Richmond Enquirer

ANOTHER CONFLAGRATION.
PETERSBURG, August 1.—We have to announce to our readers the melancholy fact, that our ill-fated town has been visited by another conflagration, almost as serious as either of those that immediately preceded it, and which it has been our painful duty to make known within the last three weeks.
Between twelve and one o'clock on Sunday morning, our citizens were aroused from their slumbers by the appalling cry of fire. We immediately discovered, on looking out, the vicinage of the fire to our own establishment, and the destructive consequences that would result from it, unless every exertion was made to arrest its progress. The flames broke out in a stable in the rear of Old st. adjacent to a number of wooden buildings; and to such a height had they ascended before the alarm was given, that no hope was entertained of saving any of the frame houses, from the east side of Baird's alley, to the west side of the alley in the rear of Sycamore st. amounting altogether to between twenty-five and thirty, principally small buildings, and of but little value.
Nothing but the most extraordinary exertions of the fire companies, saved an incalculable amount of property from destruction. Their first efforts were directed to Mrs. Nash's large frame residence, which was on fire before the engines could commence active operations; but a flood of water from the hydrants was poured upon it with such happy effect, that to the astonishment of every body, the fire was put out without materially damaging the house. Had the flames once obtained possession of Mrs. Nash's dwelling, it is impossible to calculate how far they would have extended.
The flames having been thus checked here, it became necessary to use redoubled exertions to save Old and Bank streets, which flanked the fire on the north and south; and here we could not but again admire the indefatigable and successful exertions of the fire companies, particularly on Bank street, where the danger appeared to be most threatening, the fire having already caught in one or two places. Notwithstanding the general opinion that Bank st. could not be saved, that portion of it at least to the east of Brick House run, the firemen, nothing daunted, put forth their best energies. and succeeded in arresting the progress of the destroying element, not, however, till several buildings were more or less destroyed.
Only two houses of value were destroyed,—one, a large brick lumber house, belonging to Mr. J. V. Willcox, immediately in the rear of Mr. John Taliaferro's residence, on Bank street; the other was the large frame building on the alley in the rear of Sycamore st. belonging to the estate of John Baird, dec. and which has been rendered conspicuous from the circumstance, that it withstood the terrible conflagration of 1815, while every other building around and near it was destroyed. These two buildings, we understand, were insured, and perhaps some others, but to what extent we know not.
The small buildings destroyed, were principally occupied by free persons of color, and from their inflammable nature, had long been viewed with fear and apprehension; particularly as they were located in the very heart of the town. [Republican]