The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-16
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FOR THE ENQUIRER.
DREADFUL CONFLAGRATION

However unwilling we may he to adopt
the opinion, yet it nevertheless seems to be
true, that one misfortune seldom comes a.
lone upon society Tue writer Of tins artI-
Gle deems il his duty, painful as it Is TO per
form, TO communicate TO the world a dlsts-
ter which has befitiien an i--!iit,if;sGk and :,
tuntLy which in lis character and its Gu
sequences, is we'll calculated e. excite in tn.
bosom oi The philanthrnpist, the keenist sen
slbiiity OF sympathy and IF sorrow--On the
night OF the 12tn current, the dwelling nous i.
OF Mr. Samuel Jones IF Powhatan, was dis
covered to be on nre by the family within,
who had retired to natural rest so far had
the names made their tatal progress, before
the discovery was made, that MRS. Jone,,
(who had Clasped their eldest child i'll nel
arms) had scarcely time 10 make her es-
cape, with her darling bale, through The ~
cry element; Mr.. Jones was unable to fol
low her: and his retreat through the dcol
being cut off, he instantly thought of the
Youngest infant which was still III bed an !,
selzing 1t, he flew to the window for escape
out In the distraction of his mind, he left til
lovely infant Ill chair adjoining the win
dow, fearing in The first place that it mig 4,
be killed by the leap which he was about e.
make himself, and in the next place, hopinl,
that he might bring a ladder 10 the window
IN time to rescue the child from destructi "a ,
IN this state of mind he escaped himselffr IN
the window, but alas Before he could as
cend the ladder, the flames had separated
forever the parent & the child.-diss Nan
cy &. Bass and Mr.. Edward nass, the SIS
ter and brother of Mr. Jones, were sleepint
ABOVE stars in adjoining rooms two maids
we're also IN the room with Miss Bass upoh
discovery OF the flames Below MIR, E. Bass
iuSnca down stairs, and in making his es-
cape through the flames, received some in
jury by burnihg,but which, very fortunately
promises no serious consequence. The two
MAIDS entreated Miss Bass to leap from The
window OF the End story of the house, which
fhey were about do, but their entreaties
were valnly uttered and finding them
selves in the last extreme of danger, me-,
ieaped from the window of the second sto-
ry, and were saved without much injury
Inc last that they saw of their young mis-
tress, she was attempting to descend the
stars, and 1t is presumed she suffocatcd be-
lore she could retreat to the room rem
which She had gonc.-The loss of Mr.. Jones
however great III pecunary point of view
Is not taken into the scale of calculation up
OH this occasion, solemn and affecting as II
Is lie loss OF sister, amiable and accom-
piished; about II years of age, just ente..
ing upon the stage and pleasures OF society
admired and beloved by numerous circle
OF friends; the loss of sweet infant, the
offspring and sacred pledge of love-. 10 which
the parents were bound by every tie of natu.
raj affection; are Considerations in which al
others are lost and forgotten /: yet let not the
surviving friends and relatives yield tor
much to sad reflection; let them knoy tha
not only their relatives, but the world, feel.
and sympathizes with them in their nlsso
tune /; let them know that the deStinies o
mis- troublesome world, are ruled Nv a wise
providence, and whatever may be the wi
| of that providence, frail mortals should not
| complain.
~ Mr. Jores and Miss Bass, arr tho
kNephew and Niece of VIM Is. Gle, esq