North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-07-19
GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK,
Barnum's Museum and Eleven Other
Buildings Burned.
Loss ONE MILLION DOLLARS.


occurred iu the American Museum, extendi ng
rapidly to the adjacent buildings OH Broad
way, Ann street and Fulton street, The
aggregate loss 10 probably one million of dol.
lars, on which there 10 insurance to the
amount of about halfa million dullars.
At the moment of potting this edition to
press the fire 10 still unsubdued, but strong
force Of firemen is at work, and there 10 Q
prospect Of fchecking the progress Of the flames
without further serious damage.
At thirty five minutes past twelve q fire
caught beneath Groot's restaurant 10 Ann
street, at the corner of the Museum building
In about two minutes. the flames burst out
in ones shoe store, Nos. 10 and II Ann ST.
with every indication of an ex xleusive confa
grafton.
The fire companies were immediately on the
ground and promptlp set to work, with sppa
rent success but the smoke was binding,
and for some minutes the whole Museum
building was completely out of sight
At 124 'clock the flames burst out in the
second story of the Museum, just over the
restaurant. and spread with amazing rapidlty,
fed by the light and combustible material.
In q 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 neighboritg
buildings on Aun street. were attacked.
The firemen rallied in great force, but the
flames were famed bp strong breeze which
swept them over the roofs of the adjoining
buildings on Broadway, and in a few min
utes the fire had gained a hold in the three
upper stories Of No. 2l4 Broadway.
The building was occupied by Rogers &
Ray mond, clothiers, and by the billlsrn sa-
loon of Wallace & Reeves. 1t was entirely
destroyed, except the walls, which were still
standing at two clock.
The scene at this moment was fearfnliy
geand. Vast volumes of smoke povred out of
the windows on the Broadway and Ann st.
fronts of the Museum huge tongues of fame
rose from the middle of the building, and
smaller darts of fire caught the trausparencies
and signs three floors of the building No
2l4 Broadway were mass of light fame !;
fireman and property owners were sprlnging
up aud down ladders to remove such porta-
bic articles as could be passed out tre-
mendous crowd filled the Park, the west side
CT cfBroadway, Vesey street, Barclay street,
and every other place which Commanded
view of the scene; while twenty steam and
hand fire engines poured incessant steams OF
water upon tae fl aiming mass. As the flames
gained strength aud volume, the heat became
intense, forcing back the crowd, but subject,
ing the firemen 10 severe su fferiug.
So far as Can now be ascertaiDed, none OF
the visitors in the Museum, nor persons EN-
ployed by Mr.. Barnun were Injured The
alarm caused by the discovery of the fire in
she restaurant on Ann street, was The signal
for general flight, and it is believed thar
ever ybody escaped ssfeIy before the Museum
caught.
1t was very fortunate that the fire occur.
red at mid day. Had it taken placs IN the
evening, when the Museum is crowded with
visitors, and the theatre crammed with spec
tators, the limited means of eeress would
have proved lamentably insufficient.
The sudden leap of the flames from floor to
floor made it impossible to remove many of
the curiUssities contained in the Museum, an
the living animals ON exhibition were speedi-
ly destroyed. The "happy family" Of cats,
rats, pigeons, monkeys and parrots. Gagged in
the centre of the fifth floor, soon became very
unhappy, and departed /. this life. 1t wus
impossible to save any of the poor creatures,
The whales, also, came to an untimely end.
At fifteen minutes before two o'clock the
front of the Museum fell in three different
sections, one after the other The first to
fall was the part parallel with Broadway,
which went over in one masss, falling fiat on
the pa yement of the street, and then-and
NV hhA MISUNDERSTANDING Wy INV iouuAOi oOtC
fragments.
Another section was left 10 the shape of an
elongated triangle, and not unlike the steeple
of church. In few nom snts this sunk
slowly down. tho point still remaining up
right and in position until the whole section
disappeared. 1t did not appeas to fall, but
flry int, ha
exactly analogous to to the fall or sinking of
the spire of the Chichester Cathedral in
England few years ago.
The section of the front wall facing on
Park Row, aud at slight deviation from
the parallel of Broadway, still remained, and
all eyes were turned in its direction. 1t
was very large, high portion, reaching to
the uppermost story. About five minutes
j.Son .b;a ~rook Ea,oJo ooroonod