Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-01-21
From the Enquirer.
DREADFUL CONFEDERATION.

DREADFUL CONFLAdRhl1oN'
However unwilling we may be to adopt the
opinion, vet it nevertheless seems tooe true,
that one misfortune seldom comes alone upon
sociaty.-the writer of this article deems It his
duty, painful as it is to perform, to communl-
cate to the world, disaster which has hetal-
len an Individual and family which IN Its
character and its consequences, is well calce-
lated to excite in the bosom OF the phli:.s. hro-
pist, the keenest sensibility OF sympathy and
of sorrow--On the night of the 18th current,
the dwelling house of MIR Samuel Jones Of
Powhatan, was discovered to be on FIRE by 1.-THE
family within, who had retired to natural rest !;
so far had the flames made their fatal progress,
before the discovery was made, that Mrs.
Jones, fwho had clasped her eldest child In
her arms) had scarcely time to make her es-
cape, with her darling babe, through the H.
cry element; MIR. Jones was unable to follow
her. and his retreat through the door being
cut off, he instantly thought Of the youngest
infant which was still in bed (; and Selling it,
he flew to the window for escape. but in the
distraction of his mind, he left the lovely in
FAINT in chair adjoining the window, fearing
in the first place that it might be killed by the
leap which he was about to make himself, and
in the next place, hoping that he might bring
a ladder to the window i'll time to rescue the
child from destruction; in this state OF mind
he escaped himself from the window, but a
las Before he could ascend the ladder, the
flames had separated forever the parent and
the child Miss Nancy G.. Bass and Mr.
Edward Bass, the sister snd brother OF Mr..
Jones, were sleeping above stairs In adjoining
rooms two maids were also III the room with
Miss Bass !; upon discovery OF the flames
below. Mr.. f. Bass rushed down stairs, and
in making his escape through the f1ames, re-
ceived some injury by burning. but which,
very fortunately, promises no serious consc-
ouence. The two maids entreated Miss Bass
TO leap from the window OF the End story OF
the house, which they were about to do, but
their entreaties were valnly uttered; and Ind
inr themselves I'D the last extreme OF danger,
thcu leaped from the window OF the 2nd story,
and were saved without much lnury,-Ihe
last that they saw of their young mistress,
she was attempting to descend the stairs, and
# IS presumed she suffocated before she could
retreat to the room from which she had gone.
The loss of Mr.. Jones, however great in a
pecuniary point of view, is not taken into the
SCdie OF CALCULATION pun tilio oC>ooiNi'' 'oioi1
and affecting as it iS.-The loss OF sister, a
nliable and accomplished about 6 years OF
age, Just entering upon the stage and plea
sures of society admired and beloved by a
numerous circle OF friends the loss OF
sweet infant, the offspring and sacred pledge
of love, to which the parents were bound by
every tie of natural affection are consldera'
tons in which all others are lost and forgot
ten; yet let not the surviving friends and re-
latives yield too much to sad reflection let
them know that not only their relatives, but
the world, feels and sympathizes with them In
their misfortune !: let them know that the dcs-
tinies of this troublesome world, are ruled by
wise providence, and whatever may be the
will of that providence, frail mortals should
not complain.
ar Mr. Jones and Miss Bass, are the
Nephew and Niece of William B. Giles,
Esq.