Litchfield enquirer., 1844-03-07


Lastantasaeosss death, BY the 6sVStng Of the large
run on board the United States Ship Princeton,
of Secretary UpsRav, Secretary Gilmaer, COM
sssOdOre RennOn, NJ. Gardiner, and Vrgd
Marcy, Esq.
In the whole course of our lives it has never
fallen to lot to announce to our readers more
shocking misunderstanding in all its circumstan-
ces and concomitants-than that which occurred
on board the u s. ship Princeton, yesterday after
noon whilst under way in the river Potomac, four
teen or fifteen miles below this city.
Yesterday was day appointed by the courtesy
and hospitality of Capt. Stockton, Commander of
the Princeton, for receiving as visitors to his fine
ship lying off Alexandria, large number Of guests,
with their families, literally and numerously invi
ted to spend the day on board.
The day was most favorable, and the company
was large and brilliant, of both sexes, not less pro-
badly in number than four hundred, among whom
were the President of the United States, the
Heads of the several departments and their fam
lilies. At a proper hour, after the arrival of the
expected guests, the vessel got under way and
proceeded down the river, to some distance below
Fort Washington.
During the passage down, one of the large guns
on board carrying ball Of $50 pounds) was fred
more than once, exhibiting the great power and
capacity of that formidable weapon of war. The
ladies had partaken Of sumptuous repast the
gentlemen had succeeded them at the table and
some Of them had left it.
The vessel was on her return up the river, OPP
posite the fort, when Capt. Stockton consented to
fire another shot from the same gun, around
and near which, to observe its effects, many per-
sons had gathered, though by no means so many
as similar discharges in the morning, the ladies
who then thronged the deck, being ON this fatal
occasion almost all between decks, and out of
reach of harm.
The gun was fired. The explosion was fol-
lowed, before the smoke cleared away so as to
observe its effects, by shrieks of wo which announ
ced dire calamity. The gun had burst,a point
three or four feet from the breech, and scattered
death and desolation around.
Mr. Upshur, Secretary of the State Mr.. Gilmer,
so recently placed at the head Of the Navy Com
modore Kennon, one of its gallant officers Virgil
Maxcy, lately returned from diplomatic residence
a. the Hague Mr. Gardiner, of New York, former
ly member of the Senate of that State, were
among the slain.
Besides these, seventeen seamen were wounded,
several of them badly and probably MORALLY
Among those stunned by the conclusion, we learn
not all seriously injured, were Capt. Stockton him.
self; Col. Benton, of the Senate; Lieutenant Hunt,
of the Princeton w. D. Rob inson, of George
town.
Other persons, also, were perhaps more or less
injured, of whom in the horror and confusion Of the
moment, no certain account could be obtained
The above are believed, however, to comprise the
whole of the persons known to the public who
The scene upon the deck may be more easily
imagined than described. Nor can the imagina-
ton picture to itself the half of its horrors
Wives, widowed in an instant by the murderous
blast Daughters, smitten with the heart-rendiug
sight Of their fathers lfeless corpse The wall
ings of agonized females
The piteous grief of the unhurt but heart-strick-
en- spectators The wounded seamen borne down
below !! The silent tears and quivering lips of
their brave and honest comrades, who tried in vain
raal
can adequately depict scene like this
LATER PARTICULARS FROM AN EYE
WITNESS.
When the gun was fired, the whole ship shook,
dense cloud of smoke enveloped the whole group
on the forecastle but when this blew away, an
awful scene presented itself to the view of the
spectator.
The lower Part of the gun, from the trunnons
to the breech was blown of, and one half section
sailors to remove it. He was badly cut over the
eye and his legs-his clothes were literally torn
from his body-he expired in about three minutes.
Gov. Cilmer of Virginia was found equally badly
injured. He had evidently been struck by the Sec
ton of the gun before it had reached Mr. Upshur.
Mr.. Sykes a member from New Jersey, endeayored
to raise him from the deck. but was unable
mattress was procured, and he was placed upon it;
before any medical assistance could be procured,
he was no longer among the living.
Mr. MaXcy had his arms and one OF his legs cut
off, the pieces of flesh hanging to the mutilated
limbs cold and bloodless, in manner truly fright
full. He died instantly.
Mr.. Gardiner, Of New York, and Commodore
Kennon fingered about half an hour, but they did
not seem for q single moment to be conscious Of
their fate, and expired without groan. The flags
of the Union were placed over the dead as their
winding sheets.
Behind the gun, the scene, though at first equal
ly distressing, was less alarming. Capt Stockton,
who was knocked down, almost instantly rose to
his feet, and jumped on the wooden carriage to
survey the whole effect Of the calamity. All the
hair Of his head and face was burnt oft land he stood
calm and undisnayed, but silent over the wreck.
In addition to the death already mentioned, about
dozen sailors were badly wounded one was dead,
and behind him, Col Benton, Judge Phelps, and
Mr.. Strickland, as ifdead, extended on the deck
On that side by singular concatenation of crcum.
stances, Mr. Tyson, Of Philadelphia, was the only
person who stood his ground, though piece OF the
gun, weighing about two pounds, passed through
his hat about two inches from his skull, and fallen
down by the side Of him.
SCENE OF HEART-RENDING ANGUISH.
The most heart-rending scene, however, was
that which followed. The two daughters of
Mr. Gardiner, of New York, were both on board,
and lamented the death Of their father, while Mrs.
Gimer, from whom they in vain attempted tokeep
the dreadful news of the death of her husband,
presented truly spectacle 6t to be depicted by
tragedian.
There she sat on deck, with her hair disheyeled,
pale as death, struggling with her feelings, and
with the dignity Of woman. Her lips quiv-
ering, her eyes fixed and upturned, without tear,
only the corners little moist, soliloquising "Oh
certainly not Mr.. Gilmer cannot be dead! Who
would dare to injure him , Yes, oh Lord, have
mercy upon me! Oh Lord, have mercy upon him!'