Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-21
From the Petersburg Intelligcncer, July lS.l
Solemn and ImpreSsire, bit unfortunately interrupt

Solemn and LnpreSSire, bit unfortunately interrupt
ed Ceremony.
Saturday last The 5th inst. had been set a
part, and dedicated in two separate conventions
Of the Citizens of Petersburg, 10 funeral seryi-
ces in testimony Of our respect and regard for
the memory of the deceased Patriots THOMAS
JEFFERSON, Of Virginia, s JOHN ADAMS
of Massachusetts, 1t is unnecessary now
TO speak of the feelings ofthis community on
an occasion so eminently calculated 20 excite the
sympathies ofevery American bosom-our acts
have been published to the world; our resolu-
tons, adopted at two Of the most numerous
Town meetings ever Witnessed in Petersburg,
have gone forth--and they express in the SIM
pie language of truth, the genuine emotions OF
our souls. The General Committee of Arrange
meuts mad omitted nothing which in their view
was proper TO I" do honor to those who had fill
ed the measure Of their country's honor" AT
Blandford Old Church Yard, amidst the tombs
Of our parents, relatives and friends that sur
j.. round the crumbIing walls of the venerable
structure, spacious arbcr had been formed, a
stage and rostrum erected, and seats prepared
for the thousands expected TO bear part in, or
TO witness the solemn proceedings dawn
was clear, though the weather during the MORT
ing was cool and agreeable At sunrise, &C
X
ing with the number of states composing the
Congress of 1870 were discharged at intervals.
AT 9 O'Clock, a Procession, Civil and Militia
~, was formed a, Market Square, consisting
lst of the corps Of Jefferson Volunteers, COM
maaded by Capt RoBERT BoLLING--2nd. the
Mayor and Corporate Authorities with their Of
ficers --Srd. the Clergy and Revolutionary cha
raoters-4th. Committee OF Arrangements-5th
Mechanic AsSociatlon-6th.C Capt. SWANS Re-
publican Light Infantry, Capt. TALiAEERRO's
independent counters and a company OF Ju-
niors-7th. Citizens on foot--8th Carriages
with LadeS-dnd 9th. Citizens on horseback.
Thus arranged, every Citizen and Soldier wear
ing the badge Of mourning; the whole line, two
deep, and extending we estimate fully half
mile in length, was put in motion by word Of
command from the Grand Marshal, and, under
direction Of the Assistant Marshals, marched to
slow and solemn music, first up Old Street
thence up Market Street, thence down Bank
Street, thence down Sycamore Street, thence
down Bollingbrook Street. continuing on to
Bandford. During the time the procession
was on lis way, the Courthouse Bell was tolled,
and IS minute guns, TO correspond with the
number Of wears of the life of Monlicello's Sage
were fired by the Artilerists stationed on BoI.
lingbrook Hill. On arriving at the Church Yard,
the Citizens and Military palted in two parallel
lines, in order u afford an opportunity to the
Ladies, Clergy and others having duties and Sta
tons assigned them, TO take their places beneath
the shelter. In few minutes, the multitude
had gathered around, and in a compact mass
extended as far as the eye could reach in every
direction Speaking within bounds, we think
there were not less than five thousand persons
present. An appropriate Overture from The
Band produced immediate silence, and not
whisper was heard in the whole Of that vast as
assemblagc. The minds Of all appeared TO be
suitably impressed with the sacred associations
belonging TO the hallowed ground on which they
stood, with The occasion which had that day col
lected them there, and the feelings Of every one
seemed TO be atIuned 10 melancholy in harmo-
ny with the anticipated services and ceremonies
in honor of the iliustrious dead. The Rev. An
DREW SYnE, (who twenty-siX years ago at The
same place had delivered funeral discourse In
conimemoraton OF the rare virtues and inest-
mable services - the immortal WASHIyGToN)
assembled the platform prepared for the offciat-
ing Clergymen aud Orator, and read the words
of the first Anthem-the choir of amateurs
caught them from his lips, and echoed them IN
strains 'as sweet as those that Angels use"-
the last mellow sounds, twice repeated, were Just
dying on the ear, when low indistinct murmur
arose--a murky spcck in the clear blue horizon
had been observed in the direction Of the most
commercial part Of the town; as the eve was FIX
cd upon it, larger and yet darker it grew Some
thought it might be kiln on fire; others tha,
it proceeded from chimney; but in a mo-
ment's time all conjecture was at an end; vo-
lume Of fame burst out, and proved the reality
Of our fears! The ALARM OF FIRE was civ
en-, and the cry spread with the rapidly of light
ming; still nothing like panic occurred; and the
crowd, great as it was, though apprehensive and
disappointed, dispersed without accident or in
jury to any one!
On reaching the scene of conAagra,ion, we
perceived that the FIRE had commenced in one
Of the buildings in rear of the tensment on the
east side of Sycamore-sireet, occupied by
Messrs. BOND s. Colt broke out about 10 O.
clock, but how i, originated we have not beer
able to ascertain. Owing to the absence Of sc
large portion Of our population at that par
tcuar iunclure, but fee BILE efforts could be made
at first to arrest is progress, and House after
House caught with great rapidity, though none
of the elegant front Buildings on Sycamore