Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-15
THE pEAcEMAKER's TRAGEDY.
A Shocking Accident 10 the Navy Recalled
by tie Maine Horror.


many were wounded and the President
and several prominent statesmen ana
high officials had extremely narrow es-
capes from DEATH
This catastrophe occurred ffty- -four
years ago, on the afternoon OF Febru-
airy 2s 1874. on board the United states
war steamer Princeton. Commodore
stockton, on the Potomac river, about
fifteen miles below Washington. IL
was the Peacemaker, one OF the larger
guns of the ships armament, new
and to the commander favorlte piece
of ordnance. The steamer Itself hqd
inst been constructed at Philadelphia
according to improved plans onthusi-
astically advocated by Commodore
stockton who had also superintended
the casting OF the guns-on a new
principle and Of great size and power.
These guns had been thoroughly test
ed for several days previously ana SO
far proyed all that was claimed for
them. -,
To exhibit the superiority OF these
new and formidable cannon Comnp-
dore Stockton had invited ana 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, n large number OF OIL
GERS. in full uniform; all the members
of the cabinet. except Mr.. Spencer;
many other persons of high oihclal
rank. senator's and representatives at
taches and secretaries OF legation
General Almonte, minister from Mex
leo, etc, In all about 400 persons.
When the Princeton Ind fairly
passed Fort Washington the Peace
maker was shotted and fired. the effect
of which proved its remarkable power
and won the admiration of all on
board An hour nfterward. by request,
the piece was loaded for firing second
time. The gun was now pointed TO
leeward, and behind 1t stood Commo-
dore Stockton; little to the left of
him j. Washington Tyson, assistant
postmaster general. by the side of the
latter, n little behind him. stood Nj.
Strickland OF Philadelphia, and a little TO
the right of but behind him. Colonel
Benton of Missouri, who had lady at
his arm, and Judge S. S. Phelps. SEN
ator from Vermont. To the leeward of
the gun stood Judge upshur the SET
rotary of state. and Governor Gilmer
the secretary of the navy; and a short
distance behind them Mr.. Maxey, the
late charge d'affaires 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
succeeded-the whole ship shook ana
reeled-Dnd dense cloud of smoke en-
veloped the entire group on the fore
castle, but when this blew away an
awful and heart-rending scene present
ed itself to the view of the hushed and
agonized spectators. The gun had
burst and scattered death and destruc-
tlon all around!
The lower part OF the gun, from the
trunnions to the breech. was blown on.
Secretary Upshur was badly cut over
the eye and in his legs and expired in
a very few minutes. Mr.. Gilmer of
Virginla-under whose official dlrcc-
ton, as secretary OF the navy, the
power Of this great gun was tested
was likewise mortaly wounded and
soon breathed his last. Mr.. Maxey had
his arms and one of his legs cut on
MIR. Gardiner of New York-the future
father-in-law of President Tyler-and
Commodore Kennon died In about half
an hour.
About dozen sailors were badly
wounded. one was dead, and behind
him Colonel Benton, Judge Phelps and
Mr.. Strickland, as If dead, We're .ex-
tended on the deck. Mr.. Tyson of
Philadelphia. near by, was unhurt. al
though a piece OF the gun had passed
through his hat about two inches from
his skull. President Tyler escaped by
n close margin, he having been called
pdeh iioHi Wiitre he stoOu u moment
before.
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 We're heard from every
quarter-death and desolation, blood
and mangled remains were all around.
Mayor Seaton OF Washington had neal =
~ as narrow an escape AS did the
President; he had started to accom-
pany Mr.. Gilmer to see the cannon
fired. but was delayed by a difficulty in
finding his cloak and hat.
The funeral procession n few days
afterward was one of the most sad and
imposing ever seen in Washington. II
was led by Generals Scott and Jones
with splendid military escort, Among
the distinguished pall-bearers Were
Messrs. Archer, Morgan, Bolton. Tot
ten. Worth. Gibson. AulicE, Shubrick,
Crane, Towson. Kennedy, Hunt. Bar
nard, Fish and Kendall. An depart
ments Of the government, legislative
executive, judicial, military and naval
were largely represented In the vast
and magnificent procession, and min
ute guns and tolling bells added their
voices TO the general requiem.
Colonel Thomas Hart Benton, author
OF Thirty Years in the Senate" the
father-in-law of General 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:
Lieutenant Hunt caused the gun Ia
be worked. to show the ense and pre-
cision with which her direction could be
changed, and then pointed down the
river to make the fire, himself and the
g,u 1ers standing near the breech on
the right. ! opened my mouth wide to
receive the CONCLUSION In the inside as
we'll as on the outside. so rs to lessen
the force of the external shock | saw
the hammer pulled back. heard tap
saw flash, felt blast in the face and
knew that my hat was gone, and that
was the last that l knew of the world
or of myself for a time, OF which
could give no account.
1.-THE first that knew OF myself or of
anything afterward was of rising IN
at the breach OF the gun, seeing thr
gun itself split open; two seamen. the
blood oozing from their ears and nos
trils, rising and reeling near me, and
Commodore Stockton, hat gone md
face blackened. standing bolt upright
staring fixedly upon the shattered gun.
I had heard no noise, no more than the
dead. 7 only knew that the gun had
burst from seeing its fragments had
gone through the experience of n sud
den death, as II from lightning. which
extinguishes knowledge and sensation
thought or feeling. I think know
NOT 10 60 Ito ,.rIt1 ftt,,- .