Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-08-07

We have had flying rumors ofthe Presidents
having been i'll on his route to Tennessee, some
said with bilious cholic, others from the old
wound in his arm, given by Benton. The tact
of his having been sick is confirmed by the
Wythe Argus OF the 26th.-Rich. Wig.
The Wythe c. H. Argus Of July &c, says
"The President of the u States stayed Wed
nesday night in this place, on his way to the
Hermitage. He was complaining much of indis
position, having been confined some days in the
neighborhood of Salem, Botetourt county
He looks greatly emaciated and worn down.
A most shocking outrage took place on Thurs
day, the Gath ultimo, in Farmville Va. The
boarders, travellers, &c. who dned at the Ea-
gle Tavern on that day, were all poisoned! II is
supposed arsenic was put in cuStard; as all
those that ate thereof were taken sick the night
following and next day. There were one or
two that did not eat of the custard, and conse-
auenty escaped. There are various specua-
tons about this affair, but that it was done by ne
groes Il mean the cook or house servants
there is no doubt. There are. understand for
tn persons very sick from the effects Of being
poisoned, Gas the Doctors say,) twenty five OF
whom are citizens Of Farmville. We have
heard, as yet of only one death, Mr.. Lyon,
twelve miles from town, who dined at the Eagle
Tavern on that unfortunate day. Some OF
those in town are little better this morning,
but several are very dangerously Ill; from others
in the neghborhood we have not heard this
morning. Enquirer.
Dreadful and Fatal Accident-The Courier
and Enquirer of this morning gives the particu-
lars of most melancholy casualty. On Satur-
day night. between the honrs Of IL and |, Mr..
John Sfgner, grocer, of 16l Anthony street, hav-
ing closed his store, took small lamp which
was burning to replenish it with that highly dan.
gerous and infammabe liquor composed OF
alcohol and spirits of turpentine. Having un
screwed the top Of the lamp, he laid the wick
still burning on the counter, and brought the
can containing nearly gallon of the compound,
from which he attempted to pour quantity in
to the lamp. In an instant the flame from the
wick communicated with the liquor which caus-
ed the can to explode, and covered the un-
fortunate man with its burning contents His
wife on hearing his cries fastened to his assist
ance, and in a moment was also wrapt IN names
from head to foot A young woman living
with them, named Eliza Reynolds, was in the
store at the moment Of the explosion, and en-
deavored to extnguiSh the flames, but her own
dress having caught fire, she was SO badly burnt
that she will probably lose the use OF one OF her
eyes, Except two infant children, there were
no other persons in the house, and the whole
family would have been burned to death had
not young man named James, pilot, who
was passing at the time and heard the ShrleKs OF
the sufferers, burst open the door, and rushing
in, smothered the blaze on the dress of the SER
want girl Mrs. Signer ran into the street with
her clothes burning and fell down screaming on
the sidewalk One or two persons came to her
assistance, and wrapped blanket and other
bed coverings about her person, all of which
were literally burned through before the flames
were completely extinguished. Mr.. Signer,
maddened with agony, ran to water butt at
the back Of the yard, into which he plunged.
During all the time he was in flames, he never
uttered groan, until his clothes were torn of
his body, and the fire smothered. He then sunk
down exclaimng, o God ! am done man."
The poor sufferers were taken and laid on
bed, where they received every attention that
medical skill could devise. They fingered in
the greatest possible agony for some hours until
death put period to their misery. The injury
they sustained was almost too shocking for de-
scription. Their hair, eye brows and lashes,
were entirely singed off, and the whole surface
of their body was complete blister After
death, decomposition proceeded so rapidly that
it was deemed advisable to bury them as soon
as possible; and by haifpast eleven O'Clock they
were both laid in the grave.-Nen YORK amer
1IOIISE FOp SALE EXCHANGE OR