The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-07-25
Selett Mistellang.
Particulars of the burning Of
&arnunl'S Museum.

RarnWnl'S Museum.
Barnnm's Museum, which with nine other
buildings was burned to tho ground on
Thursday night, the 18th inst, although
the sceno of many a humbuggcry, still de-
serves an honorable place among the rare
and curious collections of the world. The
geological cabinet hcre collected was por-
haps the most valuable in tho country. The
Genealogical and oruitlIological depart
ments were also more meritorlous than has
generally been supposed, Will there were
many rare and curious antiquities, including
u rich collection of Revolutionary relics.
In one part of the building was an immense
tank, full twenty-five feet In diameter,
whose spacious area could be filled with
Croton from the regular pipes, or with dirty
salt water from the North River, through
ducts, laid at great expense by Mr.. Barnum
for the purpose. In this tank were Two
whales, imported ut y cost of $1,000, from
the coast of Labrador" whose sportive
plunges and animated contests of affection
afforded constant amusement to hundreds
of spectators. The aquaria is said to have
been the best in the world. ltoOnsisted OF
over forty large cases of marble, iron and
glass, filed with fish from every ocean,
river and lake known to man. There were
also an electric eel sig feet long, and an al
ligator. On the third floor was tho famous
lecture room, one of the greatest cards over
played by the shrewd and subtle Barnum
Moral people all over the country exist
who wont go to the theater, hut who ever
met one who would not visit Barnum's lee
ture-room A large and WGll.apponted
theater was this place--notliing more and
nothing less. On this floor also we're three
Egyptian mumnies, and q collection OF
stuffed animals In the fourth story were
the living snakes. including huge boa
constructor, OF all these things nOihing
was saved, nh
Some curiouc incidents are related of the
attempt to save property. One man had
jeff Davis elligy in his arms, and fought
vigorously to preserve the worthless
thing, as though it were gem OF rare
value. On reaching the balcony, the man.
parceiving that either the inanimate jeff. or
himself must go by the board, hurled the
scarecrow to the iconoclasts in the street.
AS JEFF. made his perilous descent, his pet
ticoats again played him false and as the
wind blow them about, the impostme of the
figure was exposed. The flight of dummy
jeff. was the cause of great merriment
among the multitude, Wlio saiutcd the
gueerlooking thing with cheers and un-
comfortable laughter. The figure was in
stantly seized and bundled off to Il lamp
post in Fulton street, near ST. Paul's church
yard, and there formally hanged, the actors
in this mock tragedy shouting tho thread
bare refrain, commencing the ''sour-applc
tree"
The whales were, of course, burned alive.
At an carly stage of the coihlagration the
large pancs of glass iii the great "whaIc
tank" were broken to allow the heavy
mass OF water to flow upon the floor of the
main saloon. and the eviatlan natives of
Labrador when last seen, were foundcring
in mortal agony.
The large cage, in which were confined
the auacondas, pythons, and Other gigantic
specimens Of the ophidian tribe, was cap
| sized, and the tenants thereof were allowed
to wander whittier their fancy led. Natu.
rally enough, they took advantage OF their
new found liberty, and were soon travelling
| down stairs, to the infinite astonishment
aud alarm of the multitude.
| Some one about this time shouted The
snakes are loose" and simultaneously ter
rife noise was heard, which afterwards
proved to be only the wlIistling of one pi
the steam fire engines, but pag;e cnsued
among The lookers-ol,, which was not at all
allayed by another person crying ont 1.-The
Elephant is coming" The crowd sursed
| across the street and were dashed through
the store windows on the opposite side,
and some persons vera eyeR forced oven
the eight foot iron fence Of st. Paul .
| Church.
At2 O'clock the Museum was mass OF
FIVE, and the flames had burst into the ad
joining buildings in Fulton street, Broad
way aud Ann street, while the roofs and
walls OF the buildings in the neiglahorho0d
and the eastern front of ST. PauPs, were
menaced, and il see ned as though the en-
tire block tpFoagk 10 Nassau street mus
bo consumed
From the Museum the flames FIRST erep
through the adjoining houses and into the
luppe. ssOry Of KnoS's Ia! store, No. p: