Richmond Enquirer

PORT GIBSON, (Miss.) July 10.—A most melancholy accident took place at the house of John Patterson, Esquire, of this county on the night of the 20th ult. A little after dark, Mrs. Patterson sent two of her little sons up stairs to draw some spirits out of a barrel.—While the oldest was employed in tilting the barrel, the youngest, out of curiosity, applied the candle to the spout to see if it would blaze. It was instantly communicated to the spirits within, and exploded with a tremendous noise, setting fire to the children's clothes, and to the roof of the house, which was soon consumed with almost every article of furniture in it. The children, as soon as possible were taken down stairs and conveyed to the yard, but they were so shockingly burnt, that they survived but a few hours, although the power of utterance was left them to relate the cause which led to the catastrophe. Who can paint such a scene?