Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-03-09
By nIasser s. EiseIy,
OF the Navy, who, at the same time was chief
of one of the Bureaus in the Navy Department.

When the gun was fired, the whole ship
shook, dense cloud of smoke enveloped the
whole groupon the fnrecastle; but when this
blew away, an awful scene presented itsel: to
the view of the spectator.
The lower partof the gun from the trnnnions
10 the hrccch was blown OIL, and one half sec
ton oft lying on Mr.. Upshur's breast Ittook
two sailors to remove it, He was badly cut
over the eye ard in his legs-his clothes were
literally torn from his bo1y---he expired in a.
bout three minutes. Gov. Gilmer of Virginia
was found equally badly injured. He had ovi.
dently been struck by the section ofthe gun be-
fore it had reached Mr.. Upshur, Mr. Sykes, the
member from New Jersey, endeayored to raise
him from the ground, but was unable. A mat.
trcss was procured, aud he was placed on it; be-
fore any medical assistance could be procured,
he was no longer among the living.
Mr.. Maxcy had his arms and one of his legs
cut of, the pieces ofhesh hanging to the mutt
lated limbs, cold and bIoodless in manner tru-
ly Eightul. He died instantly.
Mr. Gardiner, Of New York, and Commodore
kcnnon fingered about half an hour; but they
did not seem for single moment to be consci-
Gus Of their fate, and expired almost without
groan. The flags of the Union were placed o.
yer the dead bodies as their winding sheets
Behind the gun, the scene, though at FIRST c.
qually distressing, was less alarming. Captain
Stockton, who was knocked down, almost in
stantly rose to his feet and jumped on the WOO
/ den carriage 10 survey the whole effect of the
calamity. All the hair OF his head end face was
/ burnt of and he stood calm and undismayci,
| but silent over the wreck. In addition 10 the
/ deaths already mentioned, about dozen sailors
were badly wounded one was dead, nud be-
! hind him Col. Benton, Judge Phelps, and Mr..
! Strickland, as if dead, extended on the deck
! On that side, by singular confederation Of cir
cumstances, Mr. Tyson of PhildeIphia, was the
only person who stood his ground, though a
/ piece of the gun, weighing about two pounds,
/ had passed through his hat, about two inches
from his skull; and fallen down by the side OF
him.
The lady who had Col. Benton's arm was ac
tualy blown into tie rigging, but not hurt
Col. Benton exclaimed, Immediately after IL,
fell, that he twas hurt - but he was only stun
ned. He was carried aft and placed on a mat
trcse, where Mrs. BENTON and his friends dni
ns;cred To him what aid they could, Which
however, he repeatedly declined, saying ther,
was nothing the matter with hir. lie was 500:
after able to walk, with some slight assistance
over the rating of the ship on board the steam
boat that took the company Of to Washington
Judge Phelps Of Vermont, had his hat blow
OF Knocked of, and the buttons of his cca; torn
but he was not Otherwise injured. Mr.. S'rch
land, of Philadelphia, was not atali injured, an
instantly recovered his position.
Miss Woodbury. and Miss Cooper, who, /
company Of Captain Reed, of the Army, an
Mr. Wclles, of Phadelrha, had bren s'andin
on lccward gun, were not hurt; bu, Mis-
Woodbury., Uhe beautiful and acconp she
daughter NJ The Senator from New Hampshire
had her whole face sprnkled with blood, whic
, however, am glad to say, was not her own.
= Such was the force of the explosion, that tn
t starboard aud larboard bulwnrks We're LITERAL
/ shattered and the part CT the gun | describe
a was blown into twenty or Thirty pieces beside
= The two principal sections.
Judge Wilkins was only saved by wiititisl
p. of his. lie had taken his stand by the eide
e Gov. Glmer but some remarks falling from 1T
lips Of the latter and in percciving that the grl
. was about To he fred, exclaimed, Though SCI
p. retary of War, ! don't like this firing, and b.
. iieve that shall run" So saying he relreatc
d >ulting the action 10 the word, and was save
: The pres;den, himself had taken his po.,ic
but few minutes previous, precisely whel
+ Gov. Gllmer was killed but for sCrle tease
5 or other went aft, and was thus provldental
d saved.
@ The mo-t heart.rendine scene however, vi
L that which followed. The two daughters
1 Mr.. Gardiner o: New York, were both on boar
J and lnmen,ed the death of their father, whi
n Mrs Gilmer, from whom they in vain attemF
,. ed to keep the dreadful news of the death of h
e husband, presented truly spectacle fit to
}, depicted by tragedian.
f. There she sat on deck, with her hair dshe
10 eled pale as death, struggling with her feelin!
a. and with the dignity ofa woman. Her ii
IN quivering, her eyes fixed and upturned, withC
e, a tear only the corners little moist, soliloqu
40 ing "Oh certainly not !-Mr. GIlmer cana
es be dead Who would dare to iniure hImi