Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-10
A NAVAL TRAGEDY
OLD-rlME CATASTROPHE RECALLED
BY THE MAINE DISASTER.

OF TIE WSisNC oiONo En-
The bursting OF Gun on the Princeton
More Thnna Century Ag" Scattered Dea,h
and Destruct ION President Tyl-ra Mar
row Escape >ron II Horrible Fate.
The destruction of the warship
Maine recalls a fearful tragedy in
United States naval history. in which
the Secretaries of State and the Navy
and other persons were instantly kill
ed many We're wounded. and the
President and several prominent
statesmen and high officials mad ey
tremely narrow escapes from death.
This catastrophe occurred fifty-iour
years ago, on the afternoon OF f'eb:u-
AIRY IS, 1874. on board The United
States war steamer Princeton Commo-
dore Stockton, on the Potomac River,
about fifteen miles below Washington.
II was the reacamaler, one OF the
larger guns OF the ships armament. a
ne,s and to the commander a iavorle
piece Of ordance.
TO exhibit the superiority Of these
new and Formidable cannon Commo-
dore Stockton had invited and re-
ceiyed on board large and brilliant
| company Of both sexes for al oXcu;-
sion down the river. Ia :hls party
We're included President Tyler. AIRS.
Robert Tyler, Miss Cooper. John Ty-
Ter. Jr., froni the White House; a
large number or officers, in full uni-
form; all the members OF the Cabinet
except Mr.. Spencer: many other per-
sons OF nigh official rank, Senators
and Representatives, attaches and
secretaries OF legation; Gen. Amontc.
Minister from Mexico. &C.. in al
about 400 persons.
When the Princeton had fairly pass
ed Fort Washington the Peacemaker
was shotted and fired, the effect of
| which proved its remarkable power,
and won the admiration of all on
| board. AN hour arterward, by re-
! quest. the piece was loaded for firing
| a second time. The gun was now
| pointed to leeward and behind it
stood Commodore Stockton: a little
to the left of him Mr. j. Washington,
Tyson, Assistant Postmaster-Ge
ny the slda of the latter, a little be-
h!nd him. stood Mr. Strickland OF
Philadelphia, and little TO the right
OF but behind him, Col Benton OF
Missouri, who had a lady al his arm
and Judge S. S. Phelps. Senator from
! Vermont. To the leeward OF the CUR
! STOOD Judge Cpshur. the Secretary OF
| state, and Gov. Gilmer, the Secretary
| OF the Navy; and a Snort distance be-
| hind them Mr.. Maxey, the late Charge
| o'Affalres to. Belgium. BY the side OF
| nm stood the Hon. Mr.. Gardiner OF
! New York and Commodore kennon
chief of the Navy Bureau.
On firing the gun murderous blast
| succeeded-the whole snip shook and
reeled-and Il dense cloud of smoke
envelopcd the entire group on the
forecastle; but when this blew away
an awful and heartrendng scene pre-.
sented itself to the view OF the hushe,l
and asonized spectators. The gun had
burst at a point three or four feet from
the breech, and scattered death ana
destruction all around,
he lower part of the gum from the
trunnlons TO the brcech, was blown
OFT. Secretary upshur was badly cut
over the eye and in his legs. and ey-
pred In a very few minutes Mr..
Gilmer OF Virginia-under whose Off
cial direction, as Secretary of the
Navy, the power OF this great gun was
1ested-was likewise mortally wound
ed and soon hreathed his last. Mr.
Maxey had his arms and one Of his
legs cut of. Mr.. Gardiner of New
lork-the future fatherin-law of
President Tyler-and Commodore
kennon died in about half an hour.
About dozen sailors We're badly
wounded; one was dead, and behind
him, Col. Benton Judge Phelps ana
MIR. Strickland, as if dead. we're ex-
tended on the deck Mr.. Tyson of
Philadelphia, near by, was unl4urt. al
though q piece of the gun had passed
| through his hat about two inches from
his skull. President Tyler cscaped nv
a. close margin. he having been called
pack from where re stood just a mo-
ment before
| Col. Thomas Hart Benton, author of
My Thirty Years in the Senate" the
| father-in-law OF Gen. Fremont. and
| one of the most noted men of the old
regime, gives an interesting account
OF his own experience at the time of
the explosion. Among other things.
| he says:
| Lieut.. Hunt caused the gun TO no
| worked, to show the ease and prccis-
| ION with which her direction could be
| changed, and then pointed down the
| river to make the fire, himself and the
| gunners standing near the breach on
| the right. | opened my mouth wide
! TO receive the conclusion in the inside
as we'll as on the outside, so as TO
| lessen the force of the external SHOCK
saw the hammer pulled back. heard
tap, saw flash, felt blast in The
| lace. and knew that my hat was gone,
and that was the last that knew OF
the world or OF myself for time Of
which | could give no account.
| Inc first that | know OF myself or.
| OF anything afterwarti was of rising nm
| at the breach of lie gun seeing the
| gun Itself split open two seamcn tho
! blood oozing from tacir ears ana nos
RI