The Arkansas banner., 1844-03-20
TERRIBLE CALAMITY.

acter, or more distressing m lt5 consequences, than that of which the particulars will be found below 1t is, indeed, a calamity under which not only the hearts and hopes of individuals and families are crushed and broken, but for which this whole nation Twill long and deeply mourn. Families are thus be- reit of alectonate fathers husbands, and brothers States are thus shorn of their pride and strength - VIRGINIA our loved native State, is chief mourner among her stricken sisters, having thus lost two of her purest and noblest Sons--Sons who worhilv the principles, and honoraby illustrated the high character, of their venerable Mother! Our whole country Is deprived of wise counsellors aith- iul servants, and high-souled patriots And all this with suddenness truly appalling, when the pulses of all beat high with life, when het cloud obscured the bright prospect, and all around was hope and happiness As citizens, and as individuals, we yield to feelings of deep sadness under this most heavy and painful dispensation of Providence.
 Honors To the distinguished victims of this sad disaster duly paid in this city, Sunday last by the firing of heavy guns, from the United States Arsenal, every half hour during the day.
 We lay before our read.rs the following letter. from the Hon. VIM. s. FULTON containing a brief
  and, in addition, some extracts from Washington papers, furnishing particulars:
 Washington Feb 29th, 1874. My DEAR DocToR-
 sent you paper containing, Ian account of the heart rending accident which hap- pened last afternoon on board the Steam Ship Prince- ton If this reaches you before the paper, twill in- form you that large company, composed of the: President and his Cabinet members of Congress Ssc Scc. and large number of Ladies, by invitation froms Capt. Stockton, went on board his ship yesterday; morning, and made trip to Mount Vernon. On' pounder the gun burst and killed instantly Mr. Upshur, Mr. Gmer, Capt. Kennon, Mr Maxcy, and Mr. Gardiner, of N. Y.-Many others, were wounded, and more or less injured, amongst them, Col Benton. He however is not seriously in ured and will be able to attend to business in few days. One of the accounts perhaps the one sent1 10 you, contains statement that Captain Stockton, was himself dead I am now informed that there is! no truth in that statement. Capt. Stockton was' somewhat injured but is not dangerously wounded He will be well hope in a short time But few La dies were on deck at the time of the accident ands not one received the least injury. The wives ofsev- eral of the lamented dead, on board the ShipI and am informed that pen describe the sceneI of distress and confusion which ensued after the ex- tent of the accident was known. The President was himself saved by having beenl induced 10 take lady from the immediate neighbor-i hood of the gun; and Mr. Wilkins had just steppedi T +i,.
 viii not attempt to describe the state of feeling; here at this time. I suppose both Houses of Con gross will adjourn to day, and will also resolve to a- tend the funerals to morrow.
 In great haste, your friend, and obt. servt
 ". S. FULTON. s To DR. s. BoRLASp,
 From he hfadisonian of Feb. 2SM HORRIBLE CALAMITY !-EXPLOSION oFs
 THE PRINCETON'S GREAT GUN. Death of Inc Secretary of State-of Me Se- r
 crciary Of the .Nary--of Commodore Ken-ss
 non--of Virgil .Marcy-of .Mr. Gardtner,s ,s
 of .N r., Sc, SC. The following frightful intelligence wei obtain from an eyewitness. To-day the Princeton made another excur- s 'ion, having on board several hundred guests. The ship proceeded down the river below E IIount Vernon, and on its return, when ins bout twenty minutes run of Alexandria, theE arge gun on the bow was fred 1t being thea econd or third time it had been dischargedM with ball, and the usual service charge, and, s xploding at the breech, spread death and de-a truction on the deck sI Among the victims are those named abovea t is said several of the gunners, crew, &c.,a ,a to the ship, were killed or mortal-Ssl V wounded, and several others are missing. .g The breech of the gun was severed, ands arred away the bulwark of the ship oppo-a ite 10 it. It was the iron fragments, 1t is X which struck down so many ong board, and who could not have been behind5 he gun. Capt. Stockton. we learn is among { he wounded, but it is thought he is not se-s ionsly injured. Col. Benton was likewise injured WeS that none of the iron fragments struck him, but that the concusson stunned5 lm severely, as well as several others
 The accident took place about sunset.
 A steamboat from Alexandria, which wass passing, was sent back to town, and returned E with several surgeons. The Princeton vet { ies at anchor at the place where the frightful occurred, with the bodies on board. { Most of the guests have arrived in the city.
 The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED SrATEs.s who was on board at the time of the explo-s sion, but who escaped unhurt, remains with he bodies on board. We understand theI Princeton will come up in the morning.
 We have stopped the press at 9 o'clock 5 P. M., to make the above melancholy an-s The astounding event rendersl IS unfit to make any remarks of our own -i We can only record the sad occurrence.
 ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. On the day after the accident the President sentl Message to the two Houses of Congress, announc- ng the death of his Cabinet officers. The Message; concludes as follows
 s.In some relief of the public sorrow which must necessarily accompany this most painful, event, it affords me much satisfaction to say that it was produced by no carelessness or, . Il f x1- n Il