Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-03-01

\ 10 tie EdtorS-FrOm member Of the III. 81 Represtn-
tahceS: "FEBRUARY Is
"Horr,bl- calamity The big gun on board the
Princeton burst to-day and killed and wounded ten
or twelve men-amongst those killed ore, Gov. Gil
liner, Mr. Upshur, Virgil Maxcy, Com. Kennon, and
Mr. Gardner Of New York. Several others were bad
! he Senate CONSERVATION is the countenances Of
: Al"
From the .,fasisonian Of Bednesaay Ersning.
HORRIBLE CALAMITY!
4 EXPLOSION OF THE PRINCEToN's GREAT Gun.
Death IF The Secretary Of State-cf the Secretary Of the
Nary-of Commodore keaRon-cf Virgil .Narcy-cf
] Nj. Gardner Of " y, &c., Sc.
The following irghtlu intelligence obtain from az
! eve witness:
To-day the Princeton made another excursion having
4 on board several hundred guests.
The ship proceeded down the river below Mount YER
non and its return when in about twenty minutes
Jof Alexandria, tie large gun the bow fired, it
6bcng the second or third time it had been discharged
with ball. and the usual service charge, and exploding
the breech spread death and destruction the deck
Z Among the victims are those named above 1t said
severa OF the gunners crew, &c. belonging 10 the ship
wcre killed MORALLY wounded and several others
Smssing.
i The breech of the gun severed, and carried away
4 1.-THE buwark Of the shp opposite 10 II. i, was the
ron fragments, 1t is supposed, which struck down SO
many on board, and who could not have been behind
! he gun.
but Il is thought he rs not seriously injured
Col Benton was likewise IN jured. We understand
that none of the fragments struck him, but that
The conclusion stunned him severely, well seve
Z rial others.
The accident took place about sunset.
! A steamboat from Alexandria, which was passing,
as sent back town, and returned with several sur.
gcons The Princeton yet lies al anchor al the place
where the ghtul calamity occurred, with the bodies
ION board.-NIost of the guests have arrived IN the
icv
The President or the u S, who board at the
time C! the explosion. but escaped unhnrt, remains
with the bodies on board We understand the Prince
ton will come up IN the morning
We have stopped the press a, O'Clock, T. NJ TO
make the above melancholy announcement. The as
founding event renders unfit to make any remarks
|of our own. We only record the sad occurrence
The same number Of our paper which contains the
unfortunate Gimers address to his constituents bears
them also the account OF his death
The last paragraph in the official notice respecting
,ha Canadian PRISONERS in this number of our paper
was written by the amented Unshur, just before start.
ng on the excursion, ard were the lasts words he
ever wrote.
P S We learn that the President has just arrived
the city.
tF,sn he De,socra,e Capitoi-Ertra.l
WAsHISGToN, Feb. -, lS4I.
DREADFUL TRAGEDY
To-day The President Judge Upshur, Secretary OF
State; T. w. Gllmer, Secretary of the Navy, and Col
Benton, OF lle OHited o.aeIo OeHasSI f''isSe w
Princeton Steamer.
The Steamer, with her distinguished guests, pro-
ceeded down the Potomac to Mount Vernon, and The
unsu pclous party landed. After few hours Of So
ourn amid the beautiful scenery the party re-embarked
and the Prince ton big gun loaded to give part
I'm salute to the shades the usrious dead reposng
there.
The matchbox was applied, and the gun burst into
thousand fragments -prosta''ng IN the embrace OF
death Mr. Upsiur Mr. G,lmer, Col. Gardner, Captain
lIr oh Clerk the Post Office De-
naftmant Mr. Maxcy OF Washington.
!, Col Benton Of the United States Senate, was Sc
'verely but not MORALLY wounded Captain Stockton,
1.-The gallant commander, severely wounded also,
six of his sailors and coored man IN the service oil
1.-The President MORALLY.
The vessel Immediately put in command of the
First Lieut.. Mclaughlin.
calamity SO instantaneous and horrible it has never
been fate 10 record before.
Well may we exclaim, when the gay distinguished |
peasurc-seekers of three hours agonow sleeping in
shadows eyanescent and fall, not the
greatesl amongst Us
I P S-Capt Stockton died few moments since
Mr.. Robinson is not yet dead, : O'Clock, I. VI.
= The Washington Spectator says the President
was fortunately below in The cabin, when the accident
occurred.
L. The same Madisonian which brings an account
OF poor Gi!mers sudden death, contains his Valedc
onEssroSAL DISTRICT OF vIReIsIA" The Madso
nan invites attention to the Address, and says, "l is
of the author-able manly and patriotic
and ex plains TO the People of the Fifth Congressional
District Of Virginia, especially, 'the event which has
$50 suddenly and xpecedly dissolved the ties which
lately bound them and him together constituent
and representative, the principles by which ne has
ever been aciuated and The reasons which induced him
TO accept The office Of Secretary OF the Navy Be-
tore this Address, winch opens with the above quoted
words had issued from the press, the fatal event oc
CURED, which $50 suddenly and Unexpectedly dis
solved the ties which bound" him 10 The world (Vhat
Shadows we are, and what Shadows we pursue ,
TO TIE EDITORS OF TIE ENQUIRER.
"SrEAM Boar PRINCETON, Feb. %, Cd 7. Nj.
"Two hours ago, OF the Paixhan guns on board
this vessel lis third fi.e, bursled-klling Mr. Up
shur, Secretary of State-Mr. Gmer of the Navy De-
oa-tment- Mr. Maxcy late u 5. NJ Diser at Belgium
Col Benton OF the Senate and Capt, Stockton, COM
maning The Princeton steamer, are severely, though
1t IS hoped not dangerously, hurt. The President, all
hs Cabine, save Mr. Spencer were on board; and M
eluding meabers of Congress, citizens and ades-n
n not loss than or 600 persons-It IS wonderfully
s,,,cce Tint so few lives were lost 1t is fearu
ppctacle to see the bodies of the killed. lying stretched
'upon deck-yictms 10 the bursting OF thus enormous
Paixhan Gun.
ain haste. yours,
"JOHN II. EATON"
II The Globe Of Wedne sday night says, that Col
Benton was only stunned for time, and was enabled
walk after reaching the shore-that Captain Stock
on vas burned by the powder, but not seriously m
ufed. ave understand that Mrs. Gilmer was upon
he deck when her husband fell 1t was the third
discharge of the gun (ond fred al the request Of
1M.. Gmer) that burst it, The daughter of Mr.. Up
,hur, several Of the family OF Com. hennon, ana
he daughters of Mr.. Gardiner, were on board Inc
Steamer but none OF them, except Mrs G'!mer, were