Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-03-07

nets blown off. faces cut, and clothes
torn Mr.. &. A. =. Davis had his lip
,sLphlly cut. All; the buwarks on tho
larboard side nearly back to the main
chains were blown out, and all the bul
W nrks on the starboard side, back to'ihs
how gun, by tho fore chains, and down
to the monkey rail, were blown over the
side.
lh-addilion TO this, the deck was strew-
ed with iron rivets, Sc, and il IS God's
mercy that all on the forward deck were
no, blown into eternity together.
Col. Benton, when taken home, was
cold and almost pulseless, but he has
recovered, and DR.. Sewell hopes he will
be about in few days.
Capt. Stockton, when left the vessel
at Q o'clock at night, was quite deliri"us.
and suffering intense mental as well ~
physical pain.
Mr.. Gihner has left wife and nine
children. Mr.. Upshur, aged about 55,
has left wiia 35 years Of age, and
daughter in ill-heahh, aged IS. Com.
Kennon has left wife and family. MIR.
Gardner has left his two daughters, who
have long been bellies in this place.
The female relatives were not allowed
10 see The dead bodies Of their husbands
and fathers but were taken home by
their female friends Immediately. Mr..
Wickliff'e left M soon ns possible with
his wife and daughters Judge wilkins
and the President stayed IN The ship till
the last
All is horror and sadness in the city.
When the news was told to Mr.. Spencer
he cried like a child.
! The officers ofihe vessel say positive.
/ ly, that no one was blown overheard, and
that only six sailors were wounded, all Of
whom were sent to the hospital, and ono
of whom has since died.
Correspondence of the journal Of c Commerce.
Amid the general burst Of grief and
agony, it may be VAN to call attention TO
the causes Of this disaster. Vain il is
for the deud, but not Ior the living. The
two hundred and twenty-five FOUNDER WAS
said and so reported To Congress, to be
Of drought iron, as it was to some extent.
But learn from Mr.. Barney that tho
scattered pieces OF the gun were seen
every where.
Com Kennon was evidently struck
by one of,hem. Mr.. Rives, the Globe,
has piece in his possession. They say
that the brerch of lie gun was of NOR
tar shape, and was of cas-, iron and weld
ed on TO the other part. The other parts
appear to have been in sections and
welded together. The parts of The gun
that were burst were all below lis axis.
But il does not matter az To this. We
have evidence OF the strongest character,
| that experiments were made in Europe,
long ago, Of welded guns, and that they
signally failed. ] am told, by good au-
ihorily, that the plan was tried and ex-
VIM. Cos, Johnson's valuable reports on
this subject have been unheeded.
lie invesIi gated this whole matter,
and showed The necessity OF establishing.
national foundry, Tor cannon. The
board Of officers, sent to Europe 10 ex-
anime all the my sieries OF the art of maxi
ing cannon, sc. also reported on :he
subject. The celebrated ariizan, Nr.
Il Ames, of Mass. was sent with them, aud
we know what he and they recommend,
as To ,hi $ matter.
But, notwithstanding all this, it is ut
this moment a question before Congress,
whether the contracts for making can
non shall not be given out To the lowest
bidder, according to The law of The last
session. These guns of the Princeton
were proved. They were subjected to
the strongest possible proof, md stood it.
But, rs the report Of The board Of officers
shows, II is the experience OF Europe that,
alter Tins proof, single ounce of powder
would often burs; IL gun, very proof
to which II was sub jeclcd was, sometimes,
cause Of the bursting OF The gun.