Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-07-01

incorrectly stated in the American Almanac The mum
Der OF sho; fired three.
Correspondence Of the Journal IF Cou,merce
U. ). SHIP UNITED States,
Toulon, May 2, 1884
The ject Of the United States, in coming TO France
procure funds for her cruise il the Archpelavo
from t'c agent OF the government at Mstsees. a Iii |
gate, however canaot enter the hai that port and,
the roadseAf without being exposed and At this
season o the year. and the wind heading us off, in
a, Touou and proceed with Mr.. Todd, Tie purser by
land 10 Marseiiles TO facilitate the necessary arrange
uens
They left morning Of the 10Th ult and returned
yesterday afternoon, just after the of most
melancholy disaster, Of which ship, snhappily was
| the
II was birth day OF the King; and sau;es wer.
fred at II O'clock ia honor OF the day, by the Const.s
ton and he United States, well as the whole Of the
French squadron consisting Of eighteen or tyentv
vessels. ships Of the lue and gAes. On our arrival
We had fred saiu,es the civil authorities NJ
the place, and tho other 10 the Admiras lsg; but these
werr each OF hf'een only while the royal salute is
twenty la preparing for the former seventeen guns
had been a"shotfed,ha is, the balls carried in the nj
withdrawn, by the gunner OF the ship; but Yesterday
forgetting with objectionable the number vel
loaded with shot 10 complete the salute the day. after
having been ordered prepare twenty four guns for The
occasion, he reported the battery eAiness 10 the OFF,
Ger OF the dech and three guns with balls in e.u were
unfortunately discharged
The nome nj the eighiee gun fred the l,eua-
nani 10 command Said TO the gunner 'There in
that gun! bui lac replied, "no sic, there was mol" i'm
the next he did not distinguish the difference the CON
cusson-bu, the third he dropped the trumpet in The
conviction that bali had been from it, aud the sa
! Lutte remained nnfuished.
The most noble ship in the French Navy the "Suf
iren. is mooed at great distance from u; and while
ball, in opposite direction, struck tort without inu
ry to any one, another uuhappy passed through this ship
OF the line, killing The spot inurng second
50 severely that he died in short afterwards aud
inilcting dreadful wounds ON iour o,iers
Every explanation was Immediately made 10 The com.
mauder OF the Suten, aud tho Admiral and Project of
iouon and subscription Of live thousand francs once
rssed, on board the United States and for
the individuals and the families whom the accident
proved disastrous; still it has filed us with regret and
melancholy and will entirely preclude any further enjoy
rn ut in The port
Capt Ballard greatly distressed by the intelligence.
aud immediately despatched the following letter. OF which
he ALLOW ed me copy, to the Baron Free cncl Admiral OF
the Fleet and Marine Project of Toulon.
SIR-Itw with the profound sorrow that learn
ed, MY arrival from Msrsees, le moments since
the melancholy accident which attends the firing of The
salute Of the United States, this morning, honor OF tho
| day.
II, impossible TO express wha. feel on the occasion
10 realize ~ deae sir must place yourself, mo.
ment in my situation; aud pray YOU dong to ac.
regret which penetrates the heart OF every and
man OF the two American ships 1oulon on this subject
The gunner, whose negligence gave origin TO the sad
disaster has The reputation OF being good officer and an
aiDabe man; but has been short time only in his pre-
sent situation have PLACED him under and shall
bring him before Coui Martial the nome nj fall i'm viii,
the Commander --Chief OF the squadron Of the United
States, in this
In evidence of the kind feeling and deep sympathy in
| this event OF those under my command, five Thousand
francs have been put by them into my hands, with re-
suffered from the accident nov
Allow ne, dear sir beg of you the favor TO discharge
is Kindness and believe be, with sentiments of the
most friendly consideration and perfect respect,
| Yours, &c &c.
HENRY E. BALLARD. Capt in the U. S. Navy,
| Commanding the irissie United States.
| Correspondence Of The Journal of Commerce
u s. SHIP UNITED STATES
Port of Toulon, May 6. 1884. {
"in hasty letter the I'd in. which then supposed
would be the last should write to YOU from this mort
gave you the outline OF the melancholy affair OF our sa
Lutte on the Kings birth day-and the copy Of letter
from Captain Ballard to the Baron Freycnt Project OF
! Maine, on the subject
have another opportunity Of transmitting letter and
seized moment, this morning. before leave Toulon
for GsUos, 10 say, a the reply Of the Admiral 10 Captain
Ballard highly satisfactory in every respect except in
reference 10 The subscription for The families the killed
aud wounded, made board The CoDst aud United
States Tue objec, Of this seemed misunderstood;
and though pronounced 'nobc and generous" the ac-
| ceptance OF il declined.
fhe Circumstance led second letter from our Com
msnder, OF which ALEC. you have the beginning OF the
correspondence, L will furnish you copy
U. s. FRIG ATE UNITED STATES
Roads OF Touion, Nav 2, 1881,
Stint am his moment in possession OF your letter OF
the morning.
1t ha. made most happy by the strong assurance ii
contains. that che tchOle body Of the Nary I0ulonp
convinced Of the that fills our al the de-
potab'e accident Of yesterday well as by the csneous
admission, that the event the effect of one
OF those fatal circumstances which independent any
beg leave again offer the assurance that the gun
ner through whose negligence tie sad accident occurred
by 'he sentence OF court fnsrsD uuJcr arrests
and sbsii he brought TO trial, my good for
tune TO fail in with the Comma OF our
in the NJ ediierrauean.
On the subject OF the thousand francs intended TO be
placed in your hands Ter distribution by the generous
cons oi the ocean Under NY command, beg to ASSURE
YOU cir, that 1t has nothing 10 do with Dde aton
II IS the voluntary oupoarng Of generous spirits sorrow
ing Tor The equences Of accident over which they
had 10 conirol, and which they would have laid down
their lives 10 have prevented.
II is not indemnify and has no reference 10 compen.
saton; bot it is alleviate, if possible for time at least
the Of widowed hear; 10 supply the wants of
the han, aud TO soften the pillow tie aged and de-
pendent, who may mourn loss cannot replace.
In requesting you, sir, 10 be the cLsDDe Of this dsir
BUTTON their only desire Is afford him who has won the
applause OF The brave opportunity OF enjoying smother
qualification 10 blessing the afflicted.
have The honor TO be, with perfect respect,
Your obedieht servant,
henry T.. BALLARD.
=, Captain 10 U. s. Navy, commanding u. s. Fhgae
United states.
To Admiral. tie Baron Freyenci Project Of Marine, at
Toulon & e. &c.
Since The receipt Of This communication indeed nme.
dslely afterwards the Project attended by full an has
paid friendly visit, and pasakeD Of dejeure la tour.
ehcfe with Capt. BNafd and every thing restored 10
an amcable aud kind footing. Tho contribution, however
has not been accepted for the family Of the sufferers
he accident which has befae0 Ne, IL far from being
without example IN tie French Navy itself Even the
Baptism Of the Sren says, II has occurred board his
own sbip-and Lieutenant, whom have met, admits
tha, three times, sibo years, he has known The
same Thing lake place board Of vessels 10 which he
at The time sftsched--snd IL Is well known tbaf on
occasion, entire salute Of bGs was fred into pa
lace Of the Viceroy Of Sicily, by French vessels at Pa