Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-03-16

MOSTn~AWFUL AND LAMENTABLE
CATASTROPHE! advantageous Death by
the Bursting of one of the Large Guns on
Board tte United States Ship Princeton, of
Secretary Upshur, Secretary Giimer Con,mo
dOre Kennon, and Virgil Marcy, Esq.
The National Intellgencer, Of Thursday, the
29th ult, contains the following melancholy in
telliscnce, which will cast gloem over the whole
Union: .Hf Estal&E. ~ Fg &. sM.
"ln-,he whole course Of our lives il has never
lallen TO our lot to announce TO our readers
more shocking calamity shocking in all its cir
cumstances and conconiitants--than that which
occurred on board the United States ship Prince.
ton, yesterday afternoon, whilst under way, in
the river Potomac, fourteen or fifteen miles be-
low this city. r.F s# Es...r
N"Eesterday was dayappointed, by the cour
tesy and hospitality OF Captain Stockton, com
mander Of the Princeton, for receiving as visitors
to this fine ship dying off Aexandra) great
number Of guests, with their families, literally
and numerously invited to spend the day on
board. The day was most favorable, and the
company was large and brilliant, OF both sexes
not less, probably, in number, than four hundred,
among whom were the President OF the United
States, the heads Of the several departments and
their families. At a proper hour, after the arri.
val Of the expected guests, the vessel got under
way and proceeded down the river, TO some dist.
ance below Fort Washington. During the pas.
sage down. one Of the large guns on board Gear
Tying ball OF 225 pounds) was fired 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 ssme OF
them had left it; the vessel was on her return up
the river, opposite to the fort, where Capt Stock
ton consented to FIRE another shot from the same
gun, around and near which, to observe its effects,
many persons had gathered, though by no means
so many as on 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.
1.-THE gun was fired. The explosion was fol
lowed, before the smoke cleared away, so as to
observe its effect by shrieks of wo which al.
nounced a dire calamity. The gun had burst,
at point three or four feet from the breech, and
scattered death and desolation around Mr..
Upshur, Secretary OF State, Mr.. Gilmer, 50 re.
Gently placed at the bead OF the Navy, Commo.
dore kennon, one Of its gallant officers, Virgil
Maxey, lately returned from diplomatic resi-
dence at the Hague, Mr.. Gardner, Of New
York, formerly member OF the Senate from
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 mol
all seriously injured were Captain Stockton him
self; COL Benton, Of the Senate; Lieut. Hunt,
of the Princeton; w. ID. Robinson, OF George
town. Other persons also were perhaps more or
less in ured, Of whom, in the horror and confu
! sion 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 were killed or dangerously or ser
ousiy hurt
The scene upon the deck may more easily be
imagined than described. Nor can the imagna
ton picture TO itself the half Of its horrors
Wives, widowed in an instant by the murderon.
blast Daughters smitten with the heart rend M
sight OF their fathers feess corpse! The wall
ngs OF the ago uized females! The piteons erie
Of the unhurt but heart stricken spectators! Th,
wounded seame borne down below! The silen
tears and quivering lips Of their brave and homes
comrades, who tried in vain TO subdue or to con
ceal their feelings! What acords can adequatel,
depict scene like this?
The bodies OF the killed remained on boar
the ship last night. They will be brought to tn
city this morning"
A letter TO US from member OF Congress
dated on the evening Of the horrible calamity
after giving statement Of the killed. says:
S THE boat is now at Alexandra. Capital
: Stockton 10 bodily wounded Col Denton is &c
i, ported hurt. J.- aa
board and not conscious Of their loss when oil
IL If, IL, ILL. L.
and were prevented from coming up. You ca
form little idea Of The deep distress that pervadt
s the city," is r. se..r .4 -. 81.
G From the Baltimore Sun we gather The follow
!. ing additional items: Ea s-s' '- 1g-
n The Hon. ]. W. Tyson, second assistai
Postmaster General, had his hat cut-and piec
OF The gun, about six inches in length, quiet
u rested on thetop Of his head. ], .1a ate
S The Hon. Mr.. Wickli1e had started 10 90 q
deck with Judge Upshur, when some one belo
called-detained him for a second, and theret
= saved his life. a ..-
: The Secretary Of War, TO avoid the crack
S The gun, advised the President TO 60 below whe
they were sitting when the calamity happened
p, THE legs OF Messrs. Upshur and Gilmeg a
shockinSly mutlated. a,.. .... ....--..
j Capt. Stockton, as soon as the shock owe
, whelmed him, caught his chin, then cIapped h
hands up each side OF his face, and was in Il
/, act OF leaping overheard when he was caught
!, the Hon. J. w. Tyson ... .....'..
The Madsonian says: -.s
"The breech OF the gun was severed, and ca
ried away the bulwark OF the ship opposite 10
:, 1t was the iron fragments, il is supposed, whit
struck down so many on board, and who cou
IL not have been behind the gun. The accide