The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-20

burst at a 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 Upshur was badly cut over
the eye and in his legs, and expired in
very few minutes. Mr.. Gilmer, of
Virginia-under whose official direc-
tion, as secretary of the navy, the
power of this great gun was tested
was likewise mortally wounded and
soon breathed his last. Mr.. Maxey had
his arms and one of his legs cut off.
Mr.. Gardiner of New York-the future
fatherdn-law of President Tyler-and
Commodore Kennon died in about half
an hour.
About a dozen sailors were badly
wounded; one was dead and behind
him, Colonel Benton, Judge Phelps, and
Mr.. strickland, as If dead, were ex-
tended on the deck. Mr.. Tyson, of
Philadelphia, near by, was unhurt,
ALTHOUGH a piece of the gun had passed
Though his hat about two inches
from his skull. President Tyler es-
capped by a close margin he having
been called back from where he stood
just a moment before.
Commodore Stockton, knocked down
somewhat injured, all the hair of his
head and face burned off, rose at once
to his feet, mounted the wooden car
riage, and surveyed the scene. Shrieks
of woe were heard from every quarter
death and desolation, blood and
mangled remains We're all around.
| Mayor Seaton, of Washington, had
| IN
| president; he had started to accom-
pany Mr.. Gilmer to see the cannon
| fired, but was delayed by difficulty
in finding his cloak and hat.
The funeral possession few days
| afterward was one of the most sad
and imposing ever seen in Washington.
1t was led by Generals Scott and
Jones, with a splendid military es-
cort. Among the distinguished pail
bearers were Messrs. Archer, Morgan,
Bolton. Totten, Worth Gobson, Aulick,
! Shubrick, Crane, Towson, Kennedy,
Hunt, Barnard, Fish and Kendall. All
departments of the government legis-
lative, executive, judicial, military and
naval, were largely represented in the
vast and magnificent procession; and
minute guns and tolling bells added
their voices to the general requiem.
Lieutenant Hunt caused the gun to
10 worked, to show the ease and pre-
cision 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 the
| breeCh on the right. | opened my
mouth wide to receive the COnCussiOr
i'm the inside as we'll as on the outside
so as to lessen the force of the eXterna
shock. l saw the hammer pulled back
heard a tap, saw a flash, felt 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 g
time of which l could give no ac.
count.
"The first that 1 know of myself OF
of anything afterward was of rising vi
at the breech of the gun, seeing the
gun itself split open; two seamen, tbs
blood Oozing from their ears and nos
tris rising and reeling near me, anC
Commodore Stockton, hat gone anC
face blackened, standing bolt upright
staring fiXedly upon the shattered gun
/ heard no noise, no more than the
dead. | only knew that the gun haC
burst from seeing it's fragments.
had gone through the experience of s
sudden death, as if from lightning
which extinguishes knowledge and sen
sation, and takes one out of the worlC
without thought or feeling. I think
know what it is to die without know
ing it, and that such a death is moth
ing to him that reVives.