Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-03-28
BURLINGTON, IOWA, MARCH 20, 1914.

boatswain's mate rushed into the cabin
covered with powder, and said that the
gun had exploded and killed many on
deck.
On this announcement the shrieks
and agonizing cries of the women were
heart-rending-all calling for their hus.
bands, fathers, and brothers; aud when
found. rushing wildly into their arms,
and fainling with the excess of feel
ing.
On the deck the scene was appalling
in the extreme. Capt. Stockton had
trailed the gun by his own directions,
and fixed the lock. On the larboard
side of the bows, Messrs Gilmer, Up
shur, kennon, Gardiner and Maxcy,
were stationed about 10 or 10 feet from
the gun Gilmer the closest. Behind
them stood Mr. Benton and Mr. Phelps,
with Miss Woodbury. between them.-'
Miss Somerville, of Baltimore, stood on
a forward bow gun on the larboard side,
close to Col. Benton. Behind the
breech Of the gun stood Mr. Davis with
Mrs Welhered ON his arm. Mr. Secre-
tary Wilkins observed, although am
Secretary Of War, yet | confess COW.
ard, and will stand little further Of" -.
with that he turned and walked about
I2 feet aft, behind the foremost, when
the gun exploded.
All the upper part OF the breech was
blown off, and piece weighing 200 or
800 lbs. struck Messrs Gilmer, Upshur,
Maxcy, Gardiner and Kennon, and
, knocked them all down; the piece lay
across the legs Of Glmer, Upshur and
Gardiner, when they were found after
the smoke blew away; Messrs Gilmer
and Upshur were also struck with pieces
of iron or rivets in the head and tenn
pies, and Gilmer behind the ear and in
the side. Mr. GARDENERS lower limbs
were torn all to pieces, all their clothes
were much burnt; and Upshur, Gardi-
ner and Kennon, all fell touching each
; other. Upshur's lips moved for few
seconds, and then all was still; Gilmer
breathed once or twice. and then all was
over; the others never stirred. Capt.
Stockton was blown back against the
fore shroud, the was ucrsind me breech
t kers and eyebrows were all blown of,
e and as soon as he recovered from the
4 stunning effect of the shot, and the
: smoke cleared away, he sprang with a
: delirious effort on the gun, shattered as
it was, and exclaimed in agony, 'Would
j, to God I alone had been kiled' His
5 friends then carried him down stairs,
s and laid him on the scttee, where he
!, nearly tainted from exhaustion, and a
3 last he burs! into an agony Of tears
!, He was Immediately put to bed.
y The President appeared the mos
sorrow stricken man Of the whole party
Q he rushed on the deck. and when he
t, saw the dead bodies Of Upshur and Gil
G mer, he wep, bitterly. One Of Virgil
Of INaxcy's arms was blown off, ant
If struck Mrs Welhered on the side o
: the head, covering her face with blood
l. and knocking her bonnet off. Col
y Benton was blown fiat on his back ant
e stunned all the buttons on Senate
t. Phelps coat were blown of, and 1lis
i Elizabeth Woodbury., who stood be
lie tween them, had her bonnet blown of
h but was not knocked down, his
IN Somerville's dress was covered will
ar blood and brains. Jarnagin and Han
IS negan were blown flat on their backs
Mr. Postmaster Tyson had a hole blown
y through his hat; ar Strickland. the arch
a itsct, had hole torn through his coat
Gen. Jessup narrowly escaped. piec
IT, of the gun passing close to his face
two or three of the foreign minister
e. were blown down, but otherwise unin
g iured many others were blown dow
by the shock, hats and bonne.s wer
a. blown off, faces cut and clothes torn
,e Mr. A. C. Davis had his lip slightly cut
Senator Atchison's life was saved b.
is Senator Hannegan. Gen. Atchiso
d, was going directly towards the gun
&c but was stopped by Mr. flanagan jus
lie in season to escape the explosion. A
n. the bulwarks of the larboard side near
6. ly back to the main chains were blow
II, out, and all the bulwarks On the stat
Il. board side, back 10 the bow gun, b
III the fore chains, and down to the mon
c. key raj! were blown over the side.
n. In addition to this, the deck wa
ne strewed with Iron rivets, &c., and it |
IS. Gods mercy that all on the forwar
v. deck were not blown into eternity to
u ge,her.
n. Mr. Gilmer has left wife and min
$, children, Mr. Upshur, aged about 81
e. has left wife 35 years Of age, and
9; daughter in i'll health. aged Is. Con
he Kennon has left wife and family, an
n. Mr. Gardiner two daughters.
ar The female relatives were not allow
Of ed to see the dead bodies of their hui
nd bands and fathers but were take
homo bv their friends Immediately. =