The Arkansas banner., 1844-03-27
From Me NetU York Heralff. TCorrespOndence of the Unra1d
1 lNSAAOs poliuSlISc ul lIle Ilefdla.
 NAsHINGTnN- Doth Eeh ls

"Fttt' | W ttSutUfS UJ tue tIFeUt CUtUn11fU.
 From the multitude of accounts which must have reached you since wrote to you last evening, you will have obtained the lead Ing particulars in addition to those sent, of the awful catastrophe which has literally plunged nation in grief and agony. Ali the usual forms of language utterly fail in conveying any adequate conception of this horrible calamity. I think there was very little, If any, sound sleep in this city last night Multtudes of eyes were never closed i'll sleep at all; others were filled with tears from nigit tlll morn, but 1t is most painful to add. that not few eyes could shed no tear. Among these last was Mrs. Gilmer-poor, distracted woman-whose eyes, as Mir. Wise sad, were .'artd aS dShes"
 Many, many stout hearts have broken and melted now which never soltened before. Think of those bereft-and so terribly bereft ! All, think, who were killed had large lami- lies to deplore their untimely end. Had they died natural death, in the ordinary course of Providence, their loss would have been ostpainfully distressing. But to be so taken from time to eternity Who can, unmoved, contemplate the fact ''Tell me1 said Com. Kennon's wife-"Oh tell me, if he is dead !! don't deceive me!'' Mir Holmes, NJ. C.. from 5. C., ignorant of his death, and in the kindness of his heart, assured her that he was not dead, but safe. Still she was not content Mir. Holmes pledged her his honor that he was not dead. This was overheard by MT. Sykes, NJ. C., from New Jersey, who beckoned him away from the frantic woman to assure him that he was mistaben-that Com. kennon was dead.
 The reports of the frenzied remarks of Mrs. Gilmer, are mainly true. Senator Han negan describes her as wandering ill her mind-"No, no-he is not dead -he can not be dead!-IIe was with me but a moment ago! Bring me my husband i-where is he ! Dead' Yes, he is dead!o and then, with a vacant smile of inerodtlity, again denying the evidence. .sOh, that she could weep p said her surrounding friends. But she wept not.
 A few minutes before the fatal explosion, toasts were drank at the table. Judge Upshur was called upon for his toast In attempting to comply, he took up accidendy an empty bottle, and pleasantly remarked that the dead bodies (alluding to the empty bottles) must be cleared away before he could give his toast Accidentally another empty bottle was pushed within his reach-and he again repeated the joke, which was seized upon with applause, that the dead must be taken away. This drew from Captain Stockton the reply that there were plenty of living (meaning bottles) to supply the place of the dead
 At the same time the President gave the toast-"Fhe Princeton and her three guns the Peace Maker, the Oregon, and Captain Stockton-but the greatest of them is Cap tain Stockton.o These leading gentlemen then withdrew from the convivial table to make room for others-and within ten min utes Judge Upshur himself was a lifeless s'body."
 It Is a most remarkable circumstance that song and wine should have been, as they-un- doubtly were, the means of saving, no one knows how many lives. For on the hilarity of the occasion, songs were called for. And when the Captain and others withdrew to at tendthe firing of the Peace Maker" the third time (and at the request of Secretary Gilmer) Mir. Waller, the Presidents son-in-law, com menced singing a song by general request. This detained the party for the most part be- low, to the preservation of many lives.
 While going down to the Princeton in the morning, Commodore Kennen pleasantly re- marked to Captain Saunders (if I have his name right that if any accident should hap pen to him on this occasion, that he IS. would be next in command at the Navy Yard Little did either of them then think that the event would be so soon and so awfully re- alized.
 Senator Phelps, of Vt, escaped with a young lady upon his arm, almost miracu- lously. In that spirit of manly confidence and honorable pride which gentleman of gallanry likes to exhibit, he insisted upon taking the lady very near the fatal gun upon its discharge. Senators Benton and Phelps, and this young lady were, therefore, stand ing almost within reach of the gun when it burst The hats of all three were blown overheard and lost. All were knocked down as has been already stated.
 And it is worthy of notice that a large number of persons had their clothes burnt well nigh off of them, who were not other wise injured.
 The following Is list of the wounded, as have this day learned :-
 Captain Stockton-badly burned in the face, but not seriously injured
 Lieutenant Hunt, also burned in the face, but not seriously.
 NIr. Perine, the Secretary of the Princeton, has the hearing of his right ear injured, the extent of ultimate damage not yet known his left arm also has bit of iron lodged in the flesh, and the bone is somewhat injured,
 Mir. Robert King, gunner, was severely wounded He was taken to Alexandria.
 James M. Green, of New York city, con- tusion on the leg.
 William II. Taylor, of Boston, both legs badly fractured.
 Charles N. Robinson, Philadelphia, slight wound in the head.
 John Kissick, of Philadelphia, lacerated, wounded, and very badly burned.
 James II. Dunn, of Maine, severe contu- sion on the left side-very dangerous.
 Joseph Traiso, of Boston, wounded on the