North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-07-19
THE SCENE FROM INN STREET.

fire proceeded from the boiler-room in the
northeastern corner OF the Museum building,
immediately under Groots restaurant, on
Ann street. A, 1895 P. NJ. the alarm was
given.
The smoke at this moment was issuing
from The shoe store Of Jones 4 Kenwood,
Nos. 10 and IL Ann street. Il appeared
! but trivial, and for a few moments every.
body predicted that is would be subdued
with triaing loss.
The fire companies now came tumbling
along the street and took position around
| the Museum. The fat woman wa 6 seen hur-
ryiug out, and was conducted to a place OF
safety by a policeman. The other persons
in the Museum escaped. 1t was impt ssible
to rescue the animals or save any thing valu-
able The fire in less than five minutes had
mounted to abe second story, leaving the
shoe store and rnstaurant as though they
were too small game for its operations.
Quitting the second story the fame darted
| upward and burst out at every window on
the northern side of the Museum on the
third and fourth stories. The whole upper
part of the edifice was speedily enveloped in
| fire and smoke.
The crowd hat thronged Ann street were
driven half way to Nassau. The buildings
on Park Row gave signs of yielding to the
heat when the sfifemeD began to play on
them, and for long time were successful in
preventing them from taking fire. The
steam from the heated buildings aud the
dense smoke darkened the air.
| The roof of the Museum had now fallen,
and the interior of the building was like the
| crater of Volcano.
A stream Of heated ar issued from the top
and was borne eastward by the breeze d.
rectly over the block, carrying with it light
articles. pieces of burning wood, shirgles,
| &c. One man on Ann street, not Ear FROM
Nassau, was stauck on the head by shingle
and knocked down. Others were in much
danger by The pieces of burning material
falling on their heads and clothing.
This served to clear the street, So that the
firemen were left masters tf the situation.
At half-past one crash rssounding like
the explosion Of a powder magazine. The
whole wall on the Ann street side had fallen.
A cloud of dust and smoke filled the air,
making it dark as twilight, and rendering it
impossible to descry objects at short dstan.
| ces.
The fire next communicated to the roof of
Swllt's book bindery, No. IA, and also No l6,
the publishing house oi Dick and Fitzgerald,
and gutied them completely.
At fifteen minutes before two another
crash was heard. The Broadway front had
fallen; and it was nov clear view over the
burning mass into Broadway.
INCIDENTS.
There were several minor panics during
the fire. The sound Of an explosion was
heard about half past one O'clock, and imme
diaiely at least Thousand pe"pe scampcred
out of the way. A greai number oil men fell
down and at least hundred hats were lost
en- hats IN their heads, and ,nors hapless men
were hatless.
report was started at one time that an
escaped lion from the Museum was rushing
dow Broadway and the result was the sud
den fight of few nervous people, who, i'm
parting their terror to others, brought about
quite stampede.
At ten minutes to three O'Clock the rear
walls on Futon street fell. making loud
noise. The crowd, believing an explosion
had occurred, fed in the utmost terror. No
damage, however, was done.
The only curinsites reported to have been
saved beside the fat woman (who was taken
in charge by policeman,) were the 1--we seal
and case of rare coins.
Mr. Barnum is in Hartford to day. A tel
ecram was sent to him this afternoon, and he
Will probably arrive here to night.