The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-03-12
The Burning Of the Beasts.

45 The Burning or the Beasts.
Quite circumstantial account of the
fire which destroyed Barnum Museum,
IN New York, ,on the morning of the Sd inst
was forwarded by telegraph. We take
from the New York papers the following
particulars concerning the history Of the
Ill -fatcd museum:
Mr. Barnum S Museum which occupi-
ed the site of the new HermM building, was
burned down july l3, 1865, and his loss
was estimated at $500, 900 Two days
afterwards the energetic BarnuM publish
ed his programe for new museum, and
In very short time afterwards he open
ed in the building whi2!. was burnt this
morning. He soon gathered collection
Of curlosltles IN many respects superior
to the first A new and commodions
theatre was erected in the rear lot. 4
short time afterwards he purchased the
constantly adding rare and strange arti-
cles. Nearly the whole of these are lost.
A week ago a new stage was built III the
theatre expressly to bring out a gorgeous
spectacle which has been some time in
preparation, but the elimination this NOR
ming was subliner yet sadder spectacle
than was looked for, with red and yellow
fire enough to fit out a whole herd OF
white fawns 1t is we'll known that Dir.
Barnum owns the lots on the corners of
Broadway and Houstan street, and that
he intended to commence the erection OF
a new Museum very soon. The disaster
to-day will only inspire the indomitable
manager to hasten his intended enter
prise.
Some of the scenes attending the dis
aster we're comical, some sad, some dis
gusting. Thus:
= There was a melancholy and yet a
mirthprovoklng group temporarily har
boredin the restaurant opposite the ruins
of their late habitation The giantess,
we regret to say, met with fall. Three
men were supporting her frail form over
Broadway, but as she stepped upon the
further curbstone she slipped and fell
across the street, forming an obstacle to
traffic only equaled by the piles of dirty
snow which the assiduity Of Whiting col
lected in the same thoroughfare. She
was finally, however. got into the saloon
by the united exertions Of a sympathiz
ing public without further damage, and
in this refuge she was jolne d by the fat
woman, who contracted, for this occasion
only, to the dimensions of the double
door To them shortly enter Zuruby
Hannah, the Circassan gill, whose hair
radiated with more than usual self asser-
ton, and the fat boy, who was emptied
into tub and brought in on the shoul-
derso four men. Two pelicans were short
" afterwards conveyed to the same haven,
a stuffed fawn soon arrived, and the eX
lied curiosities ranged themselves against
the wall and poared their griefs into one
another bosoms to their own solace let
us hode, and any how to the extravagant
delight ofa number of small boys who
fiattened their noses against the front
windows and exulted jubilantly in the
possession of "a beat on Barnum." But
the griefs of the curiosities shall be more
sacred to us than to them. Altogether,
curiosities, keepers, attendants, and
watchmen, there were from thirty to
forty people who lodged in the Museum,
and are made homeless by its destruc-
ton. a1 e a.7hf.f
The scene in Mercer street was scarcely
less wonderful than that in the Broadway.
TfOIii UIc StiCCt Cdti duOO W ohS
Prescott House there formed distracted
crowd of women. and as timid men.
Dress, unless that of the White Fawn
mode was scarce, aud scarcely protected
the wearers from the cutting blast of the
winter $ SNOW. Around the corner there
gathered motley group. Amongst these
there minled groups that sadden the OBJ
serer. The dens that surround the neigh
sent forth their representatives. dissolute
men Abandoned women. The ribald
joke was here the loudest Barnum and
the insurance companies, the Feejee
Mermaid, the woolly horse, afforded sub
iects for the least objectionable sneer.
The scene was such as to inspire awe,
yet there amongst those who had aband-
oned all shame, and to whom tear was no
longer motives the. force of habit was
lsuperior to the inspiration of the time.