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time ofthe explosion, there were supposed 10
have heen on board the vessel about sixty per-
sons.-Twenty seven were instantly Killed and
twenty two severely wounded several OF whom
have since died


1t happened fortunately that sixty two men
formerly attached TO the frigate, were drafted
on Tuesday, and had proceeded to Norfolk TO
form part of The crew Of the frigate Consella-
tion now on the eve Of departure for foreign
station. The band, II In number, were on
shore.


This dreadful accident was occa$ioned by
the Guhner's going into the magazine, TO pro-
cure powder TO fire the evening gun lie was
charged by one OF the officers previously to his
going below, to be careful and soon after the
explosion took place. We understand that he
was man between fifty and sixty yearsof age,
and had Just been appointed TO that office ; the
old Gunner having been discharged the Gay be
fore. He was desired by Lieut. Breckenridge
10 be cautious With he light and to place it in
the location invariably provided Tor it, on such
occasions, viz, behind rejecting glass In the
partition, through which the rays oflight are
thrown. 1t is supposed he had been careless
in this particular, and that having carried the
candle into the mag azine some Of its sparks
were communicated to The powder but as he
is among the dead nothing certain upon this
point can ever be known. Lieut.. Null states,
that the necessary precautions had been taken
for opening the magazine, and centlnel placed
at the Hatch before he left the deck, and that
after being in the ward room some twenty
minutes the explosion took place.


At the time of the explosion. the officers
were dining in the ward room. The lady oil
Lieut.. Breckenridge and the son ofLleut. Platt,
lad of about nine years Old were guests, land
one account says both were slightly wounded
Another account says Lieut.. Null, who was
sitting next to the son OF Lieut.. Flatt, with
great presence Of mind, caught hold OF HIM y
placed him in one OF The port holes, by when
means he escaped unjnjured Lieut.. Plat, had
returned only yesterday morning, baYng been
absent one month. On leave. Com. Chauncey,
with the commander OF tbe sE!gate, Capt. New
ton. left her only lew minutes before the eX
nlosjon-the former having been on board on
visit of inspection.


The room in which the officers were dining
was situated about midsIips. The whole COM
pany at the table were forced, by the concus-
sion. against the transom. with such violence
as 70 break their limbs, and otherwise cut
and bruise them in shocking manner.


The magazine was situated in the bows oi
the vessel. This part Of the ship, as may be
imagined, is completely demolished; Indeed
the Ship remains as complete wreck as prop
ably was ever beheld.-The timbers through
utappear TO have been perfectly rotten, Many
of the guns were thrown overheard. and some
Of them [of lage dimensions] now hang as i
were by hair.


What is very remarkable circumstance al
though several ofthe persons at dinner IN tn
ward room, escaped, with their lives, and som'
Of them uninjured, not vestage of the table
chairs, or any ofthe furniture in the room re
main. Every thing was blow TO atoms.