Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-03-07
From the National lntelgcncer Of Thursday.
MOST AWFUL AND MOST LAMENTA-
BILE CATASTROPHE

BILE CATASTRoPHEl
OF ONE OF THE LARGE GUNS ON BOARD
THE UNITED STATES SHIP PRINCETON.
OF SECRETARY UPSHUR, SECRETARY GIL.
MER, CoMMoDORE KENNON, AND VIRGIL
NANCY, Esq.
In the whole course of our lives il has nev-
err fallen to our lot to announce TO our reade rs
a more shocking caiamhy-Shockinp i'm all
ITS circumstances and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
that which occurred on board the United
states ship Princeton, yesterday afternoon,
whilst under way in the river Potomac, four
teen or fifteen miles below this city
Yesterday was a day appointed, by the
courtesy and hospitality of Captain Stockton.
commander of the Princeton, for receiving as
Visiters TO his fine ship dying Off Alexandria,
great number OF guests, with their families,
iioeraily and numerously invited TO spend the
day on board. The day was most favorable.
ana the company was large and brilliant. of
both sexes; not less probably in number Than
four hundred, among whom were the Presi-
dent OF the United States, the Heads of the
several Departments, aud their families. Alta
proper hour, after the arrival of the expected
guests, the vessel got under way and proceed
ca down the river, 10 some distance below
Fort Washington. During the passage down.
one Oh the large guns on board Carrying
oail OF 20 pounds) was fired more than once.
cNhioi,lng the great power and capacity of
that formidable weapon of war. The Ladies
ma! partaken OF sumpluous repast; the gem
tlemen had succeeded them at the table. and
some of them had left it; the vessel was ON
her return up the river, opposite to the fort,
where Captain Stockton consented 10 fire ano-
ther shot from the same gun, around and near
which, to observe its effects, many persons
mad gathered, though by no means so many as
on similar discharges in the morning, the la
dies who then tlronged the deck Being on
this fatal occasion almost all between decks.
and out OF reach of harm.
The gun was fired. The explosop was
followed, before the smoke cleared awav 50
as TO observe its effect, by shreks of wo
which announced dire calamity The Gun
uad burst, at point three or four feet from
the breach, and scattered death and tesolaton
around, MIR. UPsHUR. Secretary of State. Mr..
NiLMER, so recently placed at the head of the
navy, Commodore kENNoN, one of lis gal
laht officers, VIRGIL MAXCY, lately returned
from diplomatic residence at the Hague. Mr..
GARDNER, of New York, (formerly mem
Der oil the Senate of that SiaIe.) were AMONG
the SLAIN. Besides these, seventeen seomen
were wounded, several of them badly and pro-
baoly MORALLY. Among those stunned bv the
concussIon, we learn not all seriously iniureJ.
were Capt. Stockton himself; Col. Benton. of
me senate; Lieut.. Hunt, of the Princeton ::
w. -. Robinson, Of Georgetown. Other per-
sons also were more or less injured, of whom.
]" Tie horror and confusion of the moment.
no Certain account could be obtained. The
"ooVe are believed, however, TO comprise the
10
VINO were killed or dangerously or seriously
hurt '"''y
Inc scene upon tlte-deck may more easily
be Imagined than described Nor can The
Imagination picture To itself the half of its
horrors. Wives, widowed in an instant lv
Inc nurderous blast! Daughters smi,ten with
,he heart-rendng sight of their Fathers life
less corpse! The waiings of agoniZed Ce-
ihaleS The piteous grief of the unhurt but
heart-strlcken Spectators The wounded sea-
men borne down below! The silent tears and
quiverlng lips Of their brave and homes, com
rades, who tried in vain to subdue or to con-
ceal their feelings What mords can AIDE.
quaelY depict scene like this
The bodies of the killed remained on board
the ship last night. They will be brought to
'he city This morning.
we add an extract from the Globes account
" ''' "Me-sPiead'hS calamity: Mir. Up
shur ana Air; Gimer were idols in the happy
family by which each was surrounded. The
eider children of Mr.. Gilmer are lust GROWN.
inc younger still IN the nurses arms. Com
modore kennon, Mr.. AIaxcy and Mr.. Gardiner
are all torn from family endearments-Crom
wives and children.
we understand that Mrs Gimer was uDon
the deck when her husband fell. II was the
third discharge of the gun land fired at the
request OF MIR. Gilmer,) that burst it. The
oaugh'er OF MIR. Upshur, several Of the family
OF Com. kennon, and the daughter of Mr..
Gardiner, were on board the steamer: but
none OF them, except Mrs. Gilmer, were an
prized oil the death Of those most dear TO
'iieii', uh'ii alter their return to the civ Al
most al! the ladies we're below, at dinner.
when the catastrophe occurred Mrs. Gilmer
was brought TO the city almost in a state of
distraction"
The following additional particulars are
furnished by the correspondent of the Balli-
more American of the 29lh February:
"A gentleman who was on board the Prince
ton, at The time of the explosion, states that
captain Stockton fired The gun himself and
That alter the explosion, when he had reco-
Vefed from The shock, he exclaimed lie would
nave been satisfied if he had been the only
sufferer. Two gentlemen, between whom n
lady was standing, were much injured. The
breast OF The coat of one of them was torn Off
and the hat of the other was carried away:
but strange as 1t may seem, the lady escaped
unhurt. Our informant also states that pro-
sident TYLER and family. with large num- /
Der of ladies and gentlemen in the cabin. were
about TO go on deck, when a gentleman re-
marked that one of the ladies would give
toast, and that they must wait for it, which