Evening star., 1945-05-06

those stunned by the conclusion were
the commanding officer of the Prince
ton, Capt. Robert F. Stockton; Sem
ator Thomas F. Benton of Missouri,
1t. Hunt of the Princeton, w. D.
Robinson of Georgetown and others.
According to a press account: YES
terday was a day appointed by the
courtesy and hospitality of Capt. Stock
ton, commander of the Princeton, for
receiving as visitors to his fine ship
dying off Alexandria, a great num-
ber of guests, with their families, lib
orally and numerously invited to spend
the day on board. The day was most
favorable. and the company was large
and brilliant of both sexes, not less
probably in number than 400. among
whom were the President of the United
States, the heads of the several de-
partments and their families.
Cannon Explosion
"At a proper hour after the arrival
of the expected guests the vessel got
under way and proceeded down the
river to some distance below Fort
Washington.
During the passage down, one Of the
large guns on board carrying a ball
of 225 pounds was fired more than
once, exhibiting the great power and
capacity Of that formidable weapon
of war.
The ladies had partaken of sumptu-
Gus repast, the gentlemen had succeeded
them at the table, and some OF them
had left it. The vessel was on her return
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 between
decks and out of reach of harm.
The gun was fired. The explosion
was followed, before the smoke cleared
away so as to observe its effects. by
shrieks which announced a dire calam-
ity. The gun had burst at point
three or four feet from the breech
and scattered death and desolation
around"
A Presidential Romance
1t is said that every cloud has its
silver lining, and so out Of this calamity
came the tender sympathy Of President
John Tyler for Julia. the daughter OF
State Senator Gardiner, who was killed
in the explosion; soon sympathy turned
to love, as is so often the case, ana
in less than four months time Presi-
dent Tyler led Miss Gardiner to the
altar of the Church of the Ascension,
New York City, and she returned TO
WASHINGTON as mistress of the White
House. She was a little more than
a. the President had passed his 54th
year. They had 18 years OF happy
married life, up to the time Of his
death, January 10, 1852. Mrs. Tyler
passed away at Richmond, Va, July
10, 1889.
The next important death In the
White House, with services in the east
room, was that of President Zachary
Taylor, who died on July 9, 1850. and
to which reference was made recently.
Death of Col. Ellsworth
Then came the tragic death of
Ephraim Elmer Ellsworth colonel Of
the New York zouaves, who was killed
in Alexandria, Va, May "a. 1861, when
lust "a years of age. Many versions
have been written of this unfortunate
occurrence. The Stars version, pub
lished the day following Ellsworths S
death, says:
"At 4 o'clock am, at about the same
moment, the Zouaves landed at Alex
andria from the steamers, and the
troops before named who proceeded by
the bridge reached that town. AS the
steamers drew up near the wharf,
armed boats left the Pawnee, whose
crew leaped upon the wharves just
before the Zouaves reached the shore.
The crews of the Pawnee's boats were
fired upon by the few Virginia sentries
as the boats left the steamship, by
way of giving the alarm, when these
sentries instantly fed into the town
Their fire was answered by impromptu
shots from some Of the Zouaves on the
decks of the steamers bearing them
Immediately on landing, Col. Ellsworth
marched the zouaves up into the center
of the town, no resistance whatever
to their progress being offered.
"1mmediately on landing. the Zouaves
marched up into the center of the town
to the city flagstaff, upon which they
Immediately hoisted the American flag
Hauls Down Rebel Flag
"Col Ellsworth then marched with q
portion of his command to the tele-
graph Office, which he seized and placed
under strong guard, in order to pre-
vent any news of the movement Of the
Federal troops from being communi.
Gated to the ldisunion forces South Of
that city. While at the telegraph Office
he discovered the secession flag float.
ing over the Marshall House, and, tax.
ing with him squad of men, proceeded
to the place, and in respectful langu.
age desired the landlord Games Jack.
SOM to haul 1t down This request be.
ing refused, he proceeded with his squae
to the top Of the house and hauled II
down.
I'm descending the stairs the keeper
Of the house discharged one load of q
double-barreled gun into the heart o.