Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-07-17


W IIlsromc >ur.-Lyinc at 5hc foot Of
/ Engheriu street. in the third district, i "a
/ large sailing vessel. now taking in a car-,
/ for some foreign port. This ship has a his
/ tory of deep and melancholy interest. Her
| deck was the scene of one of the most awful
tragedies that ever occurred in tbs nation.
Ii was toward the close Of the administration
Of John TYLER. I, wit. Fchuary =. lSi4.
| that the President. his Cabinet and many
prominent members of Cou.reSS were invi-
| ted bv Commodore Stockton of the navy to
/ yi-it his iiag-~hip the Princeton. 5hcn living
| in the Potomac The Princeton was then
regarded the model steamship in our navy.
Her speed aud sailing qualities, her admirl-
/ DE model. the security oi hcr motive power,
| which for TIE FIRST time was placed below
the water line, and hcr powerful armament,
all attracted attention. She carried two
236-pounder wrousht-iron guns, made uud'r
the supervisors of Captain Stockton. To
| test the power and effectiveness Of one Of
/ these guns was one Of the objects Of the ex-
cursion and tile vi>i; Of the high officials
There was a large party, including many
/ ladies and officers Of the army and navy.
| They were all received with that hearty
] MtltOint. with ~llAtI~ NlN4 NlttI- anu litil-
ming the yards which always gives such zcst
/ to visits to ships Of war. Never was there a
more Joyou< party. Everybody was delight
ed with the ship and her enthusiastic, high
/ spirited commander. She was the commo-
| dores pcttcd and spoilt child, built under
| his own direction, and with machinery Of
his own design or adoption. Her big guns
were the wonder OF the nation. cd soldiers
and sailors We're suspicious AMI dubious
about their safety. But Commodore Stock
ton had no doubt Of them. They would
eventually >uperseGe the smaller calihre east
guns. After surveying the ship and inspect
ing her machinery, the excur-iOnists were
invited on deck to witness the experiment
with the biz gun. The President and Cabi-
net officials. senator's and high officials were
allowed the first position, nearest to tine gun.
The commodore himself sighted her and gave
the order to fire. The powder icnited and
then quickly followed Il most terrific explos-
sion, which shook the vessel like jolly-boat
struck by a sudden gust. Halfthe company
standing around were thrown to the deck
and stunned by the shock.
Then it was discovered by those who re-
covered their senses that the great gun had
been broken into fragments, which had been
scattered among the bystanders, killing five
and wOunding many, and shocking Others to
such degree that they never recovered
from the effects thereof during the remain
der of their lives. The killed embraced some
of the most notable men in the nation. Of
these, the two most distinguished were I.
W. Gilmer and \. p. Upshur, members of
Mr.. Tyler's cabinet. who were justly regard
ed by their native State Of Virginia a. two
of her ablest sons. They were gentlemen of
high scholarship, of great ability and rare
accomplishments. Another of the killed
was Mr. David Gardner, of New York whose
daughter became the second wife of President
Tyler. and who now resides on the estate of
her deceased husband in Virginia. Commo-
dore Stockton was seriously injured and
suffered for many years from the shock of
the explosion. So did Colonel Benton, who
was one of the company. On certain oc-
casion, some years afterwards, when refer
enee was made in the hearing of General
jackson to some of Colonel Benton's eccen-
tric utterances in the senate, the old chief
remarked in a sympathetic and pitying tone,
"that he feared that Colonel Benton's brain
had never recovered from the effects of that
explosion on the Princeton"
So great was the shock and damage to the
Princeton from this explosion, and 50 painful
were the associations connected with her,
that the navy department concluded to sell
her. She was purchased for the merchant
service, and after being overhauled and alter
ed 50 as to adapt her to this new service.
was employed therein and has proved very |
successful, fast and valuable vessel.-Neic |
Orleans Pieayme, July 1.