Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-07-22
SHEPHERDST0WN JEFFERSON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. SATUl

tble conflict. Al length the fiat head of
the serpent sank, his form grew sui ,and,
, waited upward bv the cheers of the ga
zing multitude. the eagIs, with scream
of lriu umph, and bearing his prey 10 his
IRON talons, scared toward The sun.
When the surviving serpenIs, that were
released by the partial burning OF the box
in which they were confined, crept along
on the floor TO the balcony Of The Mu-
scum, and dropped on the sidewalk the
crowd fed in such precipitate haste that
they knocked each other down and tram
pied on one another in the most reckless
and damaging manner The snakes
crawIed on the sidewalk and into Broad
way, where some OF them died from IN
Iurles received, and. others were dispatch
ed by The excited PoPulace.
The difficulties encountered in rescu'
Ing Miss Anna Swan, the "fat woman,
are thus graphically described by the TFI-
bune
There was not door through which
her bulky frame could obtain a passage
AT length, as last resort, the employees
of the place procured lofty derrick.
which fortunately happened TO be stand
ing near, and erected it alongside the Mu-
scum. A portion of the wall was then
broken off on each side Of The window,
the strong lacle was got in readiness, the
fat woman was made fast 10 one end and
swung over the heads Of the people IN
The street, with ls men grasPing the 9th
er extremity of the line, and lowered
down from the third story, amid enIhusi.
aslc applause.
There were several minor panics d.
ring the fire. The sound Of an explosion
was heard about hslf-past one o'clock, ,and
immediately al least thousand people
scampered out of the way. A great
number os men fell down, and at least
hundred hats were lost Boys were even
going around with half dozen hats on
their heads, and more bapIess men were
halless.
Ii was very fortunate that the fire oc.
Cured at mid day. Had it taken place
in The evening, when the Museum is
crowded with visitors, and the theatre
crammed with spectators, the limited
means Of egress would have proved lam;
enlabIy insufficient
HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM.
Mr.. Barnum began his career as
Snowman in 1885, by exhibiting Joyce
Helh, coIored woman, who was The re-
puled nurse Of Gen. Washington. He ad-
ver,ised widely, and people hocked from
all quarters to see the old woman. Mr..
Bsrnum made money enough out Of
this speculation to organize a travelling
show.
In I84l he bought Scudder's Museum,
paid for il in year, and added 10 II the
contents of PesIe's Museum, forming
what has since been known as Barnum s
American Museum. Here he has since
remained, and has realized from the un-
dertakirp two colossal fortunes, one Of
which he lost in his unlucGy clock spec
ula,ions. Here he has exhibited all the
remarkable curiosilieS Which money and
enterprise could procure. A model OF
Niagra Falls. the Fejee Mermaid, the d.
Drama of the removal Of the remains OF
Napoleon |. from ST. Helena 10 Paris, The
Happy Family, the What is II, The Light
ming Calculator, the bppopotamus,
whales, alligators, prize babies, big dogs,
prize poultry, Tom Thumb and wife, the
/ Reloian Giant: Commodore Mutt, Min.
ME Warren; Calvin Edson, the living
skeleton; Julia Psslrsna. the bear wo-
man; the (so.cslled) Madagascar Alblnoe',
and quite regiment of giants. dwsris.
Eat boys and FAT girls, have al various
times been the attractions of this unique
! place Of amusement.
There was also a large collection Of
minerals, shells and stuffed birds and AMI.
mails, which were OF real value, and can
not be easily replaced. A series of Por-
traits of men eminent in the early annals
of our history have been destroyed.
Though valueless as works OF art, they
were not without historical value. A
number of revolutionary and other relics
are also consumed. Indeed, the sccumu-
Iations OF over twenty years have been
utterly destroyed.
A BLACK EDlToR's OPINIoS..-Tbe