Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-03-23

day of March, 1874.
ArrRovED, 18th February, 1874.
Additional i'm relation TO the
Princeton Explosion.
"The Mayor Of Washington issued pfocla
nation, requesting all places Of business TO be
closed on the day Of the funeral. The President
left Committee IN charge of the bodies The
Committee, at the request Of Capt Stockton,
proceeded 10 examine witnesses, as to the causes
Of the explosion, and accordingly called upon the
officers whose duty NEST Immediately con-
fected with the loading Of the gun, for such in
formation as they had to give.
ssLieut Hunt, Ordnance officer, in charge ofthe
great guns, represents that he loaded the gun him
self, with but twenty-five pounds Of powder--the
usual charge being thirty pounds. Over the pow
der was placed single shot, with the usual num-
b.r or wads That the persons nearest the gun
at the time Of the explosion Were Capt Stockton,
Mr.. King, the gunner Of the ship, and himself.
;sLieut. Hunt also states. that this gun has been
repeatedly fired with charge ofthrty-five pounds
of powder. and once, in New York, with charge
Of forty-nine pounds.
Sin The staten, onts Of Lieut.. Hunt, Mr.. King,
the gunner of the ship, concurs. Mr.. King is
blacksmith ov trade, and is of opinion that the
gun was indifferently made of iron of an inferior
qnality.
s.The Committee, as well from the foregoing
testimony as from their ow pers onal observation
and examination before and after he accident,
have 90 hesitation in exonerating CAP. Stoc kton
and every officer and man under his command,
fiom the slightest imputa IN of rashness or care
lessness. and are unanimously of opinion tina, This
melancholy event rests upon causes over which
they could have no control.
.At two O'Clock. five hearses, conveying the
remains OF Upshur. Gilnaer, Kennon, MaXcy, and
Gardner. and followed by a long train Of car
riages, citizens on horseback and on foot, passed
in silence along the avenue, and proceeded to the
Presidents mansion. The collins were taken in
TO the East Room. and laid on frames placed in
the centre, arranged according to the rank Of the
deceased.
"The President Of the United States, who was
almost overwhelmed with grief, remained few
minutes. surrounded BY the survivors OF his Cab
met. and a numerous body of citizens, to receive
the several Committees, Congressional and 9TH
ers appointed 10 wait upon him, and the report
of the Committee of Investigation that had re-
manned on board the Princeton after the sad oc-
currence, (Which will be found in another col
umr,) and then retired 10 his private ROOM"
I The incidents which happened on board the
Princeton about the time Of the explosion, are
detailed with great minu'eness by the cores
pcndent Of the Philadelphia Chronicle. At the
table. short time before the accident, the Pres
ident gave this sentiment-sThe Oregon, the
Peace Maker and Capt. Stockholm" After sew
eral sentiments by Col. Benton, Senator Wood
bury, and other gentlemen. Miss Wickliffe gave
I -ssThe American Flag; the only thing American
that will bear stripes" Before the cheering
which followed that sentiment, had subsidized in
/ the cabin, the explosion on deck took place.
The gun was pointed TO leeward, and behind it
stood Capt Stockton, little to the left of him
Mr.. ]. Washington Tyson, Assistant Postmaster
General. By the side Of the latter, &little be-
vond him, stood Mr.. Strickland, and little to
the right of, but behind him, Col. Benton of Mis-
souri,, who had lady at his arm, and Judge
Phelps, Senator from Vermont. To the leeward
of the gun stood Judge Upshur, late Secretary OF
State, Gov. Giimer, late Secretary Of the Navy,
and a little behind them Mr.. Maxcy, of Maryland.
BY the side Of him, stood Mr.. Gardner, OF New
York. and Commodore Kennon, Of the Navy.
: When the gun was fired, the whole ship shook
, dense cloud Of smoke developed the whole
group on the forecastle; but when this blew away
an awful scene presented itself to the view Of the
2 spectator.
The lower part Of the gun from the trunnon!
to the breech was blown off, and one halt section
, Of it living on MIR. Upshur's breast. 1t took two
sailors TO remove it. He was badly cut over III,
1 eve and in his legs-his clothes were literally
f torn from his body--he expired in about three
: minutes Gov. Gilmer, of Virginia, was foun,
struck by the section Of the gun before it ha
e reached Mr. Upshur. Mr.. Sykes, the menbe
from New Jersey, endeayored to raise him fror
;, the ground, hut was unable. A mattrass wa
procured, and he was placed on il; before an
J medical assistance could be procured, ne was n
r longer among the living.
: Mr.. Maxsy had his arms and one Of his leg
; cut off, the pieces OF flesh hanging to the mutt
ated limbs, cold and bloodless, in a manner trul
: f,iph,ful He died instantly, 6H
:, Mr. Gardner, of New York, and Commodor
s Kennon fingered about half an hour; but they dl
i not seem for a single moment TO be conscious
their fate, and expired almost without groan.-
The flags of the Union were placed over the dea
e bodies as their winding sheets.
81 Behind the gun, the scene though at first equa
81 " distressing was less alarming. Captain Stool
: ton. who was knocked down, almost Instant
e rose to his feet, and jumped on the wooden ca
t. riage 10 survey the whole effect of the caamit
- All the hair Of his head and face was burnt o
= and he stood calm and undsmayed, but sile
: over the wreck In addition to the details q
8 ready mentioned, about dozen sailors were ba
he lv wounded: one was dead, and behind him *
of Benton, Judge Phelps, and Mr.. Strickland, as
of, dead, extended on the deck. On that side, by
=. singular confederation of circumstances, MIR. T
- son was the only person who stood his groun
Sc though a piece Of the gun, weighing about ty
1t pounds, had passed through his hat, about tv
inches from his skull, and fallen down by the 81
=. of him.
OF The lady who had Col Benton's arm was :
ne tually blown into the rigging, but not hurt @
as Benton exclaimed, Immediately after he fe
= "Lord, | am hurtv' but he was only stunned.
He was carried all and placed on q mattra'
e where Mrs Benton and his friends administer
10 him what aid they could, which, however,
d. repeatedly declined, saying there was nothing
4 matter with him. He tasted little brandy
water, (no cologne being near at hand,) and "
Oh soon after able TO walk, with some assstant
re over the railing Of the ship on board the steaI
er boat that took the company off to Washingtc
IN Judge Phelps, of Vermont, had his hat bio'
I. or Knocked off, and the buttons Of his coat to-
ne but he was not otherwise injured.
ay Mr. Strickland, Of Philadelphia, was not At
nd Injured, and instantly recovered his position.
al Miss Woodbury. and Miss Cooper, who.
company Of Captain Reed, of the Army, and
Weles, of Philadelphia, had been standing OF
a leeward gun, were not hur'; but Miss Woodbn
&c 1.-THE beautiful and accomplished daughter OF
X Senator from New Hampshire, had her VIII
- face sprinkled with blood, which, however,
~ glad to say, was not her own
Of Such was the force Of the explosion, that
no cardboard and larboard bulwarks were !ite.a
ii, shattered and the Fart Of the gan described
blowninto twenty o. thirty pieces besides the
he J,,ire wilkins had taken his stand ~ the :
st at Gov G,luser. but some remarks falling r.
the lins 81 the latter, 10 perceiving that the
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