Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-03-07
.uosf .4lCftsE and .Hoss La
Efe1ftabte Catastrophe.

hs,iaaianss.a Dad. bg lie Burs,ing Of orr e tls
Legs Guns en- Board tie Uniied States ShiP
fssaesieia, ef Secretary, UPSHUR. Secretary
1iL-aER, Cou.modors KENYON. VIRGIL
-d.dACf X Esq, and Col G.3RDNER I
In The whole course Of our lives il has
never fallen 10 our lot TO announce 10 our
teaderss more shocking calamity-shock,
ing 10 ali is circumstances and concomi-
tants--than that which occurred on board
the United States Ship PRINcEToN. yes
terday afternoon. whilst under way, 10
in the river Potomac, fourteen OF fifteen
miles below this city.
Yesterday was day appointed. by the
courtesy and hospitality Of Capt. STocK-
TON, Commander Of the Princeton, for re-.
ceiving as yisiters 10 bis fine ship dying
off Alexandria) grea. number Of guests.
with their families. literally and nnmer-
ously invited 10 spend the day on board
The day was most favorable and the com.
pany was large and brilliant. OF both sex
les mol less probably in number itan four
hundred, among whom were the Presi.
Dent Of the United States. The Heads Of
the several Departments, and their fami.
lies. Ala proper hour, after the arrival
II the expected guests. The vessel got I'M
der way and proceeded down The river,
10 some distance below Fort Washington.
During Abe passage down, one Of the large
guns on board carrying ball Of 225
lponnas) was fred more than once. exhib-
|iling the great power aud capacity OF that
formidable weapon Of war. The Ladies
HAD partsken Of sumptuous repast; the
gentlemen bad succeeded them at the tai
Bile. aud some ofhhem had leitit; The
vessel was on her return Up. the liver. OPP
posite 10 the fort, where Captain Stock
TON consented TO Gre another sho; from
The same gun, around aud neal which,
to observe its effects, many persons had
gathered, though by no means so smany
as on; similar discharges in the morning,
the ladies who then thronged the deck be-
ing on this fatal occasion almost all be-
tween decks, and out Of reach Of harm
The guns was fred. The explosion
was followed, before the smoke cleared
away so as to observe its effect. by shrieks
Of wo which announced dire calamity.
The gun bad burst, at a point three or
four feet from the breech, and scattered
death and desolation around. Mr. UP.
sHUR, Secretary of State, Mr.. GiLMER,
so recently placed al The head Of the Ma
w, Commodore KENNoE. one Of its gal
lant officers, VIRGIL MAxcY, lately re-
turned from diplomatic residence a: the
Hague MIR. 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 individually NOR
tally. vAmong those stunned BY the con.
cussion, we learn not all seriously lnlur'
ed, were Capt STOCKTON himself Col
BENTON, Of the Senate; Lieut.. HUNT, @
the Princeton w. d. RoBINsoN5 o
Georgetown. Other persons also were
perhaps more or less injured, OF whom
| in the horror and confusion Of The mo
men, no certain account could be obtain
ed The above are believed, however
TO comprise the whole Of the persons
known 10 the Public who we're killed o.
dangerously or seriously hurt.
The scene upon the deck may more ca
silly be imagined than described. No
can the imagination picture to itself ,he
half Of lis horrors. Wives, widowed II
an instant by the murderous blast ~
Daughters smittenP with the heart rendin!
sight Of their fathers lifeless corpse ~
The wailings Of agonizet females TIL
piteous grief Of tie uaburt but heart
stricken spectators The wounded sea
men borne down below The silenttear
and quivering lips Of their brave and hon
est comrades, who tried in vain To subdu
or 10 conceal their feelings! What pord
can adequately depict a scene like this 7
MAJ Int. Feb 80.