Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-03-16
From, the Globe.
FTOW NE VTIUUb'
disaster ON THE PRINCETON.

DISASTER ON THE PRINCETON.
We stop the press to announce n most
lamentahIe catastrophe which occurred on
hoard the Princeton steamer this evening.
By the bursting Of one Of the great guns,
the Secretary Of State, Mr.. Upshur; the
Secretary of the Navy, Gov. Gilmer, Com
modore Kennon, Chief Of the Bureau of
Construction Of the Navy; Virgil Maxcv,
ESQ., and Mr. Gardiner, of Southampton,
New York, were instantly killed; and six
paiIors are reported badly wounded. One
<pfthe Presidents servants, colored man,
bps since died.
Colonel Benton and Captain Stockton
we're slightly injured. The accident hap
pened about 3 o'clock. some two or three
hiles below Alexandria. Col. BentOn'S
Injury arose not from any fragment OF the
bun, but merely from the conclusion. He
Mas n. The butt of the gun taking its range
pnen il fired. He was NOT sensible If the
Cunning effect until he had called for aid
10 the bleeding sailors. He was stunned
iDr time, hut was enabled to walk after
Teaching the shore, and has given a dis
inct account Of The dreadful scene. Capt.
Stockton was burned by the powder, hut
hot seriously injured.
Captain Stockton having on successive
oays extended invitations TO visit his ship
10 the executive and committees Of Com
Rress, and then to both houses-nvited the
ladies of the city to an entertainment on
this, which was meant as the gala-day of
bis beautiful ship. 1t opened brightly,
but has closed in the most dreadful gloom
pver our community. The only circum-
etauce calculated to relieve the all-perva-
Hing distress, is, that Of the multitude of
aides who were on board the ship, not one
@as injured. The happy exemption of
fuch multitude OF the tender sex, who
Witnessed the havoc made in the midst OF
Them of the most distinguished and below
I'D of their countrvmen, while it brings
bone soace to the circle of their immedi-
Die friends. cannot hut deepen the sympa.
thies which they, ard the whole commune
g, feel for The bereaved families of those
Tho have fallen. Mr.. Upshur and Mr..
Gilmer were idols ir the happy family ny
which each was surrounded. The elder
children of Mr.. Gilmer are just grown; the
Younger still IN the nurses arms. Com
&kennon, Mr.. Maxcv, and Mr.. Gardiner are
al torn from family endearments-from
wives and children.
We understand that Mrs. Gilmer was
upon the deck when her husband fell. 1t
was the third discharge o. the gun (and
fired at the request Of Mr.. Gimer) that
burst it, The daughter ofMr Upshur, Sc.
veral of the family of Com. Kennon, and
the daughters of Mr.. Gardner, were on
board the steamer; but none of them, ex-
cept Mrs. Gilmer, were apprized of The
death of those most dear to them, until at-
ter their return to the city. Almost all the
ladies were below, at dinner, when the
catastrophe occurred. Mrs. Gilmer was
brought 10 the city almost in state Of
slraction.
There were two hundred ladies' on board,
and during the two discharges of the gun,
were on the deck; and many of them APP
preached very near to observe the course
ofthe ball after it struck the water. Presi-
dent Tyler was there also, but had attend
ed the ladies to dinner before the third dis
charge.