Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-03-16

purpose, and deposited in the east room,
where thew will remain until the funeral.
This We consider a Just respect for the de-
ceased, and as marking very kind and
proper concern for the feelings oftheir be
reaved families and friends.
We learn that the seamen who were
wounded, (nine IN NUMBER were sent YES
terday, soon after the explosion took place,
to the naval hospital near the navy yard +,
and that only one Of them is dangerously
(,hough not mor;aly) wounded. The
others were injured but slightly, and are
in fair way OF recovery.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Ledger, who was one ofthe guests on board
the Princeton, gives the following particu-
lars of the dreadful scene:
To observe the effect of the shot, | had
posted myself on the nearest larboard can
nonnde gun, and the sailors had erected a
kind of scaffolding Tor the ladies' to stand
on by the side of me. One or two had
taken their position there, and beside me
stood Mr.. Secretary Upshur, intent upon
witnessing the whole manDuvre offer
ed him my place, hut he declined. saving
he preferred to stand where he was-the
precise spot where an hour afterwards he
was torn TO pieces.
Captain Slockton's great gun was again
loaded with shot, and another trial made
of its strength and efficiency. The gun
was pointed 10 leeward, and behind it stood
Capt. Stockton; a little TO the left of him
Mr.. J. w. Tyson, Assistant P. NJ. Gen OF
your city.
By the side Of the latter, little behind
him, stood Mr.. Strickland, also of your cl.
ty, and little to the right of, but behind
him, Col Benton who had n lady with
him, and Judge Phelps, Senator from YER
mont.
At the leeward the gun stood Judge
Upshnr, Governor Gilmer. and little BE-
hind them Mr.. Maxcv Of MARYLAND. Bv
the side of him stood Mr.. Gardner OF ~
York, and Commodore Kennon OF the Ma
Wy. :.
When the gun was fred the whole shiI
shook, a dense cloud of smoke envelOrec
the whole group on the forecaslle; blu
when this blew away, an awful scene pre-
scented itself 10 the view of the spectator
The lower part of the gun from the
trunnons to the breach was blown of. Mr.
Upshur was badly cut over the eye and IN
his legs-his clothes were literally torn
from his body-he expired in about three
minutes. Gov GImer, of Virginia was
found equally bodily injured. He ~ ev'
identity been struck bv the section OF the
gun before it reached Mr.. Upshur
Mr.. Sykes, the member from New 1er-
sew. endeavored to raise HIM from the
Ground but was unable. A mattrass was
procured. and he was placed on 1t; before
anv medical assistance could he procured
he was no longer among the living
Mr.. Maxcv had his arms and one OF MS
legs cut off, the pieces of flesh hanging 10
the mutilated limbs. cold and bloodiesS' III
a manner truly frightful. lie died instant
ly. 49,
Mr.. Gardner, Of New York, and Com
Kennon, fingered about half an hoHr' ou'
thew did not seem for a single moment &c
be conscious of their fate, and expired al
most without a groan. The figs OF Inc
Union were placed over the dead oou'eS d.
their winding sheets.
Behind the gun, the scene, though a
first equally distressing, was less alarming
CAPTAIN Stockton, who was knocked down
almost Instantly rose to hi e. ana Jun,p'
ed on the wooden carriage TO rIey inc
whole effect of the calamity. All me nan
of his head and face was burnt OF: ana nc
stood calm and undismayed, but sllento'e'
the wreck. L. addition to The deaths al
ready mentioned, about dozen soiIo'S
were badly wounded: one was dead, anc
behind HIM Col. Benton, Judge PheiPS
and Mr.. Strickland, as if dead, EXTENDED
upon the deck. On that side, by slngu
lar confederation of circumstances MT
Tyson of Philadelphia, was the only per
son who stood his ground, though piece
of the gun weighing about two POUNDS '"'
passed through his hat about two lncneS
from his skull, and fallen down by the slo5
of him.
The LADY, who had Col. Benton's arm
was actually blown into the rigging, bu
not hurt. Col. Benton exclaimed, lmmedl
atelv after he fell, "Lor', am hurt!' bu
he was only stunned. He was carried al
and placed on mattrass, where Mrs. Ben
ton and his friends administered to hin
what aid they could, which, however, he
repeapeatedly declined, saying there was
nothing the matter with him. He tasted
little brandy, and was soon after able tc
walk with some slight assistance, over the
railing of the ship on board the steamboa
that took the company to Washington
Judge Phelps, of Vermont, had his ha
blown or knocked off, and the buttons o
| HI, ooo, form hut he was not otherwise in