The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-07-27

l.adlrs In casiage Gentlemen .n Horse
hack. II this order they proceeded up
Old In VI ket st.np Market ST. do"r Bauk'
s.cafnare aud l5allpghrook streets aud
.thsnc. Ia Bisndlord Old Church. Nhrn
III head II tbe procession arrived 1t ~"
Church, winch Is on considerable em'n'
enpe, eomnandesa full view Ut Bla"dtord,
the rear WAS not in sight. We state this
fact, thai thpse who know any ihlns ~ the
situation 1T thr place, lay io' IN some idea
offs magnitude, aud the numbrr at per-
-ons compost il, which Is estIms ed at u
bont Two thousand. The number u 10
procession, was dpublrss much greater,
thu footways belng crowded to excess.
The crowd had been gathering at the
Church long before the procession started
from Did 81. and by the time the whole ca
yacade arrived, we should imagine that
from five TO six thousand persons were as-
srmblrd undrr the arbour In the yard, on
the walls, &c.
So soon as the last minute gun told the
ayr nf the venerable Jefferson, the band
played solemn dirge, preliminary to tho
other exerrl,es intended to be Reformed
IN the Church yard. A short pause ensu-
ed. The multitude was ~ still as the ST.
lent tenants Of the graves which surroun-
ded them. Amid THIS stiffness, with feel
ings aiilned 10 the solemnity of the place
and thu occasion, the Rev. Mr.. Syme as
"end"d the stand erected for the occasion,
and read in clear and imposing manner,
the anthem of the Dying Christian. He
ceased. The choir We're giving the fioIsh-
ing talirh 70 that sublime composition. -
" lark. lhry whisper, Angrls say"-was
repeated t@lce; the inter. elton, SHARK -
VS. repr1fed the thlId tune,--hGt we heard
no more of the sonl-suhduing strains of
the ch0lr. The alarum FROM the town bell
gtse The response, and turning our eyes in
thai direction, column Of dense smoke
M our view, indicating by its increasing
hlae',ness The magnitude Of the dagger
The alarm was electric. Where, moment
before, ever, earthly passion of the heat
VAS soltened nd subducd, a scene Of con-
fusion WAS exhibited, which begEars drsup-
ton. Parents were in agony about their
absent children. Being unable to ascertain
rom tar variety of rumors that we're IN
circulation, al !" hal point the fire was ra-
glng. Persons IN business whose COunte-
nances "ere For IA time relaxed from Inc
busy cares of HE, were seen with knitted
crows md ANXIOUS LOOKS, enqnIriDg # eve
~ conner and goer, the situation of the fire
The ceremonies of the day having been
thus abruptly and unfortunately Destroyed,
NE FASTENED to the scene of the Conilagra-
ton and found il raging Oh both sides Of
Back street, II having commenced in a
small wooden building, Immediately in the
rear of Mr.. Shank's cabinet shop on the
south side of the street, aud at most adlOn-
ag the large brick building of Mr.. Joseph
Caldwell, on Sycamore street.
ihr fire continued To rage I'LL about two
o'clock, when its further progress was ar
rested BY blowing up N,ssrs. Bond 4 Co..
lumber house, 10 the rear of their store, and
Mr.. Booths stable, to the east Of West.
brook warehouse. All the buildings to the
sastH ard of the narrow lane in the rear Of
Sycamore street, 10 Mr. Booths family
residence with the exception of Nr. Shr0y
ef's work shop, were either entirely con-
suded u greatly Injured. Except in the
loss If b ,lIdlngs, IT, damage has not been
- extensive. Mr.. >idaks we apprr-
il'hut Is to n''"7.g. Ft''r'', '''' i'tu-
iii - " lllf 50 81 III ifinf1 - ~ NV con-
sidfrtloa. Only one housr Ma. PlIlsho-
roue IN o,it,e) Was consumed on the
10 III sie ii ia STR.
There is 40 10 tat that tins was the
work II an lneendmfy. An individual. ~ Io
was IN house faclng the allies where the
fire occurred, saw the flames 7hnjtly after
they Were kndled, when = irN buckets
inll ol Aatcr could have eH'Ingushed them.
Bat immediate access TO the hydrants could
mi he nad, and before supply Nas obtain
ID, and tn" engines pm, in motion, the li,r
had assumed such character as to cndrr
II next to an impnssiblity to stop its raw -
Us, tllat the very polnt where its further
PROCESS was arrested, by blowing np the
Two houses already mentioned.
We Witnessed the blowing up Of Mr.
Bonds lumber house. Ii was executed
by = stranger, whose name, we believe. is
Bateman and be deserves the thanks Of
the community for his skill aud intrepidlty
IN the occasion. So perfect was the de"
molltion Of the building, that it was literal.
) RACED 10 the earth, and the end and side
walls ialllug out, as the roof tumblrd in.
The EpiscopaIian Church aud the Court
mouse were on fire at one ume, but owing
tn the exprlions of some active citiztns,
both buildings were saved, without mater-
Al d,maae.
lis worthy of remark, since conciden-
ces ar. the order of the day, that the fire
Of SATURDAY occurred on the anniversary of
the grca, fire Of 1915.
So nath for the commencement and the
catastrophe Of day, begun with so mach
soIemnity, and terminated by such des-
Traction Of property.
The committee of arrangement. we are
glad to perceive have determined vet t. Ga
on with the more solemn ceremonies of the
! day, and have fixed upon the theatre as
! the place where the Grafton, Sc. are to be