Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-04
THE BURNING OF BARNUMS VT,
SElM.
Heavy Lo,se.-inseressins Psrucslars

Our t.legraphic dispatches yesterday rave
a brief account of the destruction OF Blruum's
Museum and Menseerie, in New York. by IRE.
.arly yesterday morning. The ECchiEg Mall OF
thst cltv has a graphic account OF the calamity
from hi h we make the following extracts
A. q nty minutes past midnight, IN the midst
ot a howlng hlast Of wind and drifting snow.
the slarm OF fire was raised last night and
smoke and flames Were seen issuing from the
third floor OF Barnum's Museum. The police,
with the aid OF what few citizens were AZ hand.
rushed up the Broad way steps OF the building.
ana forcing open the doors, aroused the inmates
ron th- terrible destruction which awaited
lhf1n Most OF these people, such as the faf boy,
Ie NoNa Scotia giantess, the Alhino girls, abe
living skeleton, etc, Were sl-eping upon the
third floor. Tue beautiful Circassian girl
Znielma- her hair standing ON end a. usual
went 70 oed about III O'clock but had fitful
dreams until a little after mf4nirht when she
awoke. and hearing the Disturbance upon
Broadway, rushed to the window aud threw
mp the sash. Fancy her feelings as she sa.
pouring out into the street beneath her from M.
secopd-story window, a volume OF red and
Kissing asmes. She threw a wrapper and
commenced 10 shake the gisntess, Miss swan
OF Nova Scotia, who was in a deep aud pro
found slumber The policemen and citizens
who had rushed into the building, burst omen
the doors of Zuleima's apartment. and one OF
them catching her in HE arms took her 20 the
street I'm safety. although the staircase down
which be passed was on fire. She was depos-
itsd in Tsylor's saloon, where other curiosities
soon made their appearance. IL took four men
10 carry out the fat boy, and the giantess was
Obliged 20 lean upon three for support.
The flames spread with fearful rapldity, and
The tigers and lions grew furious, mzddened
with the naInessand smoke, and they dashed
against the sides of their cages, bounding from
end 10 emo in their vain efforts TO free then-
selves. Efforts were made in both front and
rear 10 save such of the animals could with
safety be handled. A kangaroo. two peIicans
one giraffe leopard, zebra, two camels,
some gazeiles, a number OF fancy birds in
cages, japanese hog, a silver pheasant. and
lew other animals were saved, and turned into
the cellar of Taylor's Saloon. where they sluns
away TO corners and darkness, thoroughly
frightened as the giantess and fat woman on the
floor above them. The giraffe moved wItl
great dime ulty, and received q number OF Sc
we're cuts en- his hindq uariers.
After the flames had been raging for more
than an hour half-burned tiger leaped from
one OF the Broadway windows into the street
The trtmen sent mp a shout Of horror. the
crowd fell back. a stream of water was turned
upon the poor. blinded, half-dead animal, when
a heroic policeman stepped up and ended his
miserable life ey discharging a weil-loaded
pistol
Among the animals burned Were two fine
Bengal tigers, the learned seal and several
other seals; the happy family, with its collec-
tion Of monkeys, mice, owls, rabbits, cats. etc:
the large lion with four beautiful cubs. ins
and extensive collection Of birds, the famous
bumbug monkey gorilla a Polar bear, the In q.
the American bears, ETC.. etc. All Of the exsen-
slve Gordon Cummings collection of SKINS,
tusks, skulls, etc. was destroyed. as well as
the other varied and valuable contents OF the
museum The loss by this fire is estimated AT
over half a million of dollars.
AT the time OF the fire there was insurance
upon the animals. The collection Of animals
belonged 10 Van Amburg 4 Co, Mr.. Barnum
being one-thlrd owner They were valued at
something over Si0.00. Mr.. Barnum rs said
10 have been out of town when the fre took
place. When he received the dispatch an
nouncmg the calamity he took IL very coolly,
and doubling ~ up and putting il into his
pocket, simply announced his determ nation %
proceed with building of his new museum. II
IL well known that he owns the lots on the cor
ner OF Broadway and Houston streets. where
he Will erect beautiful hre- proof structure.
The origin Of the fire is still a mystery. liz
appears TO have broken out in the menagerie.
Mr.. Barnum's loss is estimated a: about SSSo0,oyo
How much of this is covered by insurance has
not been ascertained. The buildings burned
were valued at about S40.eO0. A number Of
people who had shops in, under and around
the Museum lost heavily, some being entirely
burned out, while others We're damaged by
water.