The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-03-06

&os 20
EXPLOSION OF ONE OF THE


Also, Commodore Kennon, the Hon. Tir-
gil Marcy Col. Gardner, Of Long Island
and several other persons.
Seldom indeed have we been called to re-
cord more awful calamity than that which
we are about to describe. On Wednesday
last, the U. S. steamer Princeton, command
ed by Capt. Robert F. Stockton made an ex-
cursion from Washington city down the Pot
omac, having on board a great number o.
persons, among whom were the President Of
the United States, the Secretaries of State,
War, and Marine; Commodore Beverly
Kennon, Chief of the Bureau of Naval Con-
struction, Equipment and Repairs; theHon.
Virgil Maxcy, late Minister to Belgium; Col.
Gardiner of Southampton, l.. |. who has
been accustomed 10 spend his winters in this
city or at Washington; several members OF
Congress, and many ladies.
The princeton, as most of our readers know,
carried two enormous heavy guns, beside several
smaller ones, throwing balls gilmore than 200 lbs.
weight, and requiring between 40 and so lbs, of
powder for a charge The more formidable Of
the two has been playfully called "The Peace
Maker" But the event has proved that she
might have been more htly termed, Destruction
TO her Friends"
The steamer made pleasant run as far down
as Mount Vernon, and was on her return, and
within three or four miles of Alexandria,-it be-
ing about sunset,-when the disaster occurred.
The big gun had already been discharged twice
during the trip, and being again loaded, but not
with ball as beiore-So says our correspondent
the match was applied, when awful to relate, the
gun burst al the breech, and in an instant the
deck was s,rewed with death and destruction
Among the persons killed, we are panied to say,
were the
Hon. Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of State.
Hon. Thomas ". Gilmer, Secretary Of the
N ANY.
Hon. Beverly Kennon, Chief the Bureau
of Construction, Equipment and Repairs,
Navy Dept Hon. Virgil Maxcy, late Minis
ampton, l.. |.
Armistead, was also killed, and five men in
charge of the cannon making Il total of G.
leven killed outright except that the Presi-
dents servant lived about ten minutes
Most of the bodies were shockingly mangled.
Judge Upshur was nearl y cutin two. Capt.
Stockston was wounded, it is believed not
dangerously, and Senator Benton slightly.
From the MacliSonian.
The same number of our paper which
contains the unfortunate Gilmer's address
to his constituents. bears them also the
account of his death.
The last paragraph in the official notice
respecting the Canadian prisoners. IN the
last number of our paper, was written by
the lamented Upshur. just starting on the
excursion, and arc the last words he ever
wrote.
From The Correspondence Of Jour. Com.
Mr. Pratt Of n Y states, that he heard
the explosion, being near the gangway,
and went forward instantly. He was the
first person on the spot, except one or two
sailors, He saw men on both sides of the
gun, prostrated,-and two persons. parties
u!arly on the larboard side, with mass &C
iron lying on them. Those persons he
soon recognized as Mr. Giimer and Mr.
UDshur. A little farther on, he saw the
mangled corpse of Mr. Gardiner. Mr.
Gardiner. was, in fact blown to pieces.
lie called men 10 help-threw of his
coats as he states, and took handspike,
and, with great difficulty, removed the
iron from the legs of Mr. Gilmer and Mr.
Ups hur.-iie states that Mr. Gilmer was
still breathing, or gasping. He says, how
ever. that blood vas on their fOreheads.
Mr. GlImer s0a2 ceased &c breathe. Mr.
Upshur was dead. Mr. Gilmer was stand
ing two feet from the gun. with his back
turned 10 it, being engaged in convcTsa-
ton with Nr Wilhered, Of Baltimore.
A mass of iron struck him below the hips.
Mr. Pratt tells me the iron was of thous-
and pounds weight, as he supposes' that
fell on the unfortunate men.
have Just left Browns and Gadsby's
hotels, which are our Exchange. Passing
by Browns moment ago. my heart sunk
when saw those beautiful and now faith
erless girls,-the Misses Gardiners,-ta-
ken into the President carriage, to be
convey ed 10 his house where these friends.
the ladies of the PRESIDE nt's family, can
be best taken care of for the present. 1t
was one of these young ladies who, on
this occasion, Sared the PRESIDENTS lie.
The President was standing near the gun,
and by the side of Mr. Upshur, and between
him and Mr. Gardiner, at the moment be-
fore the gun was TO be fired. Miss Gar
diner requested the President to conduct
her to the cabin. with which he Of course.
complied, and thus his life was saved.
Ofthe numerous and young family of
Mr. Gilmcr, cannot speak. | happen to
know something of his devotion, as faith
er TO his children-of The interest he has
manifested for them, in making his ar
engagements for his residence in this city
of the struggle, in his own mind. be-
tween his private and paternal interests
and feelings. and the stern demand of du-
ty which seemed TO call him TO office He
long deferred his acceptance of the trust.
He had misgrings about it 10 the last.
The doubt is resolved by the mysterious
workings of Providence.
STILL LATER.
In order to allay any unnecessary fears on
the subject of those who are injured, we give
tho account furnished ms by a gentleman who