Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-03-08

send pounds weight, as he supposes, that
fell on those unfortunate men.
Some sailors and the Presidents body
servant named Armistead, are stated to
have been killed, or MORALLY wounded
None of the ladies were hurt. Some by
ISLANDERS marvelousy escaped. Mr. Benton
was near enough to have his hat blown of,
but am happy to state, in contradiction TO
the rumor, that he was not wounded.
have Just left Browns and Gadsby's ho-
tells which are our Exchange. Passing by
Browns, n moment ago, my heart sunk
when saw those beautiful and now father
less girls, the Misses Gardiner taken into
the Presidents carriage, to be conveyed to
his house, where these friends, the ladies Of
the Presidents family, can be best taken
care of for the present. 1t was one of these
young ladies who, on this occasion, sared
The Presidents life. The President was
standing near the gun, and by the side of
Mr.. Upshur, and between him and Mr.. Gar
diner, at the moment before the gun was
fired Miss Gardiner requested the Presi-
dent to conduct her to the cabin, with
which he, of course, complied, and thus his
life was saved
OF the numerous and young family Of Mr.
Gilmer, canno, speak. happen to know
something Of his devotion, as father, to
his chldreu-of the interest he has man
iicsted for them, in making his arrange
menls for his residence in this city-ol the
struggle, in his own mind, between his pri-
waite and paternaI interests and feelings, and
the stern demand of duty which seemed TO
call him to Office He long deferred his
acceptance of the trust. lie had misgir-
iRgS about il TO the last. The doubt is re-
solved by the mysterious workings of Prov
idence.
will remark that, while at Gadsby's, a
few minutes ago, Mr.. Wise, who had just
sprang out of his carriage, entered and
reached into the crowd-exclaiming Good
God what is all this " lie had barely
heard rumor at the Western end of the
city, and come up TO learn the facts
Amid the general burst Of grief and ago
ny, it may be vain TO call attention TO the
causes Of this disaster Vain il is for the
dead, but not for the living. The two hun
bred and twenty-five FOUNDER was said, and
so reported TO Congress, to be Of icrOugh
iron, as il was to some extent. But learn
from Mr.. Barney, that the scattered pieces
of the gun were seen every where. Com.
Kennon was evidently struck by one Of
them. Mr. Riyes, Of the Globe, has piece
in his possession. They say that the
breach OF the gun was of a mortar shape,
and was Of cast iron and welded on TO the
other part. The other parts appear to have
been in sections, and welded together
The parts of the gun that were burst, were
all below its axis. But il does not matter as
to this. We have evidence of the strongest
character, that experiments were made in
Europe, long ago, of welded guns, and that
they signally failed. am told by good au-
thority, that the plan was tried and exploded
in Europe, two centuries ago. VIM. Cost
Johnson's valuable reports on this subject
have been UNDECIDED lie investigated this
whole matter, and showed the necessity for
establishing a National Foundry for cannon.
The Board OF officers, sent to Europe TO ex-
anime all the mysteries of the art oil making
cannon, &c, also reported on the subject.
The celebrated artizan, Mr.. Ames, Of Mass,
was sent with them, and we know what he
and they Recommend, as to this matter.
But, Notwithstanding all this, it is at this
moment, question before Congress, wheth-
er the contracts for making cannon, shall
not be given out TO the lowest bidder, ac-
cording to the law of the last session. These
guns of the Princeton were proved. They
were subjected TO the strongest possible
proof, and stood it, But, as the Report OF
the Board of Officers shows, it is the expe-
rience of Europe, that, after this proof, a
single ounce of powder would often burst a
gun,-the very proof to which it was sub
jected, was sometimes, cause Of the burst
ing Of the gun.