The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

BY THE MAILS.

CHARLESTON, April 1.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT

We have to state most melancholy occurrence, which took place in our harbour this morning - the blowing up of the Revenue Schooner GALLATIN, commanded by Captain John SILLIMAN. She arrived here yesterday from Savannah and a cruise, and was anchored abreast the City.

The confusion and distress which this accident has occasioned, have prevented us from obtaining any correct information as to its cause, or to the number of persons who have suffered. We have seen four of the unfortunate men who were picked up, and who are lacerated and torn in a manner the most pitiable.

The only clue by which a supposition may be made of the cause of this distressing event, is, that part of the crew were employed in cleaning up the muskets; these were on the quarter-deck, where the force of the explosion was most sensibly felt. Her stern and quarter-deck were blown entirely away, and in a few minutes she filled and sunk.

It is conjectured that the powder-room, and not the magazine, took fire; as, if it had been the latter, she must have been literally blown to atoms. It is to be hoped, that but few have been drowned, or killed by the explosion, though fears are entertained for many. Those who were forward of the mainmast, we believe, have escaped uninjured.

Great credit is due to those captains and seamen, who so actively manned their boats, and put off to the assistance of the unfortunate sufferers. Greater activity could not have been displayed.

Since writing the above, we learn, that as far as can be ascertained, three of the crew are missing, and five dangerously wounded.