Arkansas intelligencer. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1842-1859, 1844-03-23

and hospitality Of Capt. Stockton, Commander of
mo rrtncetons tor receiving n visters to his fine
ship lying off Alexandria,) areut number of
guests, with their families, Iibsraily and an me.
roos'y invited u spend the day on board The
aaJ was most favorable. and the company was
large and brilliant, of both sexes; not less pro.
oaoly' IN number than four hundred, among
whom we're the President Of the United States.
the Heads Of the several Departments, and their
families. AT proper hour. after the arrival of
the expected guests, the vessel got under wav and
prosecuted down the river, to some distance below
Fort Washington. During tho passage down, one
of The large guns on board carrying ball Of
225 pounds) was fired moro than once. exhibiting
the great power and capacity Of that formidable
weapon Of war. The Ladies had partaken of a
sumptuous repast the gentlemen had succeeded
them at the table, and some Of them had left it
the vessel was on her return up tho river, oppo.
site to the fort, whore Captain STOCKTON consent.
cd to fire another shot from tho same gun, around
and near which, to observe its effects many per-
sons had gathered, though by no means so many
as on similar discharges in tho morning, the ladies'
who then shronged the deck, being on this fatal
occasion almos, all between decks, and out of
reach of harm.
The gun was fred. The explosion was follow
ed. before the smoke red away 80 as to observe
dire calamity. The gun had burst, at point
three or four feet from the breech, and scattered
death AMI desolalion around. Mr.. UPsHua Sc
cre'aiy ofStaie. Mr.. GILMKR, SO recently placed
ut the head Of the Navy. Commodore KENNoN,
one Of its gallant officers, ViRGiL MAxcy, lateIy
returned from diplomatic residence at the Hague
Mr.. GARDNER, OF New York, formerly member
of the Senate Of that State,) were among the
slain. Besides these, seventeen seamen were
wounded, several Of them badly and probably
mortally. Among those stunned by tho concus.
sion, we learn not at all seriously injured, were
Captain STOCKTON himself, Colonel BENTON, of the
Senate; Lieutenant HUNT, Of the Princeton; w.
ID. ROBINSON, Of Georgetown. Other persons nj
so were perhaps more or loss injured, of whom, in
the horror Of confusion Of the moment. no certain
accounts could be obtained. The above are be-
lIeved however, 10 comprise the whole Of the per.
sons known to the public who were killed or dan
gerously or seriously hurt. r.
The scene upon tho deck may more easily be
imagined than described. Nor can the gina.
lion picture TO itself the half Of its horrors
Wives, widowed in IN instant by The murderous
blast! Daughters smitten with tho heart rendin
sight Of their fathers Iifeless corpsel The wall.
Ings of the ngonized females! The piteous griof
Of the unhurt but hea rtstricken spectators! The
wounded senmen borne down below! The silent
tears and quiverlng lips Of their brave and homes,
comrades. who tried in vain to subdue or to con-
ceal their feelings! What cords Gun adequately
depict scene like thisl
the bodies were brought up 10 the city this
morning. and. accompanied by numerous pro.
cesslon. were conveyed from the steamboat wharf
TO the Presidents mansion. from whence t1ey will
together, be carried to the tomb.
The friends Of Capt. SrocxroN will be graft
ned 10 learn TINT his injury has proved but slight.
None Of the officers OH boa I'd seriously hurt
None of the seamen are yet dead, though it is
feared tina, the wounds Of some may prove NOR.
tai. The Princeton still lies below.
1--WE understand that Mrs. Gimer was upon the
deck whom her husband fell. 1t was the third
discharge ofrhe gun land fired at tho requcs, of
Mr.. Giimer) that burst it. The daughter of Mr..
Upsher, several Of tho family Of Com. kennon,
and the daughters Of Mr.. Ga rdiner, were on board
the steamer; but mono Of them, except Mrs. Gil.
mer, were apprized of tie death Of those most
dear to them, until after their return 10 the CITY,
Almost all the ladies' were below, at dinner, when
the catastrophe occurred. Mrs. Gilmer was brought
to the city almost in a state of dist raction.
There were two hundred ladies on board, and
during the two discharges Of the gun, were on tho
deck; and many of them approached worry near
10 observe the Of the ball after it struck the
water. President Tyler was there also, but had
attended the ladies to dnnor before the third dis.
NAVv DI,p,pTssENr