Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-03-15
TIE DISASTER AT WASHINGTON.


Correspondence of the New York sunl
Captain Stockton took the head of the table
and gave The health of The President, which was
drank 1th enthusiasm. Several other loass were
given, AID heartily responded TO the ladies' quaii
Ell ler roblets Of champagne their bright eyes
sparkIed their cheeks gIowed aud vii flowed
from every ruby lip.
At last Captain Stockton said, as they were now
wilma 20 minutes ran OF Alexandria he would fire
n parting salute from The Peacennker, in honor
Of the nIenory OF the great peac maker OF his
country, George Washington He sad this pr-
vnteiy To the President and The Cnbnet lnmedl-
aely around hln, aud told them he would lire the
gun this time Tor their especial benefit aud grGlf
cation. Accordingly all the Cabinet started to go
up the cabin stairs, aud tie President with them :;
the President was neary on deck when he was
called TO hear Il toast proposed by Miss WIckliffs :;
it was this, "The flag of America The on thing
thai is American that will bear II stripe" Thus
was received with great enthusiasm. The Presi.
dent then gave The " Three great puns--the
PrinceOD--her commander aud his peacemaker."
his was lou.y applaudcd 10y The ladies. Aud
then The members OF the Cabinet started to 20 up
stairs.
AT this moment Mr.. Upshur had his hand on
the Presidents arm, aud SAID, come Mr.. Tyler,
let's go up and see the big gun fred Just then
Col. Uade asked Mr.. Walter, (the Presidents ION.
in-iaw) 10 sing an old song about l716. The
President REPLIED No, by George, Upshur,
must stay and hear that song OF Walters, it's an
OF I favorlle OF mine you 60 up aud Ill join YOU
directly" Accordingly AWAY went Upshur and
Glmer, Wilkins and Nelson, to see lne gun fired
Niessrs. Benton, Phelps, Hannegan, Jarnegan,
Miss Woodbury., MIR. aud Mrs Welhered. Charles
Augustus Davis. Mir. David Gardiner, V!rgil Max
cy, Com kennon, and many others Went on deck
The President renamed below listening to the
song and Just us Mr.. Waller came 10 tie name
OF Was ington," off went the gun. "Tnere
nf tI,,
st that's III honor Of his name; now Tor lhrec
cheers" And Just as they were abou 10 give
them, II bou,swnins ua!e rushed mo the CABIN
covered with powder. aud sad lha: the big gun
had exploded, and killed many of those on deck
On this announcement The shrieks aud aguniZ-
ing cries OF the women were heart-rending {, all
calling and for their husbands, fathers bcolh.
ers, and so Oh. And when found, rushing Wild
ly into their arms, aud ialntlng with excess Of
feeling.
All The upper part at The breech was blown of,
aud piece weighing 200 or 300 pounds struck
Messrs GIlmer, Upsnur, Maxcy, Gardluer and
Kennon, and knocked them all down; The piece
lay across the legs OF Giliner, Upshur and Gardi.
ner, when they were found alter the smoke blew
away. GIIner and Upshu, were also struck 10y
pieces Of iron or rlvels IN the head aud temples
and Giner behind the ear and in the side. Mr.
Gardeners lower limbs were all torn in pieces !;
all their clothes were much burnt and Upshur
Gardiner aud KennOn, ali fell, touching each 9th
| er. Upshurs Fps moved for few seconds, and
then All was sui G'lmer breuthed once or uyice
| and all was over the Others never slirrrd.
Capt. Stockton was bow., back against the fore
shrOud (c was behind the breech ot the gun
when it was fred y his whlskers and eyebrows
were all blown Off aud as soon ms he recovered
| from The stunning effect OF The shock, and the
smoke cleared away, he spraug wIth deIlruus
effort on the gun, shattered us II was, aud ex-
! claueh in agony, Z" ioouid 10 God alone hut been
! killed ~ HIS friends then carried him down
Stars, aud laid HIM OH n setiee, where he nearly
tainted from exhaustion, and at last burst into
! agony ui tears. lie WAS Immediately put to bed.
The President appeared the most sorrow-strick-
en- linn OF the whole purity; he rushed 10 the
/ deck aud when he saw the dead bodies Of Up
shur aud Giimer he wept bitterly. Ii was hor-
rid scene. God keep me from seeing another like
| it, One OF Virgil Muxcys arms was blown off,
and struck Mrs Welhered on the side Of he head,
cuyerng her face %ilh blood, aud knocking her
bolueI oil Col. Beuton was blown Hat upon his
buck, aud stunned all The buttons on i5ena, or
! Phelps coat were torn of, aud Miss Elisabeth
! Woodbury., who stuou between them, lud her
bonnie, blown off, bu was MOI knocked down.
Miss Somervlile's dress was covered with blood
and brains. Jarnegan aud lannegan were blown
| Hat Oh their backs; MIR Postmaster L. sun lud II
| hole blown through his hat Mir. Strickland, the
architect, had hOe lorn through The SKIRT OF lis
! coat; Gen. Jesup Narrowly escaped, plece OF
| the gun passing close 10 ms face ; Two three oil
! the ioreign Ministers were blown down, but 9th .
! erwse unlunred many others were blown own
| by the shock, hats and bohnets blown oil, faces
! cut and clothes torn; MIR. T.. A. DAVIS had his
lip silghtly cut. All the bulwarks on The luyboard
side nearly buck TO The main chains were blown
OUT aud All the bulwarks on the sarboard side
back 10 the bow gun, by HE fore CHAINS aud
down 10 HE monkey RAN, were blown over lnl
| side.
la addition to this, the deck was strewed with
IRON riVeis, &c. and IL Is God mercy that ali Oh
the forward deck were not blown mo eternity lu.
getlcr
MIR. GlImer has left wife and nine children
Mr. Upshur, aged abOui 50 has lett wife 80 year,
OF age, AMI daughter IN III heath, aged III Com
Keun0n has lett II vie aud family air. GuIdnei
has LEFT his Two daugh ers, VINO have long been
bellies in tins place.
HE female relatives were not allowed to St,
the dead bodies OF their husbands aud fathers
but were taken home by their female friends i'm
mediaeiy, Mr.. Wlckllilo left rs possible
wan his wle and daughters; Judge Wilkins und
Ihe PRESIDENT stayed III The ship til The last.
: All is horror aud sadness in The city. When
me news was told 10 Mr.. Spencer he cred like
child.
} The officers of The vessel say positively, tina
no one was Dlown overheard, aud that only si1
sailors were wounded, ali OF whum were sent L
The hospital, aud one of whom is since dead
MaTied.-ln New York, on the 26,h Feb Mr.
,. >. Gardiner, OF Shelter Island, 10 Mrs. Susa,
! Franklin Mott
How strangely mysterious are the ways of Prov
ldence! While these nupIias were being celebra
a ~ Ann Ill.