Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-09-09
MISCELLANY Y !.
Blitz and the Fire Annihilator

Blitz and the Fire Annihilator.
The recent successful experiment with the
fre-annihilator has reminded US of some cir.
cumstances connected with the first exhibition
of them in New York, and which caused a
feud between P. T. Barnum and Signor Blitz,
so well known for his skill in training birds,
and his extraordinary feats in natural magic.
Barnum had invited the Sgnor to be presen,
Tin New York; at an experimental exhibition,
in which he was interested, of the machines
that put out great fire with great smoke
The great decever was on hand-a little man
dressed in black, with iron gray hair, and a
restless, observant eye-and he mingled in the
crowd, unrecognized.
The temporary structure in which the fire
was to be kindled, and then annihilated, was
about fifteen feet square, and one story and a
half high. There was an upper floor, but no
stairs, as none were needed. The carpenter
who had nailed 1t down had merely left hole
by which he had descended after performing
his job.
A large concourse of people assembled to
witness the experiment, which was to come
off little after dark. The spectators exam
lned at their leisure the building and the queer
looking cans that contained Barnum's pas.
ready TO be let forth 10 arrest the progress of
that 'devouring element, which, to use the
stere"typed language of the insurance compa-
MES, 'oiten sweeps away in few hours the
hard earnings of many years.
Professor Cotton at last mounted stand.
and explained 10 the assembly the principles of
the annlhllalor, and set forth the immense ben
Bile communities.
Barnum was around, and although he had
been searching for his friend Bilz, that willy
professor of deviltry lodged the great show
man and remained invisible
AT length every thing was ready. A heap
OF highly combustible matter had been pre-
pared on the middle of the floor, and an assis-
tant was proceeding to set fire to it, when all
in the vicinity were startled by cry from the
upper room ofthe building
Don't! don't Let me out ! Don't burn
me up
Stop ? shouted police officer; there's a
man in the loft
The master ofceremones stepped into the
building and ordered the intruder TO lump
down.
q cant (hic) get down, said the voice.
Some drunken fool has got up there with
his bottle, said Barnum, in tone of vexa-
ton. %, for Maine liquor law in these dig
glngs Somebody must 60 up and haul the
fellow down.
A stick of timber was procured and placed
In slanting position, and a policeman man.
aged to crawl up into the attic
Hello, here. Come out of this = said the
officer, poking about with his stick. But, TO
his surprise, he found no one there. After
satisfying himself that the place was vacant,
the officer came down, mullering curses upon
The whole affair.
Again did the torch-bearer approach to
light the pile, and again the voice sounded
from the upper ROOM
Let me out, l sa-ay! Cou-demn (hic) yer
plcters, will ye burn fell'r alivel Let me
ont! Let me out Let me ou-u-m!
Stopn shouted Barnum to the torch-bear-
er, 'ihls won't do. Mr.. Cotton, will you send
a man up into that building who has his senses
about him Send him quickly, too
Another person now ascended to the loft,
which he examined by the light Of lantern
that was passed up TO him, and he likewise re-
ported the place empty.
A short pause now took place, during which
tine spectators began to manifest great impa-
tience, and their cries began to fill the air
Humbug!'
A Barnum humbug!'
The thingumbob won't work y
'Woolly horse!
'Joice Heth!
'Merma-a-id
These were some of the unpleasant words
that assailed Barnums ear in the great bab-
Element that was rising like the roar of waves
around him.
Have a little patience, gentlemen, and we II
proceed, said he.
well, yer Kin proceed, but yer can't sue
coed, growled member Of old For,y-Two's
company
The torch was now applied to the tar and
rosin, and as the flames began to curl up, "a
number of voices sounded distressfully from
all parts of the building. 1t was apparently
half full of men. Pigs also began to squeal
as if their bristles were scorched, but Barnum
now took the hint. He recognized some of
The very sounds that the great ventriloquis,
had produced in his office that afternoon, and
he exclaimed, in high dudgeon-
That cursed Bllz has made all this trou-
blel I'll give his iron grey locks an extra
khlk, if ever catch him.
The Signor's ventriloquism in reality did
more mischief than he had intended, for it was
probably owing TO the confusion he created,
that the experiment proved failure.
Barnum has not forgiven Blitz to this day.
although the waggish Signor is confident that
if he can get the great Snowman into one of
his Amory Hall entertainments, he can con.
jure all the anger from his breast, and restore
H. E-;o.dl.r .olatinn.