Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-10-28
THE PARTY.

"Wednesday. the 18th day of Eebrua-
ry. was. I remember, one of the most
charming of long series of bright win
ter days that were celebrated for many
years later as extraordinary and ex
ceptional. The river bed had been
frozen the better part of the month,
and among the many lauded possibili
ties of the Princeton were the facility
with which she plowed her way
through the ice on her trips down the
river, leaving behind her track as
clear and even as a canal. The cOmpa-
ny gathered on board the ship as she
lay off Alexandra was the largest and
most brilliant imaginable, numbering
not less than four hundred of the most
fashionable and distinguished of the
nation, of both sexes and every age, and
am certain that so far as the toilettes
of the ladies were concerned they were
quite as elegant and decidedly more
sensible than any you may witness at
the present day. However, I am not
going to argue that point with you.
There we're on board, among others,
the President and Mr.. Southard, of
New Jersey, then the acting Vice Pres
ijent; Mr.. Webster, Mr.. Spencer, the
Secretary of War; Generals Scott, Jes-
sup, Eaton, Commodore Shubrick, Mr..
Gilmer, the Secretary of the Navy ;
Senator Mason, Mangqm. Choate, John
Quincy Adams, Senators Rives and
Benton, Mr.. Upshur, the Secretary OF
State, most of the foreign legations,
including. believe, Mr.. Packenham,
from England-but I am not certain
about that-and, in short, everybody
that was nybody in Washington at that
time, together with their families and
many distinguished visitors from every
section of the country.
1--WE had proceeded down the river to
some distance below Fort Washington
amid the utmost enjoyment and glee on
the part of the immense company, and
the day had been spent in feasting
romping, dancing and singing, with
music that was almost unceasing, and
mirth that was infectious and uncon-
trollable. During the passage down
one of those large guns-the two hun
dred and twenty-five Founders thai
Stockton speaks of in his report>to Gill
mer-was frequently fred, to the great
enjoyment of all aboard, whose surprise
at its wonderful power and capacity anC
its formidability as a weapon of war.
was merely equaled by its apparent
harmlessness and the ease and rapidity
of its loading and discharge. It was 8
monster that mingled our pride and
wonder, our patriotism and admiration
and, in fact, our every sentiment but
fear.
THE EXPLOSION OF THE GUN.
"It was about half past four in the af
ternoOn, and on our return to the city
when nearly opposite Fort Washington
Captain Stockton consented, at some
ones request, to fire another shot from
the monster gun. The ladies had been
invited below to part4ke of sumptqoqs
repast. The gentlemen had succeeded
them at the table. Some of them had
left it, and with the ladies were loung-
ing about the saloon. I think the ma
Jority of the latter were between the
decks, and that the crowd about the
gun to witness the loading, which
Stockton was explaining. though quite
large. did not contain any ladies what
ever. The loading completed, Captain
Stockton gave the word and the gun
was fired. Following the detonation
and almost instantaneous with IT.
shrieks were heard from the midst Of
the smoke that enyelOped the gun and
burst at point some three or four feet
from the breech and scattered death
and destruction on every side! Five
had met their fate without an interval
of pain, undoubtedly. Seventeen sea
men were wounded and mangled. and
almost every one within sight OF the
piece had been severely stunned by tbs
concussion. The scene in 9 moment