The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-03-29
The Princeton Tragedy.

=
ness on board the PRINCETON We copy from
the Philadelphia Leger: 1t contains all
published in Tie other papers with some
additional particulars.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 90.
I The day was surprisingly beautiful
We thought from yesterdays cloudy sky
HAT We would have rainy DAY of ii, but
The sun rose clear aud bright, aud the town
from early IN the morning presented gay
and busy scene. Nearly all the carriages
were engaged, and frcighted with the love.
liuess, beauty and grace of the city,
/ bout IL o'clock, A. NJ. the President of
HE United States, Mrs. Robt. Tyler, Miss
Cooper, Mr.. John Tyler, Jr., with large
number of officers IN gnJcring uniforms,
all The members Of the Cabinet, save Mr.
Spencer, many other high funct.ouares Of
State, grave Senators and aspiring mem
bcrs, quite number of attaches and Sc
cre'aries Of Legation, Gen. Amontc, Min
lister from Mexico, Sir Richard Packing.
ham had been invited, but declined, and a
number Of other gcutlemen, whose names
do not Tecollect were assembled on the
i deck Of one Of the steamers, ply ing be-
tween here and Alexandria, ias. bearing
down for that place.
i Opposite the Navy Yard beat load Of
musicians were taken on board, who as
we approached Alexandria, and the Prince.
ton hove in sight. struck Up Hail Celum-
bia while we were describing graceful
curve under her bow to view the splendid
steamer in all her pride, the flags Of every
nation streaming from her mast, and her
yards manned TO return the cheers that
were uttered By The company as we near.
ed her.
We now approached her on her larhoard
side, and came quite close 10 her. A
Bird ge was made from our hurricane deck
TO the Princeton, and the ladies and gem
tlemen received BY the officers.on deck,
and conducted TO Capt. Stockton.in full
uniform. The band now<siIuck up the
a. Star Stangled Bauser," the mariners
presented arms, and as soon as the COM
pany were on board, salute Of twenty one
guns was fired-the Sand still playing ma
tional airss aBd-it was quite aNnsing to
see how many ladies iemaiuea on deck to
witness the manGuvre. although they had
been politely requested TO step down not to
be annoyed with the smell Of powder or
the noise of the report.
No one imagined from The pride and
cheertulness which prevailed in that throng
that death was walking in the midst OF
them, cooiiy singing out bis victims. A,
splendid dinner was served in the cabin,
aud the ladies sat down first. and was wait.
ed on by the gentlemen, Who were really
agreeable, afd did the kest, with Wit and
repar!ee, to season lh<repast.
In the meanEhile the Princeton. hove
anchor and $inade sail bearing down for
Fort Washington and Mount Vernon
Past Fort Washington where the Potomac
expands and presented sufficient scope for
the power OF her big guns, the forward
gun was shottad aud fired, the ball striking
the water and rebounding five or six times
till the eye would no longer follow its pro.
gress. To observe the effect Of the shot
| had posted myself on the nearest lar.
board cunnonade gun, and the sailors had
erected kind of scaflalding for the ladies'
10 stand on By the side Of me. One or
two had taken their position there, and
beside me stood Mr.. Secretary Upshur, in.
tent upon Witnessing the whole manDuvre.
/ offered him my place, but he declined,
saying he preferred to stand where he was
the precise spot where an hour after
wards he was torn TO pieces.
Meanwhile the table had again been set
for the gentlemen, aud we repaired down
to Join the general merrment. Captain
Stockton was the first toast, and the cabin
re-echoed the cheers and plandits of the
company. THE President" was then
drank, followed by nine cheers, 10 which
the President replied by giving " the Ore
gon, the Peacemaker, and Captain Stock.
ton" 4 number Of toast were then pro.
posed and drank with all the honors of Mr..
Benton, Col. Smith, OF New York, Sena-
tor Woodbury., and others, and at last Miss
WickliiIe, daughter OF the Postmaster Gen. I
cral, proposed "the American Flag, the
only thing American that will bear stripes.
This was received with laundering up.
plause-the young lady's health was
drank with three times three, and her
self declared worthy Of marrying q hero.
Scarcely was that toast drank when the
whole scene was changed into one of
yrctchedness and woe.
Capt Stockton's great gun was again
loaded with shot, and another trial made
of its strength and efficiency. The gun
was pointed to lecwa|d, and behind it (you
must excuse me for bling thus particular
but the scene has left such an indelhble
impression upon my mind that | am CON- I!
PEELED, like Colerdgo's mariner in "the
Albatross," to give all the details,) stood
Capt. Stockton a little 10 the left OF him
Mr.. ]. Washington Tyson, Assistant Post
Master General, OF your city, BY the
side of the latter, a little behind him, stood
Mr.. Strickland, also OF your city, and a
little to the right Of, but behind him, Col.
Benton, of Missouri, who had lady at
his arm, and Judge Phelps Senator from
Anrn,ot,t