The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-11
LETTEK FROM NEW YORK.
Special Correspondence of the ors.esn.l


NEW YORK. March 8. 1863.
The saying, that" it is long lane which has no
turn" proves quite true in the experience of very
many, Of which Barnum, the Snowman, has oflste
had good proof. His old museum, and then his
residence. and now the new building Of the Bar
mum & Van Amburgh Museum and Menagerie
Company have all fallen prey to the fiery ele-
ment within the past three years. About o'clock
this morning smoke was discovered issuing from
the upper floor of the building No. $50 Broadway,
which, in connection with No. SAL constituted the
museum, and in less than an hour the two build
iDgs, from Broadway through to Mercer street,
were enveloped in flames. Owing to an alarm of
fire in the neigbborhood. just before this was
discovered, the engines were delayed IN getting to
work; consequently the flames got good Roadway,
and produced such a brilliant light that it could
be seen for miles around.
At the Mercer street entrance untiring exer-
tons were made to rescue the animals, but with
very little success as all were consumed with the
exception of lew of the less important ones, and
as TO the curioses, there were not enough Of them
saved TO open small store with. The hideous
bowls Of all descriptions which fell upon ones
ear were painful in the extreme.
Among the feats OF daring was that OF brave
4" blue-coatD who climbed ladder until within
the reach Of tiger, and levelling his revolver,
put seNera ieaOen pills INTO the ne1Q OF the OeaSt,
which had the effect Of taking the breath from
his body, and then the "pealer came down, no
doubt filed with visions Of the bravery which
would be ascribed to him when he related the
fable Of his encounter with tiger.
The human curiosities, as well as their keepers
and other employees of the establishment, who
slept in the upper story, were awakened just in
time 10 save themselves. The fat woman was
helped down stairs without any accident. but in
crossing Broadway to a place of safety, she
m md for Wal MT of hal
last in the right place, she keeled and stretched
out in the street, her length and breadth, but she
Topped over and came fright side up with care"
much to her comfort undoubtedly. The colec-
ton Of animals In the menagerie, and curiosities
In the museum was quite equal TO that of the old
museum, and respecting the former, they were
considered the finest and most complete ever seen
In this country.
The Prescott House was slightly damaged by
water, but the CONSERVATION among the guests
was certainly as great as if the house had been
actually burning.
Although the third day Of spring Is here, last
night was one Of the coolest we have had during
the whole winter, and now the city looks more
like December than March.
The severest storm Of the season set Ia on Sun.
day evening and continued with unsbated fury
until yesterday forenoon. Snow fell 10 the depth
of about six inches on level, bat the gale Of
wind which blew drifted il into banks in some
places i've feet high, while in others the streets
bare.
The railroads have not been entirely stopped
before now, but some Of the routes have not run
car for two days, and the stages run packed like
sardines and drawn by four horses.
This storm tends TO increase the hardships of
the poor and there Is no sign yet Of any abste-
ment 10 the severity Of the weather, to improve
their condition.
The work of feeding the poor. recommended by
the captains Of police, has increased from go on
the first morning TO COCO on last Saturday.
The suffering here is growing worse instead Of
better, and what it will lead TO is hard to predict
EYES AND EARS.