Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-03-15
$3.50 ~sA ~.
INTELLIGENCE.

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The following particulars Of one Of the most
awful calamilies that ever occurred, we re-.
ceived. through ST. Louis papers, by the steam
er Ohio. a few days since. The intelligence
is truly painful:
From the National Intelligencer, March 20.
"In the whole course of our lives, il
has never fallen to sur-lot TO announce to
our readers more shocking calamity
shocking in all its circumstances and con.
eomitants-than that which occurred on
board the U. States Ship Princeton, yes
terday afternoon, whilst under way, in the
river Potomac, fourteen or fifteen miles
below this city.
" Yesterday was day appointed. by
the courtesy and hospitality OF Captain
Stockton, commander Of the Princeton. for
receiving visitors 10 this fine ship dying
off Alexandria) great number Of guests,
with all their families, literally and nume-
rously invited 10 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 fam.
lilies. At proper hour, after the arrival
of the expected guests. the vessel got un>
der way and proceeded down the river,
TO some distance below Fort Washington.
During the passage down, one of the large
guns on board, carrying a ball of 225
pounds. was fired more than once, ex.
hlbi,ing the great power and capacity OF
that formidable weapon of war. The la.
dies had partaken of sumptuous repast;
the gentlemen had succeeded them at the
table, and some of them had left il; the
vessel was on her return trip up the river,
opposite to the fort, where Capt. Stockton
consented to fire another shot from the
same gun, around and near which, to OBJ
serve its effects, every person had gather
ed, though by no means SO many as on
similar discharges in the morning, the la
dies who then thronged the deck being, on
this fatal occasion, almost all between the
decks, and out of the reach Of harm.
"The gun was fired. The explosion
was followed, before the smoke cleared
away,so as to observe its effect, by shrieks
of wo which announced dire calamity.
The gun had burst, at point three OF four
feet from the breech. and scattered death
and desola,ion around. Mr.. Upshur, Sec
rotary of State, Mr.. Gilmer, SO recently
placed at the head of the Navy, Commo-
dore Kennon, one of the gallant officers.
Virgil Maxcy, late returned from diplo-
matte residence at the Hague, Mr.. Gard
ner, of New York, formerly a member
Of the Senate from that State. were among
the slain. Besides these, seventeen sea-
men were wounded, several of them bad
ly and probably MORALLY. Among those
stunned by the conclusion. we learn not
| all seriously injured, were Capt. Stockton
himself; Col. Benton, of the Senate; 1t.
Hunt. of the Princeton; D. w. Robinson.
of Georgetown. Other persons also were
perhaps more or less injured, Of whom,
| in the horror and confusion Of the mo-
| ment, no certain account could be obtain
! ed. The above are believed, however, TO
comprise the whole Of the persons known
10 The public who were killed or danger.
ous'y or seriously wounded.
The scene upon the deck may more ca
silly be imagined than described. Nor can
the Imagination picture TO itself the halt
of its horrors. Wives, widowed in an in
slant by the murderous blast! Daughters
smilten with the heart>rending sight of
their fathers lifeless corpse The wall
ings of the agonized females! The pite.
Gus grief Of the unhurt but heart. stricken
spectators! The wounded seamen borne
down below! The silent tears and quiv-
ering lips of their brave and honest com
rades, who tried in vain to subdue and
conceal their feelings. What WORDS can
adequately depict scene like this?
letter 10 us from a member of Con-
gress. dated on the evening of the horri-
BILE calamity, after giving statemen OF
the killed, says:
"'rhe boat is now a. Alexandra. Capt.
Stockton is badly wounded. Col Benton
is reported hurt.
"Mrs. Gilmer and Misses Gardners are
on board, and not conscious of their loss
when our informant left, as they were be-
low in the cabin, and were not permitted
TO 60 up You can form little idea of the
deep distress that pervades the city,"
From the Baltimore Sun we gather the
following additional items
The Hon. J. w. Tyson, second asst.
Postmaster General. had his hat cut-and
piece of the gun, about six inches in
length, quietly rested on the top of his
head.
The Hon. Mr.. Wickliffe had started to
| 90 on deck with Judge unshur. when he