Democratic Standard

From the Globe of the 28th ult.

POSTSCRIPT.

We stop the press to announce a most lamentable catastrophe which occurred on board the Princeton steamer this evening. By the bursting of one of the great guns, the Secretary of the Navy, Gov. Gilmer; Commodore Kennon, Chief of the Bureau of Construction of the Navy; Virgil Maxcy, Esq., and Mr. Gardiner, of Southampton, New York, were instantly killed; and six sailors are reported badly wounded. One of the President's servants, a colored man has since died.

Colonel Benton and Captain Stockton were slightly injured. The accident happened about 3 o'clock, some two or three miles below Alexandria. Colonel Benton's injury arose not from any fragment of the gun, but merely from the concussion. He was at the butt of the gun, taking its range when it fired. He was not sensible of its stunning effect until he had called for aid to the bleeding sailors. He was stunned for a time, but was enabled to walk after reaching the shore, and has given a distinct account of the dreadful scene. Captain Stockton was burned by the powder, but not seriously injured.

Captain Stockton having, on successive days, extended invitations to visit his ship to the executive and committees of Congress, and to both Houses—invited the ladies of the city to an entertainment on this, which was meant as the gala-day of his beautiful ship. It opened brightly, but has closed in the most dreadful gloom over our community. The only circumstance calculated to relieve the all pervading distress is, that of the multitude of ladies who were on board the ship, not one was injured. The happy exemption of such a multitude of the tender sex, who witnessed the havoc made in the midst of them of the most distinguished and beloved of their countrymen, while it brings some solace to the circle of their immediate friends, cannot but deepen the sympathies which they, and the whole community, feel for the bereaved families of those who have fallen. Mr. Upshur and Mr. Gilmer were idols in the happy family by which each was surrounded. The elder children of Mr. Gilmer are just grown; the younger still in the nurse's arms. Commodore Kennon, Mr. Maxcy and Mr. Gardiner are all torn from family endearments—from wives and children. We understand that Mrs. Gilmer was upon the deck when her husband fell.— It was the third discharge of the gun (and fired at the request of Mr. Gilmer) that burst it. The daughter of Mr. Upshur, several of the family of Com. Kennon, and the daughters of Mr. Gardiner were on board the steamer, but none of them except Mrs. Gilmer, were apprised of the death of those most dear to them, until after their return to the city. Almost all the ladies were below at dinner, when the catastrophe occurred. Mrs. Gilmer was brought to the city almost in a state of distraction. There were two hundred ladies on board, and during the two discharges of the gun, were on the deck, and many of them approached very near to observe the course of the ball after it struck the water. President Tyler was there also, but had attended the ladies to dinner before the third discharge.