The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-03-15
AWFUL CALAMITY !!

n
faly UpShur, Secretary Gilmer, COM
modore KennOn, and TlrgH Marcy,
Esq.
The National Intelligencer, Of Thus
day the 29lh inst, contains the following
melancholy intelligence, which will cast
gloom over the whole Union:
&" In the whole course Of our lives it
has never fallen 10 our lot TO announce to
our readers a more shocking calamity
shocking in all It's circumstances and con-
comilants--than that which occurred on
board the United States ship Princeton,
yesterday afternoon, whilst under way.
in the river Patomac, fourteen or fifteen
miles below this city.
yesterday was day appointed by the
courtesy and hospitality of Capt. Stock
ton, commander Of the Princeton, for re-
ceiying as visitors to this fine ship Dying
off AIexandria) great number of guests
with their families, literally and numer-
ously invited to spend the day on board.
The day was most favorable, ami Tie com
pany was large and brilliant, Of both sex
cs; not less probably than 400 among
whom were the President Of the Il. States,
the heads Of the several departments and
their families. Alta proper hour after the
arrival Of the guests, the vessel got under
way and proceeded down the Iiy,f to
some distance below Fort Washington.
During the passage down, one of the
large guns on board ing a ball of225
! pounds was fired more than once, exhlb-
iling the grca, power and capacity of that
formidable weapon Of war. The ladies'
had partaken Of a sumptuous rcpas;; the
gentlemen had succeeded them at the Ia
bic, and some Of them had left il the YES
sci was on her return up the river, opposite
the fort, where Captain Stockton consen-
ted 10 fire another shot from the same gun,
around and near which, to observe its eff
tects, many persons had gathered, though
by no means so many as on similar dis
charges IN the morning, the ladies who
then lhronged the deck being, on this IA
tai occasion, almost all between decks,
and ont Of reach Of harm.
"1he gun was fred. The explosion
was followed, before the smoke cleared
away so as TO observe its effect, by shrleks
Of wo which announced dire calamity.
The gun had burst, at point three or
four feet from the breech, and scattered
death and desolaion around. Mr.. Up
shur, Secretary Of State, Mr.. Gllmer, So
recently placed at the head of the Navy,
Commodore kennon, onc of its gallant of.
Iicers, Virgil Maycy, lately returned from,
a diplomatic residence at the Hague, Col
onel Gardner, Of New York, formerly a
member Of the Senate from that State )
were among the slain. Besides these
seventeen scamen were wounded, several
Of them badly and probably MORALLY.
Among those stunned by the conclusion,
we learn not all seriously injured, were
Captain Stockton himself; Col. Benton
of the senate; Lieut.. Hunt, of the Prince.
ton; W. ID. Robinson, of Georgetown
Other persons also were more or less IN
lured. Of whom, in the horror and conlu
sion of the moment, no certain account
could be obtained. The above are be-
lieved, however, 10 comprise the whole
of the persons known to the public who
were killed or dangerously or seriously
hurt.
The scene upon the deck may more
easily be imagined than described. Nor
can the Imagination picture TO itself the
half of its horrors. Wives. widowed in
an instant by the murderous blast
Daughters smillen with the hcart-rendlne
sight of their fathers lifeess corpse
The wallings of the agonized females
The pitcous grief of the unhurt but heart
stricken spectators The wounded sea-
men borne down below The silent
tears and quiyering lips of their brave and
honest comrades, who tried in vain to
subdue or to conceal their feelings What
,ooris can adequately depict scene like
Ibis
} The bodies of the killed remained on
board the ship last night. They will be
brought TO the city this morning.
A letter To MS from a member of Con-
gress, dated on the evening of the horrid
calamity, after giving n statement of the
killed, says;
"Mrs. Gimer and Misses Gardners are
on board, and not conscious of their loss
when our informan, left, as they were be.
low in the cabin, and were prevented form
coming up. You can form little idea
of the deep distress that pervades the CT
ty."
From the Baltimore Sun, we gather the