The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-03-11

DEATH oEChElARIEo OFoIlOh AMI
GILMER, AND OTHERS.
On Wednesday, Feb IS. most heart-rending
currence took place little below Alexandria upon
the Potomac Various are the accounts which come
TO us, but the following, mainly from the National
Integencer, is doubtless correct as any Of them:
In the whole course Of our lives it has fallen
10 our lot TO announce to readers more shock
ing misunderstanding in all its circumstances and
concomitants that which occurred on board the
United States Ship PRINCETON, yesterday aner-
noon, whilst under way in the river Potomac, Ia or
10 miles below this city,
Yesterday was day appointed by the courtesy
and hospitality of Capt. SrocKroN, commander Of
the Princeton for receiving visters to this fine ship
dying off Alexandrn) great number Of guests, with
their families, libcraly and numcrously invited 10
spend the day on board The day most iavora-
BILE and the pany large and brilliant, of both
sexes--not less probably in numbers than four hun
dred among whom were the President of the United
States, the Heads of the several Departments, and
their families. Al proper hour after the arrival Of
the expected guests the vessel got under way, and
proceeded down the river to some distance below
Fort Washington. During the passage down, of
the large guns on board carrying ball of 225 lbs)
or and capacity Of that formidable weapon of war
The Ladies had par,aken Of sumptuous repast; the
gentlemen had succeeded them the table and some
Of them had left il; the vessel was on her return up
the river, opposite the FORT where Captain Stock
ton consented to fire another shot from the same gun
around and near which, to observe its effects, many
persons had gathered, though by means SO many
on n similar discharge in the morning, the ladies'
hi III el,o loo ~.
cason almost all between decks, and out of reach Of
harm.
The gun was fred The explosion was followed,
before the smoke cleared AWAY to observe its
effect, by shreks OF wo which announced dire Gu
lamiiy. The gun had burst, at point three or four
fee, from the breoch and scattered death and desolo
ton around Mr. UPsHUR, Secretary of State, Mr.
GILMER, so recently placed at the head of the Navy
Commodore KENYON ne OF its gallant officers, VIR-
GIL NANCY, lately returned from diplomatic res
idence at tho Hague, Mr. GARDINER, of New York,
formerly Member or the Senate of thut State )were
among the slain Besides these, seventeen seamen
were wounded, several Of them badly and probably
nortally. Among those stunned by the conclusion,
we enrn not all seriously injured were Capt SrocK-
TON himself; Col. BENTON, of the Senate; Lieut.
HUNT, of the Princeton; w. ID. Rop1NsoN of
Georgetown.
The scene upon the deck may more easily be i'm
ngned than described. Nor can the imagination pic-
ture TO itself the half Of its horrors Wives widowed
in an instant by the murderous blast Daughters
smen with the heartrending sight of their fathers
iifeless corpse The waiting of agonized females
The piteons grief of the unhurt but heart stricken
spectators The wounded seamen borne down be-
low The silent tears and quivering lips Of their
brave and honest comrades, who tried in vain TO sub
due or to conceal their feelings What words can
depict scene like this ?
Col Gardiner had both arms and both legs blown
off. ......... .. 3. Q 49,"
MIR Mnxcy's arm was blown off clean by the Shout
der.
Commodore Kennon had one leg and one arm blown
of. ''''
There were about twelve or fourteen sailors woun-
ded, but Mr. Ellicott says it is thought they will all
recover. .. .sr
Mr. Gilmer was killed by fragment striking him
on the forehead.
Mr. Upshur's legs and arms were broken and his
bowels torn out. ..I .1...- .... -.I.a.-
They all died instantly except the Presidents SER
want, who lived about ten minutes but never spoke
however. ..-a. t..r nd
The gentlemen killed were all standing upon the
ieeward side of the gun, nearly in row, and when
The gun burst, the pieces in their direction and
k.fed them tn'tantly-not groan ,oas heard TO es-
cape their lips. The President but moment pre.
Sious to the discharge ef, its vicinity As the smoke
cleared away, Captain Stockton was discovered with
his hair and face scorchod, and his dress covered
with powder. He jumped with one spring to the ton |
OF his gun,and exclaimed, ".My God! Would Inn, |
ioere dead loo 20
Mr. UPshur and Mr. Glmer were idols in tho happy |
family by which each was surrounded The elder
children OF Mr. Gimer are just grown, the younger
sihFin the nurses arms. Commodore Kennon, Mr.
maxcy' and Mr. Gardiner all torn from family en-
dsarments from wives and children.