New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-03-01
The Catastrophe at Washington.

The Catastrophe at VVashinston.
We have various and somewhat conflicting az,
counts of this dire event. in letters and papers
by this mornings mail. The National Inte!Ii-
gencer thus graphically tells the affecting story
Tn the whole course OF our lives 1t has never
fallen to our lot to announce to our readers more
shocking notwithstanding IN all Its crcum-
stances and concomtants-than that which oc-
cured on board the United States Ship Prince
TON. Yesterday afternoon, whilst under way, N
the river Potomac, fourteen or fifteen miles below
this city.
Yesterday was day appointed, by the cout-
tesy and hospitality of Capt. STOCKTON, COM
mander of the Princeton, for receiving as vlslters
to his fine ship dying off Alexandria great
number of guests, with their famllles Literally
and numerousIy invited to spend the day on
board The dav 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 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 225 pounds was fire.
ed more than once, exhibiting the great power
and capacity of that formidable weapon OF war.
The Ladies had partaken of a 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, opposite to the tort where
Captain Stockton consented to fire another shot
from the same gun, around and near which, to
observe It's effects, many persons had gathered,
though by no means So many as on similar dis
charges 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 fred. The explosion was fol-
lowed, before the smoke cleared away so as to
observe its effect, by shrieks Of wo which an
nounced dire calamity. The gun had burst, at
point three or four feet from the breech, and
scattered death and desolation around. Mr.. UP-
suUR. Secretary Of State, Mr.. GII.MER, SO recent
" placed at the head of the Navy, Commodore
KENYON, one of its gallant officers, VIRGIL MAN
cY. lately returned from diplomatic residence at
the Hague. Mr. GARDINER, of New York, dor
merly Member Of the Senate of that State)
were among the slain. Besides these, seventeen
seasnen were wounded, several of them badly and
probably MORALLY Among those stunned by the
conclusion, we learn not all seriously injured,
were Capt STOCKTON himself; Col. Benton, of
the Senate; Lieut.. HUNT, Of the Princeton
w. D. ROBINSON, OF Georgetown.
The scene upon the deck may more easily be
imagined than described. Nor can the magma
ton picture to itself the half Gifts horrors. Wives,
widowed in an instant by the murderous blast
DAUGHTERS smitten with the heart-rending sight
Of their fathers lifeess corpse. The waillngs Of
agonized females The piteous grief of the un-
hurt but heart-stricken spectators The wound
ed seamen borne down below! The silent tears
and quyerng lips Of their brave and honest COM
rades, who tried in vain to subdue or to conceal
their feelings What words can adequately de.
pct scene like this
The Spectator says that w. D. Robinson, men,
toned above, (who was clerk In the Post Of
fee, was killed. also colored servant OF the Pre-
sident. The Globe adds to its account:
MIR. Upshur and Mr.. Gilmer were idols in the
happy family by which each was surrounded
The elder children of Mr.. Gilmer are just grown,
the younger still in the nurses arms. Commo-
dore Kennon, Mr. Maxcy, and Mr.. Gardiner are
all torn from family endearnents-from wives
and children.
We understand that Mrs. Gilmer was upon the
deck when her husband fell. 1t was the third
discharge of the gun (and fred at the request OF
Mr.. Gilmer) that burst 1t. The daughter OF MI
Upshur, several of the family OF Com. kennon,
and the daughters Of MIR. Gardiner, were on board
the steamer; but none Of them, except Mrs. Gil
mer, were appraised of the death of those most
dear to them, until after their return to the city
Almost all the ladies were below at dinner when
the catastrophe occurred. Mrs. Gilmer was
brought to the city almost in state of distrac-
ton.
The Princeton, under the command of Lieut.
McLouGHLN, came to anchor opposite Alexan,
dria, and the surviving vlsiters reached the city
BY the steamboat Joseph Johnson.