Litchfield enquirer., 1829-06-11
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.

I We learn from the Journal of Commerce kofthe 5th inst, that the U. S. steam ship
 Robert Fult0b, lying at the Navy Yard l Brooklyn; and Nscd as a Receiving Vessel l------a-- yesr U CLOCK on Thursday afternoon, when the officers and g
 or 8 of their ladies were at dinner, and 2g persons killed, and 19 wounded, 8 of whom
 have since died, which number includes
 Lieut.. s: M. Breckenridge, promising
 young officer. His lady was at table with hi m
 and was wounded severely. The Magazine
 contained 4O00 lbs. of powder. It cannot be
 precisely ascertafned how the fire communl-
 cated. MT. Williams. the gunner, had gone into the Magazine, but no light was taken nearer than the adjoining ar "light room,' which was separated from the magazine hy a double partition. Just before the explosion,
 a midshipman perceived a smoke rising from
 the gang-wa leading to the Magazine, and
 had just time to speak to his shpmate when
 the accident occurred From this it is infer red that there must have been loose powder
 on the floor of the iight-room, and that in
 some way, unknown to any person living, the
 fire was communicated. The ship was made
 complete wreck, not worth repajring-not
 mast or foot of rigging standing; many
 of the guns oN NerbOard; stern entirely demol-
 lshed; interior laid completely open. Of the
 whole number on board at the time of the ex-
 plOsion, far the greater portion were either
 killed or wounded. Had this accident han
 pened at almost any other time, the conse-
 quences would have been still more disastrous. But few minutes previous, the working par
 ty had left the ship for some other duty. and two or three days before, sixty men who had been received on board, were shipped to Nor folk for the frigate Constellation. It is feared that several others, not Fecollected, are among the killed, whose bodies have not been found. Ne,o-HaVen Register.
 Further pdrticulars.-It happened fortu- nately that sixty-two men formerly attached to the lrigate. were drafted on Tuesday, and had proceeded to Norfolk to form part of the crew of the frigate Constellation now on the eve of departure for foreign station. The band l: in number, were on shore. '. This dreadful accident was occasioned by the gunner's going into the magazine. to pro cure powder to fire the evening gun. He was charged by one of the officers previously to | hls going below, to be careful !; and soon after l the explosion took place. We understand | that he was man between 50 and 60 years Ut age. and had just been appointed to that of nee the old gunner having been discharged a'O u"y ootoEe. He was ueslreQ ny Lieut.. Breckenridge to be cautious with the light, and to place it in the location invariably pro- 'ided for 1t, on such occasions. viz. behind Tehecting glass in the psrtition, through xnlch the rays of light are thrown. It is supposed he had been careless in this particu- ar and that having carried the candle into ne magazine. some of its sparks were com nun,cated !. to the powder; but as he is among ne dead. nothing certain upon this point can yer De known. Com. Chauncey, with the commander ofthe frigate, Capt. Newton. left . ,er only few moments before the explosion, ne former having been on board on visit of inspection.
 The escape of Midshipman Eckford seems 'hauncey (who was one of the first to reach , ne vesse) got on board, the first object he a