Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-05-02
President TyIer's Time.
MRS THOMAS WALKER GILMER AND MRS
TYLER.

TYLER.
Fay" the Washington correspondent OF
the Courier-.JourDa scizes the occasion OF the
recent death of Mrs. Gilmer, at Charlottesville,
to recall a few memories of the past, from
which we extract the following:
Two weeks ago there died at Charlottesville,
Va. Mrs. Thomas Walker Gilmer. Tbs an
nouncement of her death called forth the fol-
lowing "reminiscences of thirty years ago, Wben,
her husband, Gov Gilmer, was Secretary OF
the Navy under Tyler, aud was killed by the
bursting of the big gun on the mau-of war
Princeton. have recently conversed with two
ladies who were among the party that lett
Washington on a beautiful day in March to
epioy the most splendid tete that was ever got
ten up in this city Commodore Stockton,
father of the present Senator, commanding the
Princetoo, and the gun was his Invention. Inc
President and his cabinet, with about three
hundred distinguished guests, were Invited to
a sail, of about forty miles down the Potomac:
There was fine band of music and grand
collation.. All went merrily and the company
Gardner, of New York, with bis two handsome
daughters, were among the guests. The Pres
ident was never absent from the side OF the
radiant belle, Miss Julia Gardner, who was ap-
parently Indifferent to the honor intended:
During the morning the gun was fired several
tunes in the most satisfactory manner every
one remaining on deck to witness the expert
ment. At o'clock the company descended 10
the lower cabin to pariake of the refreshments
provided. 1t was
A BRILLIANT ENTERTAINMENT.
Toasts were offered, songs We're sung, and
| ed PrIucpt
was one of he fine ships Of the navy, and Com
modore Stockton was proud OF his ship and he
guu which was to add rcuown to his name. In
the afternoon, the vessel changed It's course
and prepared to return with its gay Jewellers
to Washington Before reaching Alexandria,
Commodore Stockton, the Secretary OF State,
Commodore krunon, WHO was one ot the
guests, and tue Secretary Of the Navy, with
his wife, Mrs. Gmcr, returned to the deck
The President fingered beside the lrai girl who
so enchanted HIN that he could not leave her
side a ,uomcnt His page approached him
and interrupted the interesting tcte-a-tete by
saying that Commodore Stockton requested
his preseuce on deck, as the quo would be fired
for the last time The President whispered to
the bIushing girl that he ''preterred remaining
where he was, and her father, noticing that
such would be the case, said Then will
co. He was followed by several others, but
when he reached the deck he was alone, for,
as the others assembled the gaugway' gentle,
man in the saloon with fine voice commenced
TO sing. and they stood on the steps listening.
Suddenly
| THE BOOMING OF TIE GUN
was heard, accompanied by an UNUSUAL jar, and
strange commotion Smoke poured down the
hatchway and all felt that horror Was lm-
! lal "a W, hn
surgeon, aud a rush was made to go Oh deck, but
as soon as the surgeon assembled the hatch-way
was closed, with an order that no one should be
allowed to leave the cabin. Then enSued one of
those dreadful scenes that can never be forgot
| ten. Miss Gardner was frantic 10 know the fate
of her father; Mrs Powell was in wild anguish
concerning the fate of her husband, Captain
POWELL and her father, Judge Thruston.
| Every lady was 10 state of the widest des-
pair and suspense. Then 10 mercy some Que
came down from the deck to give comfort to
some and realize the worst fears of others.
Only six were killed, was the report: Mir.
Upshur, Secretary of State; Governor GiImer,
Secretary of the Navy; Commodore keonon,
Hon. Virgil Maxcy, Mr.. Gardner, aud the
Presidents page. They were all staud-
ing in a line and were moved down
when the gun burst, while those who were 10
the other portions we're ouy shocked by the
concu sion,
THE BODIES OF TIE KILLED
had every bone broken, and We're like jelly.
Mrs. Gmer was standing not far FROM her hus
band when the accident occurred, Her grief
was Of that character that is harder to witness
than the widest and most frantic screams. Miss
Gardner had tainted and was borne to state
room 10 the arms of the President. The great
est haste was now made to reach the city.
| What contrast was that return to the gay and
happy party that had started out 10 the morn
ing. The tide being out, the dead and the llv-
log had to be transferred from the ship to the
rowboats A tarpaulin covered the slx
maugcd forms, the sight of which could
not be concealed from the distracted rela-
tives. Litters were improvlsed and the bodies
were all carried 10 the White House, and the
saddeDed group went to their respective homes.
The President Insisted upon the Misses Gard
ner going to the executive mansion, where pri-
yate apartments were assign ned them, and the
most respectful attention and sympathy shown
to them by the entire family. The six dead
were laid out in state 10 the east room, from
whence their funerals took place. Mrs. Gil
mer returned to her home in Charlottesville, a
| broken hearted woman, and never emerged
again from its retirement; and now, after thirty
| years of trial, sorrow, and at times prlvatlon,
| she has gone to join the husband whose MEM
DRY she ever held dear aud sacred.
PRESIDENT TYLER ATTACHMENT
Mr.. Tyler was we'll advrnced 10 life when he
met Miss Julia Gardner upon his return from
an European tour. His romantic attachment
to girl young enough to be his daughter prob
| ably saved him from the dreadful fate of two Of
| his ca hinet minister's The Young lady had not
reciprocated his attachment uutil her great al
Fiction; but at the time she lost her father,
whom she seems to have adored, she awaken
ed to a deeper sense of the responsibilities Of
life, and her heart was touched by the chival
rous devotion of her admirer. She soon :e
turned to her home, in lafayette Square, New
York city. After quietly waiting for her grief
to subside, the President wrote and made
formal offer of marriage. She accepted. The
engagement was kept a profound secret nor
was The mission suspected when the President