Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-07-20

Destruction of Barnum's Museum-The Burn
ing of Animals and Ouriosities
From the New York Post of Thursday
evening we take the following particulars OF
he recent destructive fire in that city:
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
At thirty-five minutes past twelve o'clock
fire caught beneath Groots restaurant in Ann
street at the corner of the Museum building
In about two minutes the flames burst out in
Jones' shoe store, Nos 10 and II Ann street
with every indication of an extensive confia-
grafton.
The fire companies were Immediately on
the ground and promptly set to work, with
apparent success but the smoke was binding
and for some minutes the whole Museum
building was completely out of sight.
At 123 o'clock the flames burst out in the
second story of the Museum, just over the
restaurant, and spread with amazing rapidity,
fed BY the light and combustible material.
RAPID SPREAD OF THE FIRE.
Tn moment the fire mounted to the third
story, and at forty minutes past twelve burst
out of every window on the Ann street side OF
the Museum. 1t gave way apparently on the
two lower floors. but ragged furiously in the
two upper stories. Part of the roof fell in
five minutes later, And the neighboring build
inps on Ann street were attacked.
The fremcn rallied in great force, but the
flames were famed by strong breeze which
swept them over the roofs of the adjoining
building on Broadway. and in few minutes
the fire had gained hold in the three upper
NJ 4
This building was occupied by Rogers a
Raymond, clothiers, and by the billiard saloor
of Wallace & Reeves, 1t was entirely de
stroyed, except the walls. which were still
standing at 2 o'clock.
TIE SCENE.
The scene at this moment was fearfully
grand. Vast volumes of smoke poured out o
the windows on the Broadway and Ann stree
fronts of the Museum; huge tongues of flame
rose from the middle of the building, ant
smaller darts of fire caught the transparencie
and signs three floors of the building No
pa Broadway were mass of light flame
fircmcn and property Owners were sprlnglnl
up and down ladders to remove such protita
bic articles as could be passed out, tremen
dous crowd filled the Park, the west side 0
Broadway, Messy street, Barclay street ant
every other place which commanded view @
the scene while twenty steam aud hand fire
engines poured inccssant streams OF waite
upon the flaming mass. As the flames game
strength and volume the heat became intens
forcing back the crowd, but subjccting til
fircmen to severe suffering.
NO PERSON INJURED
| So far as can now be ascertained none
the visitors in the museum, nor persons en-
ployed by Mr.. Barnum were injured. Ih
alarm caused by the discovery OF the fire i
the restaurant on Ann street was the signi
for general fight, and it is believed thu
everybody escaped safely before the Museu
caught.
1t was very fortunate that the fire occurrc
at midday. Had it taken place in the evel
ing, when the Museum is crowded with Wis
tors, and the theatre crammcd with spcctato
the limited means of egress would have prove
lamentably insufficient.
THE CURIos ITIEs AND ANIMALS.
The sudden leap of the flames from floor
floor made it impossible to remove many
the curiosities con tained in the Museum, al
the living animals on exhibition were speed
destroyed. The " Happy Family of cal
rats, pigeons, monkeys and parrots, Gagged
the centre of the fifth floor, soon became We
unhappy, and departed this life. 1t was ii
possible to save any of the poor creatures
The whales also came to an untimely end.
At three o'clock the fremen had check
the progress of the fire. The flames we
stopped at No. IS Ann street, and at No. l.
Fulton street. The property between the
buildings and Broadway, and that fronting (
Broadway, between Fulton and Ann street
has been entirely consumed Only the wal
of Knox's building remain standing.
The buildings destroyed were as follows:
On Broadway Nos. 2l2, 214, PIG, q
300 and 222.
On Ann street, Nos. 4, 6, s, 10, ]
IA and 16.
On Fulton street, Nos 147, 149, 10
1853 and 1856.
THE FALL OF TIE FRONT.
At fifteen minutes before two O'Clock Il
front Of the Museum fell in three different SC
tons, one after the other. The first to fl
was the part parallel with Broadway, whi
went over in one mass, falling flat on Il
pavement of the street, and then, and not L
then, breaking up into innumerable fra
ments.
Another section was left in the shape
an elongated triangle, and not unlike Il
steeple of church. In few moments tn
sunk slowly down, the point still remainir
upright and in position until the whole Sc
. ton disappeared. 1t did not appear to f;
but apparently sunk into the earth. This W
exactly analogous to the fall or sinking of Il
spire of Chichester Cathedral, in England,
few years ago.
The section of the front wall facing I
Park Row, and at slight deviation from Il
parallel of Broadway, still remained, and ;
eyes we're turned in its direction. 1t was
very large, high portion, reaching TO the u
permost story. About five minutes later til
great facade careencd gracefully over al
slowly fell, not IN among the burning ruin
but out on Broadway. 1t fell as a trap do
or hinge, aud remained intact until it W
smashed upon the pavement. sending up
frightful spray of bricks and mortar and
vast cloud of smoke. This finished the 0
Museum. .-
THE SCENE PROM ANN STREET.
1t is now definitely ascertalned that the fl
proceeded from the boiler rooms in the mort
eastern corner of the Museum building, il