New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-14
LOSS ON TIE MUSEUM AND CONTENTS.

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cost over sl,OO0OO0.
COMBAT OF THE BEASTS.
Soon after the breaking out Of the confsgrstiop'
number of strange and terrible howls and means pro
ceedng from the large apartment in the third story OF
the Museum, corner OF Annst. and Broadwsy s'arueo
the thu ongs who had collected in front Of the burning
building, and who were at first under the impression
that the sounds must proceed from human beings IN
able TO effect their escape. IDar anxiety "" sono
what relieved on this score but their CONSERVATION
was by no means decreased upon learning that the
room in question was the principal chamber Of the
enuscrie connected with the Museum. and that there
was imminent danger Of the release Of the animals there
confined by the action " the fanies.
OUR REpoRTERs VISION OF LIE AND DEATH.
Our reporter fortunately occupies room on the
north side Of Annst corner Of Broadway the windows
OF which look Immediately into this compartment; and
no sooner was be spprsed OF the fire than he repaired
there, confident of finding Items" in abundance.
Luckily the windows Of the Museum were Enclosed,
aud he had perfect view Of almost the entire interior
Of the apartment The following 10 Ills statement Of
what followed. in bis own language:
CONFUSION AND STRUGGLE IN TIE MEsAGkRIk.
Protecting myself from the intense beat as well az
could by taking the mattress from the bed and erecting
IL as a bnlwark before the window with only enough
space reserved on the top rs lookout, anxiously
observed the animse In the opposite room. Immedi'
ately opposite the window through which gazed was
"A large cage containing lion and hones'. To the
right hand was the three stored cage. containing
monkeys nj the top two kangroos In The second story
and "happy family OF rats eats, adders rabbits.
etc. In the lower compartment.
10 the eft Of the onss cage was the tank containing
- sl.1e
partially hidden nom my sight. was the grand tank
containing the great white Whale, which has created
such frore in our sightseeing midst for the past few
weeks iron TIE floor Gagged the boa.constrictors
apacondas and rattleshakes, whose heads would now
ard then rise menacngly through the top ~ the cage
In the extreme right the cage entirely shut from
my view at frsf, containing the Bengal tiger and the
Polar bear. whose terrified srows could be distinctly
heard from behind the petition.
PROGRESS OF IrE rLAMrs.
Tie confsgration was rs yet. confined 10 the upper
part Of the building The lower walls, however, we're
becoming rapidly heated. and all Of the animals began
10 manfest much unosanoss. The white silver FOX
ran up and down bis cage, whining pieously and en-
deavorng to escape. TIC Hons also paced burriedly
up and down moaning most dinally. and all the other
beasts manifested similar uneasiness. The serpcnts
wriihel about Ia strange contortions.
when the ere had eaten lis swift way down to the
third noor and the urd glare bor-i through tie tran
SONS Of the doors the psc among the beasts become
positively fearful They sprang sgans, thcr iron bars
aud stroye b. rend them with their teeth at the same
time sending forth savage and frightened cries which
were almost human In their agony. AT length, when
the dame. burst through the top Of The door and com
III ~ III. hat m
ils hight, Yelb. roar. howis and screams went up
from the doomed bra,e-, which were hesrdto the dis.
tinec Of bali mile.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE LIONS.
With simutaneous bound, the lion and bis mate
sprAng against their bars which gave way and came
down with grca, crah releasing the beasts which for
a moment apparently amari At their snddcn liberty.
stood in the middle u the floor sshin their sides with
their iails and roaring dolcfulIy
FnRy DELIyElASCI or aSINsLS
Almost a, the same moment ne 'frs' r.r i lie
ihree-.lcried cage. consumed D. .. sac~ =: for.
ward letting tic rods tiol ,'h hoo ~ ans )ihe,
animals were thus sci ne
just at this time tie fo4 io ,,ionEl ind ne sares
md smoke rolled IL Ia. Unwind IRON the H,dean
river Cocytns
IBE LioS ,SD NON ~ CLOSE CONTEST.
Ah,.rihe howl N tho right hand corner Of the room.
,,ll u indeseribnble agony and n crashing grating
sornc indicated that the tiger and poar bear were
stir ed up the highest pitch Of excitement Then
there came great crash Of tle giving way Of tie
bars Of their cage. The flames and smoke moncniary
rolled bnck and for few seconds tho Interior Of the
room was Visible in tic Iurid light Of the flames, which
revealed tie tiger mid the lion locked together In cose
combat.
PARTICIPATION or TIE sRRPESTs
Tie base II the rods Of the sepcuts cage hsd also
c,umbled, and the largest bo9constricioI-,bou ~
feet ong and as thick as a mans bodywas also en-
gsged in deadl, struggle with the loness.
rBE roLAR BEAR IN A WARN rLAcE.
The polar bear hud -hrunk to the coolest corner with
half his fur bunt from his snowy coat and there sat
w0nderingly gazing upon the scene before him. Ac-
oustomed ~ he Lad been ~ deal with only the wal
rus and tho seal In the cold blue waters of the Arctic
regions he was evidently considerably alarmed at the
excessively tcrrid scene which blazing through
the ROOM Under the circumstances he found 1t mpos
side 10 take IL cooly.
TIIE SNAKES AND MONKEYS IN TROUBLE.
The monkeys were perchcd around tho windows.
sliyoTng with dread and sfraid to Jump ont. The
snakes wriihing about. crippled and bistored by
tho heat darling ont iher frked tongues and express
Ing teir rage and enr in tie most siblan, of Kisses.
THE HArrY FAMILY BAPrIzED WITH FIRE.
The Happy famir " were experiencing an amonnt
of bca,tude which was evidently too cordial for phi
lo'ophical enjoyment. A long tongue of fame had
crep under tho cuge completely singeing every hair
nom ihe cats body. The fclciious adder was slowly
burning Ia two. aud busily engaged in impegnating
his agonized system with his own venom The Joy full
mt naI Loaf M. tail .xy. r. no. A.