Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-03-06
MISCELLANEOUS.
= WAsHINGToN, Feb. %.
MOST AWFUL AND MOST La
INEVITABLE CATASTROPHE.

Instantaneous Death, by the bursting ofone
ofthe large Guns on board the U. States
Ship Princeton, Of Secretary Upshur,
Secretary Gitmer, Commodore Kennoa,
Virgil Marcy, Esq.
In the whole course Of our lives it has
never fallen to our lot 10 announce to our
readers more shocking calami,y-shock-
ING in all its circumstances aud concoml-
tants-than that which occurred on board
the United States ship Princeton, yester-
day afternoon whilst under way, in the
River Potomac, fourteen or fifteen miles
below this city.
Yesterday was a day appointed, by the
courtesy and hospitality ofCapt.Stockton,
Commander of the Princeton, for receiving
as visiters to his fine ship Cyiug Of Alex
andria) great number of guests, with
their families, literally and numerously
invited to spend the day on board. The
day was most favorable, and the company
was large and brilliant, Of both sexes; mo-,
less probably in number than four hundred,
among whom " ere the President oflhe u.
States, the Heads Of the several Depart
partmcnls, and thcir families. AT a proper
hour, after the arrival Of the expected
guests, the vessel got under way and pro-
ceeded down the river, to some distance
below Fort Washington. During the pas
sage down one ofihe large guns on board,
carrying ball Of 225 pounds) was fred
more Than once. exhibiting The great power
and capacity of that form liable weapon Of
war. The ladies had partaken Of sump-
tuous repast; the gentlemen had succeeded
them al The table, aud some Of them had
left il; the vessel was on her return up The
river, opposite TO the fort, where Captain
Stockton consented to fire another shot
from the same gun, around and near which
to observe the effects, many persons had
gathered, though by no means so many
as on similar discharges in The morning,
the ladies who then lhronged The deck be-
| ing on this fatal occasion almost all between
decks and out of reach of:harm.
The gun was fired. The explosion:was
followed before the smoke cleared away
SO as to observe its effect, by shrieks OF
wo which announced a dire calamity. Phe
gun had burs, al point three or four feel
from the brecch. and scattered death and
dissolution around. Mr.. Upshur, Secretary
Of State, MIR. Gilmer. SO recently placed
| at the head Of the Navy, Commodore Ken
non, one of the gallant officers, Virgil
Maxcy, lately returned from diplomatic
residence at the Hague, Mr.. Gardner, OF
New York. formerly member of the
Senate Of thai State, were among the
slain. Besides these, seventeen seamen
were wounded, several of them badly and
probably MORALLY. Among those stunned
blythe concussion, and we learn not all Sc
riously injured, were Captain Stockton
himself; Col. Benton, of the Senate; Lieut..
Hunt, of the Princeton; w. d. Robinson,
of Georgetown. Others persons also ere
perhaps more or less injured; of whom, in
The horror and confusion Of the moment,
no certain account could be Obtained
The above are believed however TO COM
prise the whole of the persons known to
the public who were killed or dangerously
or seriously hurt.
The scene upon the deck may more ea-
silly be imagined than described. Nor can
the Imagination picture to itself the half OF
irs horrors. Wives, widowed in an instant
by themurderous blast! Daughters smit-
ten with the heart-rending sight of their
father'slifeless corpse! The piteous grief
of the unhnrt butheart-stricken spectators !
The wounded seamen borne down below