Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-13

/ Stockton, who had also superintended the
casting of the guns-on new princlple
and of great size and power s
These guns had been thorougffly tested
for several days previously, and so far
proved all that was claimed for them.
To exhibit the superiority of these new
and formidable cannon Commodore Stock
ton had invited and received on board a
large and brilliant company Of both sexes
for an excursion down the river. In this
party were included President Tyler, Mrs.
Robert Tyler, Miss Cooper, John Tyler,
Jr., from the White House, a large num-
Der of officers in full uniform, all the
members of the cabinet except Mr.. Spen-
GER, many other persons of high official
rank, senators and representatives at
taches and secretaries of legation, Gen.
Almonte, minister from Mexico, ETC., in all
about 400 persons.
When the Princeton had fairly passed
Fort Washington the Peacemaker was
proved its remarkable power, and won the
admiration of all on board. An hour after
yard, by request, the piece was loaded for
firing a second time. The gun was now
pointed to leeward and behind it stood
Commodore Stockton; little to the left
oil Oh nm mr. - washington tyson assist
latter. little behind him, stood Mr..
Strickland Of Philadelphia, and a little to
the right Of but behind him, Col. Benton
of Missouri. who had a lady at his arm,
and Judge S. S. Phelps, senator from Yer
mont. To the leeward of the gun stood
Judge upshur, the secretary of state, andis
}
| and a short distance behind them Mr.
Maxey, the late charge d'affaires to Bel
GUM. BY the side of him stood the Hon.
Mr.. Gardner of New York and Commo-
dore Kennon, chief of the navy bureau.
on firing the gun a murderous blast
| succeeded---the whole ship shook and
reeled-and dense cloud of smoke envel-
oped the entire group on the forecastle;
but when this blew away an awful and
heartrending scene presented itself to the
view or the hushed and agonized specta-
tors. The gun had burst at point three
| or four feet from the breech, and scattered
death and destruction all around.
The lower part of the gun, from the
trunnions to the breech, was blown off.
Secretary upsher was badly cut over the
eye eye and LIN in his legs, and expired ln a very
under 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.. Gardiner of New York the future
father-in-aw of President Tyler, and Com
hour.
About a dozen sailors were badly wound-
ca; one was dead, and behind him, Col.
as II dead, were extended on the deck
Mr. Tyson Of Philadelphia, near by, was
unhurt although a piece of the gun had
passed through his hat about two inches
| from his skull. President Tyler escaped
by close margin, he having been called
back from where he stood just moment
Commodore Stockton knocked down and
somewhat injured, all the hair of his head
and face 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 desc
lation, blood and mangled remains were
an around. Mayor SeaSon of Washington
had nearly as narrow an escape as did
the president; he had started to aecon-
pany Mr.. Gihner 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 inn
posing ever seen in Washington 1t was
led by Gems. Scott and Jones, With a
splendid military escort. Among the dis
tinguished pail bearers were Messrs.
Archer, Morgan, Bolton, Totten, Worth,
Gibson AulicS, Shubrick, Crane, Towson,
Kennedy, Hunt, Barnard, Fish and Ken
dali. AIN departments of the government,
naval, were largely represented in the
vast and magnificent procession; and min
ute guns and tollng bells added their
voices to the general requiem.
Col Thomas Hart Benton, author Of
MY Thirty Years in the Senate the
father-in-law of Gen. Fremont and one Of
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
worked, to show the ease and precision
with which her direction could be changed,
and then, pointed down the river to make
near the breech on the right. I opened
my mouth wide to receive the conclusion
IN the inside as well as on the outside SO
as to lessen the force of the external shock
| saw the hammer pulled back, heard a
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 time, of which | could
give no account.
The first that ] know of myself or of
anything afterward was of rising up at
the breech of the gun, seeing the gun IT.
self sput open; two seamen, the blood
oozing from their ears and nostris rising
end reeling near me, and Commodore
Stockton, hat gone and face blackened,
standing bolt upright staring fixedly upon
the shattered gun. had heard no noise.
no more than the dead. / only knew that
the gun had burst from seeing its frag-
ments. l had gone through the experi-
ence of a. sudden death, as If from light
ming, which extinguishes knowledge and
sensation, and takes one out of the world
without thought or feeling. / think I
know what it is to die without knowing 1t,
ana ana that such death is nothing to him
that reviVes."
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