Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-26

the passage down one. of the large guns
on board carrying ball of 22o pounds)
was fired more than once, exhibiting the
great power and the capacity or that
formidable weapon of war.
The ladies had partaken of a sump-
tuous repast: the gentlemen had sue
ceeded them at table and some of them
had left it: the vessel was on her re-
turn up the river, opposite the fort.
where Capt. stockton consented to fire
another shot from the same gun around
and near which to observe its effects
many persons had gathered though by
no means SO many as on similar dis
charges in the morning. the ladies who
then thronged the deck being on this
fatal occasion almost all below decks
and out of reach of harm.
X x
THE gun was fired and the explosion
was followed. before the smoke cleared
away so as to observe its effect, by
shrieks of woe which announced a dire
calamity. The gun had burst at a point
three or four feet from the breech and
scattered death and desolation around
Mr.. Upshur. Secretary of State: Mr..
Gilmer, SO recently placed at the head
of the navy; Commodore kennon, one
of it's gallant officers; Virgil Maxey,
lately returned from diplomatic resi-
dence at The Hague. and Mr.. Gardiner
of New York formerly d member of
the senate of that statel We're among
the slain. Besides these seventeen sea
men were wounded. several of them
badly and probably mortally.
Among those stunned by the con
cussion. learn not all seriously in
jured. were Capt. Stockton himself,
Col. Benton of the Senate, Lieut.. Hunt
of the Princeton and W. u. Robinson of
Georgetown. Other persons also were
more less injured. of whom in the
horror and confusion of the moment no
certain account could be obtained The
above are believed. however. to com
prise the whole of the persons known
to the public who were killed or dam
gerousy or seriously hurt.
THE scene upon the deck may more
easily be Imagined than described. nor
can the ina gination picture to itself
the half of its horrors. Wives widow
ed in an instant by the murderous
blast: daughters snittep with the
heartrending sight of their fathers
lifeless corpses; the wailiag of. aEoniz-
ed females: the piteous grief of the
unhurt But heart-Strlcken spectators.
the wounded seamen borne down be-
low. the silent tears and quivering lips
of their brave and honest comrades
who tried in vain to subdue or to
conceal their feelings-what words can
adequately depict scene like thiso
THE bodies of the killed remained on
board the ship last night. They will
be brought to the city this morning"
There is no doubt of the profound
sensation created in Washington by
this accident As throwing light on
the situation in this city. the follow
ing public notice" is taken out of the
issue of the Washington newspapers
of the day after the explosion:
Information of the dreadful catas-
trophe haying reached the city last
evening while large body of citizens
were holding public meeting connect
ed with the approaching election OF
delegates to the city convention. 1t IS
in compliance with request adopted
at that meeting as well in accord
ance with his own feelings that the
mayor respectfully requests that the
election of delegates appointed to be
holden in the several wards OF the city
tomorrow be postponed to Wednesday
next the 9Th of March,
Friday, March |, according TO the Ma