Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-22
DEFERRED ARTICLES.
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.

|
! PoRTsMoUTH, April Sit has become cur du
| ty TO record the most melancholy occurrence tina
II has fallen to lot TO notice since the COM
rnencernent OF our editorial labours. Three among
the most promising young officers OF our navs
have suddenly been summoned from the scene o
their usefulness, and LETT their individual friends
ana their country TO mourn loss that will never
be repaired. Williamson J. Slidel of New York
tbrother TO the lady Of Capt. NJ. c. Perry) Fred
eIlcE R0dgeTs, (sOn OF Commodore RcdgeTs) Ro
! bert III. Harrison, (son of K. NJ. Harrison, Esq
commercial agent at St. Bartholomew and Bush
rod W. Hunter, (of the District oil Columbia,
| all Midshiplnen in the u. s. Navy, proceeded il
sail boat on Saturday forenoon last, in an excur
sion of pleasure--At the moment of starting, the
wind blew quite moderately, and the weather wa:
N Il more settled state, than we have had il foi
some time. But after they hadproceeded about
three miles below Fort Nelson, the boat being or
the larboad tack, with the wind s. s. W. or there
abouts,'she was struck with sudden squal, the
toreshect was Immediately let go-the boat came
head to wind, with the sail shivering, when she
was struck aback with a whjrlw;nd and partly
turned round in the vortex. She then took quick
stern board, run her larboard quarter under wa
ter, filled and went down.
Mr. Slidel Was the first who was drowned, Mr.
Rogers the second and MIR. Harrison the third;
Mr.. Hunter having been enabled by his superb
or tact in swimming to keep up until providentally
rescued by an east river schooner.
The most extraordinary magnanimity was man
liesten ny these unfortunate young men us; be-
'eFc three Oh them sunk to rise more. The
unfortunate Siidel survived the sinking ofthc boat
but few moments. He made but few strug-
giles, and yielded calmly 20 the hard fate that a
waited lhm.-Mr Rodgers and Mr. Hunter, los
ing sight oil their own Imminent danger, appeared
Tor time soiicitous only for the preservation OF
the lie Oh their friend and companion MR. Harri-
son, and he on his part naynaninously entreated
them TO leave him and look TO their own safety.
1t was not until the strength of Mr.. Rodgers
had become entirely exhausted, that he quilted
ihe side oil his companions, and gave up his noble
soul tot author os its exstence-H Harrison soon
followed leaving Mr.. Hunter alone who was. mi
Taculousy saved as above metioned. -,
Prompt searches were made by order Of CoIniifo-
dore Barron, Immediately upon hearing of the sad
calamity, but although all efforts have been un-
ceasing hey have asyet been unavang 20 discov-
or the bodies. Portsmouth Palladium
PoRrsioUTH, April l5-The bodies Of these
young officers were found on Saturday last, and
the remains OF two OF them Mr. Harrison and Mr..
SIidel,l were conveyed on Sunday,,to Norfolk for
burial y line of ten or twelve, boats, the first
containing the two bodies; and the others a de-
tachment OF u. S. Marines the Navy officers &c.
al this Station, and many of our citizens, moved
rom the Ne7y Yard to the ferry wharf, where
very large procession was formed, ervincng the
great effect the late melancholy accident has
had upon the public mind.-The bodies were in
tered with military honors.
The remains Of MR. oaess we're conveyed
yesterday morning., attended by his afflicted ia
.her, and the officers at this station, across the ri
yer TO the steamboat Potomac, in which they are
to De conveyed TO Washington. .RaNadi,!m
| PHILADELPHIA, March 29-Yestcrlay the
Supreme Court Of Pennsylvania sitting ia baI pro-
nounced its decisions in several important case
which had been tried before 1t. That which al
tracted most attention. AID excited most interest,
was trial involving the validity OF the commits
SION OF Dir. John BlnnS as an alderman OF this ci-
I ~ = bod dob ID
Esq. for an assault and battery. One count in the
indictment, 10 aggrayate the assault, alleged that
II was committed upon Mr. Binns while he was en-
gagged in the execution oil hi duties as magis-
tTate. hen the Counsel of Mr. Bache admitted
the assault upon the person of the prosecutor
provoked, it had been, by the most gross person
al abuse OF the defendant in public newspaper oil
which the prosecutor was the editor they conten-
ded, IN the appropriate legal forms, and by argu-
nent, that MIR. binns was not an alderman or ma.
gistrate because he had accepted & exercised the
employment or appointment, from the gene raj
government OF publisher Of the laws Of the United
States, i'll cOntrdvention OF the constitution and
laws Oi Pennsylvania which vacate any state Of
nee or appointment held by any person accepting
any OiIlces appointment, or subordinate agency,
IRON the executive, legislative or judiciary depart
ment Oi the United States. Judge Rogers deliv-
cred a very alb and conclusive opinion in arcu-
ment, TO which Chief Justice Gibson concurred
vacating the commission Of MIR. Binns as alderman.
Judge Tod, Judge Houston, and Judge Smith dis
sented; and being 4 majority of the court, they OF
course ruled the commission of Mr.. Bnns to be
valid
Chief Justice Gibson then pronounced the unan-
imous opinion Of the court, in which, while they
sentenced Mr.. Bache to the payment ola fine o
100 dollars Tor the assault, they anmadyortcC
with great severity upon the gross personal
canon when sea 10 t.3HrOTa.
| From the notice Of the Commissioners for re
ceiving subscriptions TO the Stock OF the Chcsa
peakc and Ohio Canal, it. will be perceived tina
the meeting Of the Subscribers to that great ob
iect. for Lhe nllrnosn of ornanizn.. tLe (n,,n ~ -