Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-07-15
A Dreadful Accident in Washington.

A Dreadful Accident in Washington.
This forenoon, between I'D and III O'Clock,
while the guuner's crew at the Washington
Navy Yard were engaged in their usual Date
nv practice, u sixty-tour pounder-an army
pun-which had been fired once only there
Though it had evidently been often fired
before) burst, killing James Wilson and
William Nokes. The former was sestsr1ng
man, married, with one child. The latter
was married man, and Was preparing to be-
come q gunner in the service. lie leaves no
children.
The accident slso wounded ten men
eight severely and two slightly-ss follows:
Richard GOrmly, (cut about the head Chss.
Smart. (bsdly cut about the head;) Roderick
Mcmillan, (collar bone broken;l p. Ludwig,
i.plinter in the side:) Andrew Wilson, (cut
about the face and head;) }. Roach, lditto;)
Elijah BeachInan, BADLY hurt;) Dennis Lea
ry, John Conner, and John Holland. (sl,ght-
ly hurt nc -.
Mr.. Wilson was killed instantly, half his
head being blown off; and MIR Nokes lived
hut FIVE or ten minutes after the accident; the
Lower part Of his face and head was blown
off, The force of the accident threw MI Wa
sons BODY distance Of thirty feet and Mr.
Nokes and Mr. Beachem ten or twelve feet.
All who were injured were on the gun plat
form, which is elevated ten feet from the
ground. Some Of the fragments OF the gun
were cast more than two hundred yards. to
the great danger Of the workmen around.
At .. H., the presence Of the coroner to
hold an inquest over the remains OF Msssrs
Wilson and Nokes, (who were most estlma-
bIe and valuable men in all their relations IN
life was momentarily expected. Indeed,
all the punner's crew are necessarily picked
men.
Homes of the recovery of all the wounded
are entertained by DIR. A. W. Miller and the
medical officers Of the Yard in attendance.
Every thing possible, to relieve the condl-
ton Of the wounded. has been done by the
officers Of the Yard Wash. star ~ yesfer-
day.
W.sHINGroN IrEas--Deputy Marshal
Phillips, armed with IL warrant, arrested tins
morning Charles John Gardiner, brother OF
DIR. Gardiner Of Mexican claim notorlety,
and who it will be- remembered was III
dicted for iulse swearing III his brothers
case. and forfeited his bail (Sl0,OOO) and
left for parts unknown immediately up
on the issue of that celebrated trial. Deputy
Marshal Phillips arrested him at the house
of his (Gardiner's) father-in-law, MIR. Nc
Clery. He is now in the custody OF the
Marshal, awaiting the action OF the authori-
ties in his case.
This morning, about II o'clock, John A.
Linton 81 son of MIR. VIM Linton, of the
Treasury Department, aged about IL years,
WAS drowned in the canal ut the foot ot
Sixth street west-W Wash. .NU Of yesterday.
NOVEL WHEELBARKow RACE--On the at
ternoon of the 18th of July there was wheel
harrow race ut the Phalanx, New Jersey, the
men taking part therein being blindfolded. -
A barrel was placed in the drive before the
hotel, and the man whose vehicle should he
found the nearest this point when tho drive
in front of the house was reached, was to
gain the victory. Before being blindtolded,
of course, each contestant took fond, farewell
look ut the barrel. endsavoring to hx the di-
recton firmly in his mind. But when the
words "about face" were Oheyed, most Of them
lost it--some struck of in one direction and
some in another, to the great merrlment OF
the spectators "ho Withesseu the I'LL M
contest from the balcony of the hotel. The
race was won, singularly enough, by II man
with poor eyes, who, at best, could hardly
see ut all.
A YorNG LADY On DRlLL.-While drilling
recruits, Liverpool sergeant discovered
among the awkward squad very pretty girl
disguised in male attire. She blushed and
excited the sergeant's suspicion, who found,
upon questioning her. that she was endeayor-
ing in this manner to reach a near and dear
relative in the rank and file Of England's de-
tenders. Twenty-fv shillings and some pet
ticoats were given her, and she WAS sent, all
unhappy maiden. back to her home in Dub
lin, to be corrected by her parents
1859. ALMANAC 1859.