employment
the officers passed the whole day without
inte.ruption, and without taking the least
food. I remained; thyself; in.-charge of
the deck. The officers were excused from
watch'duty, and the watches were BO Bra
Tanged_that two- in- succession — felttinfie. ,
On the Ist December the nest Lieutenant
presented me with the following letter: •
U. S. Bata Somas, DeCember 1,.1842.
• SIR :—ln answer to your letter requiring our
counsel as to the best coals° to be pursued with
regard to the prisoners, Spenber, tromwell and
Small, we have the honor to state, - that the ea:
dance which has come to oar kricnViadge after the
most careful, deliberate and dispassionate con
sideration which the exigency Would allow; is of ,
such a nature as to call for the moat decided ac
tion. We aro convinced that in the existing state
of things, it will be impossible to tarty tie prl.
sonars tollie - Unita - States. Withink_that safe—
ty of our lives, end honor to the flag entrusted to
our charge, require—that—the — privpne b
ddlith. as the course beat calculated to Make a
salutary impression upon the nisi of the crew.—
In this decision we trust we have been guidedby
our duty to our Godo to our country and to the
eervioc.
Respectfully, roar obedient servants
cods. Mackenzie.
I - at - Once concurred in •he justice of
this opinion, and made preperations to car
ry the recommendation into effeet TWo •
other conspirators• were almost as guilty,
-as the those singled out for execution: they ,
could be kept confined_ without extreme
danger to the ultimate . safety of the vesiek
The three chiefmutineete were the
.ones capable of• navigating and sailing the
vessel. •- By their removal', all Motii,e' tq
capture the vessel anti carry out their Orig .-
inat design Would at once be.taken.ewer..,. :
Their lives were justly forfeited; .and'ihti ,
interests of ..the country, the eefeiy of they
sea and the honor, of the dig . required .the
-sacrifice. , ••, : ,•
in the necessity of my position /found
late;my and in that necessity I quit for;
justification. I thoughtit hist to, arm.the
petty officers on OAS point. only the first,.
lieutenant differed from
. mo ' , and " I found,.
that he wai of the same opinion a:llir
ofilie petty officers themselves ;.—they said`' `
that since Ir could not tell .whom , tertrust. it,
`would be'best to trust no 'OM, Snide
myown .
:own. mind, and, judged ; of the el!at'llu. , '
Ors' whom I could truel -and deterettneif
'inn them, rardered,o be issutiejii‘e264
cutlass. a pistol std ` I.Ortqs,,
ed prepevetion expoti,.
of ,the'..ihre.T.A.t