Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1829-06-17


( shipman who was, at the time ofthe acct
dent asleep on board of the frigate u. 5.
within 2OOyards of the frigate, was not at
| all distributed by the report the explosion
and was not aware Ofthe occurrance, until
he was told OF it after he awose.
The Fulton is complete wreck. the
bow being destroyed nearly 10 the water
and the whole Of tins immense vessel,
whose sides were more than four feet thick
and all other parts corresponding strenth
lis now lying an entire heap of ruins,
burst asunder in all parts, and aground on
the spot where she was moOred Although
she was but 200 yards from the Navy Yard
aad many vessels near her, not one of
them received the least damagei nor was
the bridge which led from the Shore to the
Fulton at all injured. The seminal upon
the bridge received no wound whatever,
and continued to perform his duty after the
accident as unconcerned as though no
thing had happened-The seminal OF
board the ship was less fortunate, and es-
capped with merely "a slight ACCIDENT on
such occasions broken leg There was
attached TO the Fulton, by the roll of the
ship, l3 persons; and at the time of the
explosion, there was supposed to have
been on board of the vessel pbout sixty
persons. Killed 26 wounded 81.
Il happened fortunately that 60 men
formerly attached to the frigate, were draf-
ted on Tuesday, and have proceeded to Nor
folk to from part Of the crew Of the frigate
Constellation now ON the eve departure for
a foreign station. The band, II in num-
Der were on shore.
This dreadful accident was occasioned
by the Gunner going into the magazine, TO
procure powder to fire the evening gun.
IeW charged by one of the officers pre-
yously by his going below, to be careful
and soon after, the explosion took place.
We understand that he was man be-
tween -0aad 60 years ofage, and had Just
been appointed To the office; the old Gun
erhayug been discharged the day before.
ilcwls desired by Lieut. Breckenridge TO
be cautious with the light, and to place 1t
Ia the location invariably provided for 1t,
on such occasions, VIZ. behind a rejecting
glass Iu the partition, through which the
rays ofhghtarc thrown Ills supposedhe
have been careless In this particular, and
that having carried the candle into the
magazine some Of is sparks were cOmmu-
aicatcd to the powder; but as heis among
the dead nothing certain upon his point can
ever be known. Lieut. Null states, that
the necessary precautions had been taken
for opening the Magazine, and a seminal
placed atthe Hatch before he left the deck
andthat after being in the ward room some
% minutes the explosion took place.
st the time Of the explosion, the officers
were dining in the ward room. The lady
of 1t. Breckenridge, and the sonof Lieut..
Plat, a lad about nine year old were guests
and one account says both were siguy
wounded. Anotheraccount says that Llent
Mall, who was sitting next to the son of
Lieut. Platt, with great presence OF mind,
caught hold Of him and placed HIM IN one OF
he port holes. by which means he escaped
uaiDiured Lieut.. Platt, had returned on
iy Yesterday morning, having been absent
one month, on leave Com. Chauncey,
with the commander of the trig1te, Capt.
Newton, left her few minutes before the eX-
pIosion-the former having been on board
on visit of insgeCtlon.
The bodies Of the dead and wounded
were brought on shore rs soon as clrcum-
stances would permit. The former, after
being recognized, were put into collins.
T The latter were carried TO the Hospital OF
.he Navy Yard and every attention paid
TO them. The bodies of the dead were
shockingly mangled; their features dlstor-
I ted. and so much blackened, that It was
difficult TO recognize them. All the ply
sicians of Brooklyn, and several from tins
city, prolIered their services, which proved
/ very acceptable.
The scene, even this morning, at the
[ Navy Yard, is distressing beyond des-
| cription. Indeed to attempt a description
/ orsuch a spectacle, at the very moment our
/ feelings are narrowed up to a painful de-
( gree by the shocking reality, seems too re
voting to be undertaken. We might
speak ofthe wounded living, and the man
gled dead, and of the fragments OF bodies
blown to pieces, mingled among the bro
I ken relics ofthe ship-but such particulars
may better be left to the readers magma
/ ton.
The interment of the bodies Of the sea
men, sc. was TO take place at half pas
one o'clock this day-that otLieut. Brach
lenridre at IS o'clock this afternoon.