The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-08-01

eOnvOcatlOn were IN uUukHQ tvBctucr
IN the bottom Of their cage, wAish sud-
denly gave way, precipitating them
out of view into the depths below,
which by this tina were blazing like
the tabled Tophet.
coNrrNUArioN or TIN STRUGGLE.
Meanwhile the lion and the tiger
were continuing their contest now with
the advantage on one side, now ON the
other; and the boa was slowly tight
ening his fatal coils round the painting
body of the Honess, which, however,
bit and struggled, laoerasing the ssrip-
ed skin of its adversary terribly. The
floor was already crimson with their
blood, while the cOmmingling Kisses,
howls, yells and roars, utterly surpass
all efforts at description.
THE WHALES AND AlLIaAToRs IN TOR.
MENT.
At the moment the flames rolled
again into thei room, and then again
retired. The whale and aliigators were
by this time suffering dreadful tor
ments. The water in which they swan
was literally boiling. The alligators
dashed fercely about endeavoring to
escape, and opening and shutting their
great jaws in ferocious torture: but
the poor whale, almost boiled, with
great ulcers bursting from its blubbery
sides, could only feebly swim about
though blowing excessively, and every
now and then sending up great foun-
tains Of spray.
AT length crack went the glass sides
Of the great cases, and whale and alli-
gators rolled out on the floor, with the
rushing and steaming water. The
whale died pretty easily, having been
well used up before. "A few great
gasps and . oonvulsivc flap or two of
his mighty fakes were his expiring
spasms.
One of tho alligators was killed al
most instantly by falling across a great
fragment of shattered glass, which cut
open his stomach and let out the great
er part of his cntrails to the light OF
day. The remaining alligator became
involved in controversy with an an
aconda and joined the meelee in the
center of the blazing apartment
CLOSE OF THE THRILLING SCENE.
At this moment the floor, undermined
by flame, gave way with an awful crash,
and the living, struggling, bowling,
wrthing mass was launched into gull
of red and yellow fire, sending up a
whirlwind of smoke, sparks and Gin
dcrs to the very heavens.
The last object I saw was the polar
bear, upon white-hot square of sheet
iron, with all his hair burned from his
hide, and standing stark aud stiff, and
rapidly baking brown.
Before the whale went down with
the rest, stream Of spermaceti ran
from his carcass down the sides of the
building, taking fire and making i'm.
promptu candles on colossal scale.
ESCAPE OF BIRDS.
A number of birds which woro cage.
cd in the upper part of the building
were set free by some charitably i'll.
clincd person at the first alarm of fire,
At intervals they flew out. There
were many valuable tropical birds
parrots of all sizes and manifold colors,
parroqucts, cockatoos, mocking birds,
ETC., as well as some vulturcs and
eagles, and one condor. Great excite.
ment existed among the swayine
crowds in the streets below as they
took wing. They were confined in the
same room with few serpcnts, which
also obtained their liberty; and soon
after the rising and deyouring flames
began to enwrap the entire building, 8
splendid and emblematic sight was
presented to the wondering and up
gazing throngs. Bursting through the
central easement, with flap of wing and
lashing coils, appeared an eagle and
serpent wreathed in fight. For mo-
ment they hung poised in mid-air, pre-
senting novel and terrible conflict
1t was the Earth and Air (or their re
spcctivc representatives. ut war fol
mastery. The base and the lofty, the
grovoler and the soarcr, were engaged
in deadly battle. At length the fla
head of the serpant sank, his writhing
sinuous form grew still, and waited up
ward by the cheers of the gazing mul
titude, the eagle, with n scream o
triumph, and bearing his prey in hi
iron talons, scared toward the sun.
THE WAX FIGURES.
Upon tho same impulse which
prompts men, in time of fire, to fling
valuable looking-glasses out of three
story windows and at the same tim'
tcnderly lower down feather beds, sool
after the Museum took fire, numbe
of sturdy firemen rushed into the build
ing TO carry out the wax figures
There were thousands Of valuable ar
tioles which might have been saved,
there had been less Of solcitude dis
played for tho miserable cfiigies whicl
are usually exhibited under the appel
lation of "Wax Figgers."
AS it was, a dozen firemen rushe,
into the department where they wer
kept, amid a multitude Of crawlin,
snakes, chattering monkeys and esoap
paroquets. The ''Dying Brigaad" wa
unoeremoniously throttled and dragge,
toward the door; liberties were takel
with the fearful "Senorita," who ha
so long knelt and so constantly wagge'
her dolls head at his side; the mule
of the other bandits were upset an
they themselves roughly seized.
The full-length statute of =. T. Bal
mum, the Prince of humbugs, fell dow
of its own accord, as if disgusted wit