The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-27
an oID-r1ME NAVAL rRAGEDE
The bursting or n Gun on the Princeton Nor,
Than HAIR Century AGO.

From the Boston Eucnfn0 Transcript.
The destruction of the warship Maine recalls
a fearful tragedy in United States naval mis-!
tory, in which the Secretaries of state and tho
Navy and other persons were Instantly killed,
many were wounded. and the President and
several prominent statesmen and high oficialt
had extremely narrow escapes from death.
This catastrophe occurred f~fty.four years ago.
on the afternoon of Feb. %, ls4i, on board tho
United States war steamer Princeton, Commo.
dore Stockton, on the Potomac River, about NJ.
teen miles below Washington. II was the Peace.
maker, one of tho larger guns of the ships armas
ment, n now and to the commander a favorits
piece of ordnance. The steamer itself had iust
been constructed at Philadelphia according In
improved plans enthusiastically advocated by
Commodore Stockton. who had also supcrin-
tended the casting of the guns-on "A new prin.
ciple and OF great size and power.
These guns had been thoroughly tested for
several days previously and 30 far proved all
that was claimed for them.
To exhibit tho superiority Of these now and
formidable cannon Commodore Stockton had in.
vited and received on board alarge and brilliant
company Of both sexes for an excursion down
the river, In this party were Included P~rc,iGene
Tyler. Jr.. from the White House; a largo nun.
Der of officers, In full uniform; all the members
persons of high official rank, senators and
Representatives. attaches and secretaries OF
& tssafii n ali s ABOUT H 400 pers M,n'S'0r from Mexico
When the Princeton had fairly passed Fort
Warrington the P%eacemaker was shottcd and
fired, the effect Of which proved its remNrkA able
power, and won the admiration of all on bOnrL.
An hour afterward, by request, the piece was
now pointed to leeward, and behind it stood
Comnodore Stoekton; q little to the LEFT OF
master-General. By tho side of the latter. =
little behind him; stood Mr.; Strickland OF rhlla-
h aina hiim se Col. a Benton ent,S % Of M Mis sasni % %I out lad 10
lady at his arm, and Judge ;. 5; Phelps. Senator
from Vermont. To the leeward Of ~ gun stood
Judge UDshur. the Secretary of State. and Gov.
Gilmer. the Secretary Of the Navy; and a short
distance behind them Mr.. MaNey. the lats
him stood the Hon. Mr.. Gardiner Of New York
and Commodore kcnnon, chief of thc Navy
On firing the gun a murderous blast succeeded
tho whole ship shook and rceled-an nd a dense
tfUuS fopeoastie: but wben this Blew blew s sWn, S Sa
awful and heartrcndiDC scene prcS"utod itsulf
to the view of tho hushed and agonized ,rccta.
tors. The gun had burst at a point three or
four feet from the brecch. and scattered death
and destruction all around!
Mons to the breech. was blown of. sccr-
tary Upshur was badly cut over the eye and in
h hi4 ls Siim asa e 81 EiFsin M a nGGFy M SI% m; oS i
direction. at Secretary of the Navy, the power
Dl thin E Tound Esh an M"s soo aeSt brentISi his iSe !,..'
MI M. M MI. yS hs i ns arm" GF N snS o Yor Or MS Ie F, Gu,
father-in-law OF President Tylcr-dnd ComIno-
dore Kennon died in about half an hour.
About q dozen sailors were badly wounded,
Judge Phelps, and Nj. strickland, rs if dead,
were extended on the deck. Mr.. Tyson OF Phila.
OF the gun had 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
somo"hat injured, all the hair, Of his head and
IN VI h,IrpaI off rnaa M nppe IN hia faat nnrni,t
the wooden carriage. and surveyed the scene.
Shrieks Of woe were heard from every quarter
mains were all around. Mayor Seaton OF Wash.
ingtnn had nearly as narrow, an escape as did
Gilmer to see the cannon fired, but was delayed
by q difficulty in inding his cloak and hat.
was one of tho most sad and IMPOSING ever seen
In Washington. It was led by Gems. Scott and
10; Iono s. Win a sP Ps1 Ith military .hnt escort. Amons
Archer. Morgan. Bolton. Totten. Worth, Glib
son. Aullck, Shubriek. Crane. Towson. Kennedy.
ments of the Government, Legislative. executive,
judicial. military. and naval. were largely rep.
and minute guns and toliinR bells added their
voices to the general requiem.
Thirty Ye o.r IN the senate ennte"" the nstfn athep.in.!syy
Of Gen. Fremont. and one Of the most noted men
Of the old regime, gives an interestiag .ceouns
sion. Among other things. ho says:
Lieut.. Hunt caused the G'in TO be worked. 70
phAoV liz cue oht sc "ilh Nv wv IL
rection could be changed, aud then pointed
down the river to make the fire. himself and no
gunners standing near the breach ON tho right.
/ opened my mouth wide TO receive the concus-
sion in the inside az well as on the outside, 20 s.
to lessen the force of the external shork. saw
the hammer pulled back, heard - raI, saw u
flash, felt II blast in the face, ana krc" that NY
hat was gone: ana that was tho last that ! >nrw
of the world or OF myself for a time, OF which |
could give no account.
The first that ! know of myself oroi "mythiug
afterward was of rising up ut III" hrcl aui 10
gun, seeing the gun Itself spill ven 'Wu-.t-
men, tho blood ooZing from thcii oars iUi nos
trils, rising and reeling near nc, and Commodore
Stockton. hat gone and face hlarE"Ict, .'.li-
ing bolt upright, staring INvdiy upon 'I' -h.'.
tered gun. had heard 10 noise, 10 moro man
the dead. | only knew that the gun had "N3Ho
from seeing its fragments. | had ron" trrou.h
the experience of n sudden death, '- D. 'icn
lightning, which eXtinguishcs know,rd-r nd
sensation. and takes one out Of The w'r!i WIN.
out thought or fceiing. ! think ! know "hnl 70
IL TO die without knowing it, ana tina -J,La
death is nothing to him that revives,'
FILLED TO IMPRESS m JtET.