The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-02

CT west bIOdu ana Liberty streets.
party were included President Tyler, Mrs
Robert Tyler. Miss Cooper, John Tyler,
Jr, from the White House; a large NUM-
Der of officers, in fun uniform; all the
members of the cabinet, except Mr.. Spcn-
Ger; many other persons of high official
rank, senator's and representatives, at
taches and secretaries of legation; Gen.
Almonte, minister from Mexico etc, in
all abount 400 persons.
When the Princeton had fairly passed
Fort Washington the Peacemaker WAS
shotted and fired, the effect of which prov
ed its remarkable power and won the adj
miration of all on board An hour after
ward, by request the piece was loaded for
firing a second time. The gun was load
ted pointed TO leeward, and behind it stood
Commodore Stockholm a little 20 the left
of him, Mr.. J. Washington Tyson, assist
ant general. by the side of the
latter, a little behind him, stood Mr.
Strickland of Philadelphia, and a little to
the right of but behind him, Col. Benton
of Missouri, who had lady at his arm.
and Judge $. $. Phelps Senator from Yer
mont. To the leeward of the gun stood
Judge Upshur, the Secretary of State and
Gov. Gilmer. the Secretary of the Navy;
and a short distance behind them Mr.. Max
ey, the late charge daffaires to Belgium.
BY the side of him stood the Hon. Mr..
Gardiner of New York and Commodore
Kennon, chief of the navy bureau.
On firing the gun a murderous blast sue
ceeded-the whole ship shook and reeled--
and a dense cloud of smoke enveloped the
entire group on the forecaste: but when
this blew away an awful and heartrend-
ing scene presented itself to the view Of
the hushed and agonized spectators. The
gun had burst at point three or four feet
from the breech, and scattered death and
destruction all aroundl
The lower part of the gun, from the
trunnions to the breech, was blown off.
Secretary Upshur was badly cut over the
eye and in his legs, and expired in a very
few minutes. Mr. Gilmer Of Virglnia--un-
der whose official direction, as Secretary
of the Navy, the power of this great gun
was tested-was likewise mortally wound
ed and soon breathed his last. Mr.. Maxey
had his arms and one of his legs cut off.
Mr.. Gardner of New York-the future ia
ther-in-law of President Tyler-and Com
modore Kennon died in about half an hour.
About a dozen sailors were badly wound
ed; one was dead, and behind him, Col
Benton, Judge Phelps and Mr.. Strickland,
as if dead, were extended on the deck. Mr.
Tyson of Philadelphia, near by. was I'M
a
passed through his hat about two inches
from his skull. President Tyler escaped
by a close margin, he having been called
back from where he stood just a moment,
before
Commodore Stockton, knocked down and
somewhat injured, all the hair of his head
and faced burned off, rose at once TO his
feet mounted the wooden carriage, and
surveyed the scene. Shrieks of woe were
heard from every quarter, death and des-
olation, blood and mapgled remains We're
all around. Mayor Seaton of Washington
had nearly as narrow an escape as did the
President he had started to accompany
Mr.. Gilmer to see the cannon fired, but
was delayed by a difficulty in finding his
cloak and hat
The funeral procession few days after
ward was one Of the most sad and impos-
ing ever seen in Washington. II was led
by Gems. Scott and Jones, with a splendid
military escort. Among the distinguished
pall-bearers were Messrs. Archer, Morgan
Bolton, Totten, Worth, Gibson, Auliclk,
Shubrick, Crane, Towson, Kennedy, Hunt
Barnard, Fish and Kendall. All depart
ments of the government, legislative, exec
utive, judicial, military and naval, were
largely represented in the vast and mag
nificent procession; and minute guns and
tolling bells added their voices to the gem
eral requiem.
Col Thomas Hart Benton, author OF
my Thirty Years I'm 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 be work
ed. to show the ease and precision with
xph lob baf dfpd9ffap could ba CHANGED
and then pointed down the river to make
the fire, himself and the gunners stand
ing near the breach on the right. i OPEN
ed my mouth wide 10 receive the concus-
sion in the inside as well as on the out
side, 80 as TO lessen the force of the
external shock ] saw the hammer pull
ed, heard tap, saw fash, felt a blast
in the face, and knew that my hat was
gone; and that was the last that | knew
of the world or Of myself for a time, Of
which ! could give no account.
"The first that / know Of myself or Of
anything afterward was of rising up at
the breach Of the gun, seeing the gun it.
self split open; two seamen, the blood
oozing from their ears and nostris, rising
and Keeling near me, and Commodore
Stockton, hat gone and face blackene,.,
standing bolt upright staring ixedly upon
the shattered gun. I had heard no noise.
no more tnan the dead. only Knew mat
the gun had burst from seeing its frag-
ments. / had gone Though the expert
ence of sudden death, as II from light
ming, which extlnguishes knowledge and
sensation. and takes one out Of the world
without thought or feeling. / think /
know what IL Is to die without knowing
1t, and that such death is nothing TO
him that revives."
Matrimonial REPRESENTATION ALL