The Washington critic., 1890-02-04
AN ANCIENT TRAGEDY.
ONE OF THE sADDEST EVENTS IN
THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY.

the third time on the United States ship
Princeton and killed the Secretary of
state, the Secretary of the Navy and
several other spectators, besides wound
ing a number of seamen. The accident
occurred on the Potomac some fifteen
miles down the river from this city.
The news reached here soon after
ard an account of the tragedy appeared
in the papers the next morning. We
append that printed in the National In
tiigeacer as having melancholy in
tCrcst, in view of the awful scenes this
city witnessed at day-dawn yesterday
1t is reproduced verbatim, and, aside
from its interest as contemporaneous
account of one of the saddest events in
our history, 1t forms curious contrast
of the newspaper methods of the two
periods. The IatelIgeRcer's story occu-
leading editorial. and was as follows:
MOST AWFUL AND MOST LAMENT
ABLE CATASTROPHE!
INSTANTANEOUS DEATH. by THE BURSTING
OF ONE OF THE LARGE Guns ON BOARD
THE UNITED STATES SHIp PRINCETON,
GrIMER, COMMODORE KENSoN AND
NlRGIL NANCY, ESQ.
In the whole course of our lives 1t has
never fallen to our lot to announce to our
readers more shocking calamity shocking
in all its circumstances and concomitants
than that which occurred on board the
afternoon, while under way, In the river
Potomac, fourteen or fifteen miles below
this city
BRILLIANT OCCASION
Yesterday was day appointed, by the
courtesy and hospitality of Captain Stock
ton, commander Of the Princeton, for re-
ceiviDg us visitors to his fine ship dying on
! Alexandlia) great number of guests, with
| their families, literally and numerousiy ih-
vited TO spend the day on board. The day
was most favorable, and the company was
large ard brilliant, of both sexes; not less
! probably in number than four hundred,
among whom were the President of the
nited States the heads of the several De-
partments and their families At proper
hour, after the arrival of the expected
guests, the vessel got under way and pro-
ceeded down the river to some distance be
low Fort Washington.
During the passage down one of the
large guns on board carrying ball Of 225
pounds) was fired more than once, exhibit
ing the great power and capacity of that
formidable weapon of war. The ladies had
partakeD Of Il sumptuous repIst the gen
tlcmen had succeeded them at the table,
ard some of them had left Tie vessel
was on her return up the river, opposite to
the font, where Captain Stockton consented
to fire another shot from the same gun,
around and near which, to observe its
effects, many persons had gathered, though
by 10 means so many as on similar dis
charges in the morning, the lales who
then thronged the deck being on this fatal
occasion almost all between decks and ont
Of reach Of harm.
TIE EXPLOSION.
The gun was fired. The explosion was
followed, before the smoke cleared away SO
as to observe its effects, by shrieks of woe
which announced dire calamity. The gun
had burst at point three or four feet from
the breeeh, and scattered death and de-
struction around. Mr.. Upshur, Secretary
of State; Mr.. Gilmer, so recently placed at
the head of the Navy; Commodore KennOn,
one of its gallant officers; Virgil Maxcy,
lately returned from a diplomatic resi-
dence at The Hague; Mr.. Gardner of New
York formerly a member of the Senate OF
the State) were among the slain.
Besides these, seventeen seamen were
wounded, several of them badly and probably
mortally. Among those stunned by the con
cussion, we learn, not all seriously injured
were Captain Stockton himself, Colone
Benton Of the Senate, Lieutenant Hunt Of
the Princeton and w. ID. Robinson OF
Georgetown. Other persons also were per
haps more or less injured, Of whom, in tn,
horror and confusion Of the moment, NJ
certain account could be obtained Tn,
above are believed, however, to compris,
the whole of the persons known TO tn,
public who were killed or dangerously o.
seriously hurt.
The scene upon the deck may more easil,
be imagined than described Nor can th
imagination picture to itself the half Of it
horrors. Wives widowed in an instant b'
the murderous blast! Daughters smittel
with the heart-rending sight of their faith
er's lifeless corpse! The wailings of agon
lied females. The piteous griefSof the un
hurt, but heart-stricken spectators! Th
wounded seamen borne down below Tn,
silent tears and Quivering lips of thei
brave and honest comrades, who tried II
vain to endure or to conceal their feelings
! What mords can adequately depict II seen
| like this?
| SORROW OF THE COUNTY,.
The bodies of the killed remained ol
$ board the ship until the following day
when they were conveyed TO the Whit
8 House and placed in the East Room
there TO await the funeral ceremonies
a President Tyler sent special messag
l to Congress, in response to which bot
S Houses adjourned until the fpllowin
$ Monday Immediately after adopting res
! olniions expressive of their feelings
! The funeral took place on the succeed
| ing Saturday and was a most impressiv
L and imposing affair General Winfield
Scott commanded the military, and bot
Houses of Congress, the civil officer
of The Government the DiDlOmati
= Corps, the President and q large con
: comse of citizens followed the remain
:. TO their last resting place in tae Con
: grcssional Cemetery. All the slain wer
, inferred there except Mr. MaXcy, who's
v remains were taken 10 his late home il
= Maryland for sepultre.
When returning from the funeral th
7 horses attached to President Tyler
! carriage took fright at the foot of Cap
tol Hill and ran away. John Tyler, jr
! and the coachman tried in vain to COZ
q strol the frightened animals. They ia
madly up the broad Avenue, fortI
nately without colliding with any {
the Other vehicles with which the sire,
was crowded, until they were stOppe
" by the assistance of footman in froI
II of Gallabrun's European Hotel, whic
n stood on the north side of Pennsylvani
@ avenue, between Fourteenth and Fl
| teenth streets, near Fifteenth. Tn
|. was the only accident which occurre
}. on the day Of the funeral, and happil
d no one was injured.
Ie Resisting an Ohicer.
George II, Foote brutal-loollin
bully of SHOWS alley filed himse