The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-07-03
KENOSHA WISCONSIN, THURSDAY, JULY s. 1862
EIitz and the Fire AnnihiIatOr,

From the Literary Museum.
The recent successful experirnen with the fir
| annihilator has reminded us of some crcumstan
ces connected with the first exhibition of them II
New York and which caused feud between
| r. Barnum and Sgnor Blitz, so well known 10
his skill in training birds, and his extraorolnar.
J feats in natural magic. Barnum had invited thu
Signor TO be present lin New York; at an exreri
mental exhibition, in which he was interested, 0
the machines that put out great fire with grea
smoke. The great deceiver was on hand-a llttlC
man, dressed in black, with iron gray hair, ana I
! restless, observant eye-and he mingled IN TIT
crowd unrecognized.
| The temporary structure in which the fire wa
| to be kinded, and then annihilated, was abou
fifteen feet square, and one story and half high
IeThere was an upper floor, but no stars, as none
were needed. The carpenter who had nailed Il
/ down had merely left hole by which he had de
| scended after performing hlsjob.
A large concourse of people assembled to wit
ness the experiment, which was TO come OH a III
tie after dark. The spectators examined at thell
leisure the building aud the queer looking cans
that contained Barnum's gas, ready to be lei
forth to errest the progress of that devourIng ell
ement, which to use the stereotyped language OF
the insurance companies, soften sweeps away in
a few hours the hard earnings Of many years
Professor Cotton at last mounted a stand, and
explained to the assembly the principles of the
that would accrue from it to all combustible com
4unities. 2. a .-..s -. +.
Barnun was around, and although he had been
searching for his friend Blitz, that willy professor
of deviltry lodged the great Snowman ana remain
ed invisible.
At length everything was ready. 4 head OF
highly c0mbustble matter had been prepared on
the middle of the floor, and an assistant was pro
ceeding to set fire TO it, when all IN the vicinity
were startled by a cry from the upperroom M the
Don't! Don't! Let me out! Don't burn me
up
"Stop!" shouted police officer there's
man in the loft"
The master of ceremonies stepped into the
building and ordered the intruder to jump down.
81 can't (hicJ get down." said the voice.
"Some drunken fool has got up there with his
BOTTLE said Barnum, in a tone OF vexation. 80,
for Maine liquor law in these diggings! Some
body must go up and haul the fellow down.
stick of timber was procured and placed in Il
slanting position, and policeman managed to
crawl up into the attic.
"Hello, here! Come out Of this :! said the Of
fcer poki1g about with his stick. But to his
surprise he found no one there. After satisfying
himself that the place vacant the officer
came down, muttering curses upon the whole at
fair.
Again did the torch bearer approach to light
the pile, and again the voice sounded from the
upper room - ..--..
''Let me out sa ay Condemn lhic) yer pic
rures viii ye burn tefr alive? Let me out =
Let me on a ut ~ -.-
'Stop /" shouted Barnum to the torch bearer,
this won't do Mr.. Cotton, will yo0 send man
up into that building who has his senses about
him ? Send him quickly, too.
Another person now assembled to the loft, which
he examined by the light OF a lantern That was
passed up to him, and lie likewise reported the
place empty.
short pause now took place, during which the
spectators began to manifest great lnpatience
and their cries began to FIJI the air.
"Humbug T.
"a Baruum humbug T.
The thingumboh won't work T.
"Wooly horse y
"JQice Heth :!
"Mcrma,a id T.
These were some of the unpleasant words that
assailed Barnums in the great babblement
that was rising like the roar Of waves around
him.
''Have a little patience, gentlemen. and wei
proceed said he
'sWell, yer kin proceed, but yer can't Sacceed,'
gr0wled a member of cid Forty-Two's company
The torch new applied to the tar and rOsin,
and 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 brstles were
scorched, bat Barnum now took the hint. He
recog nzed some of the very sounds that the great
ventrloqust had produced in his Office that atrer-
noon, and he exclaimed. in high dudgean--
"That cursed Bitz has made all this trouble!
I'll give his iron gray locks an extra kink, if
ever catch him"
he Signor $ ventri!oquism in reality did more
mischief than he intended for it was probably
owing to the confusion he created that the expert
ment proved a failure.