New-York tribune., 1868-03-03
BARNUM's MUSEUM BURNED.
THE BUILDING AND MENAGERIE TOTALLY
DESTROYED. ,.e,.. t
SCENES AND INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE-LOss
ABOUT 100000.


DESTROYED. ,ra,.
SCENES AND IECIDENTs OF THE FIRE-Loss |
ABOUT 100000.
At f2} o'clock this morning FIRE was dis |
covered ON the third floor Of Barnume Museum The fire
was st discovered In the southeast corner OF the build
Ing in the apartment occupied by Van AmDurghs
Menagere. The flames had attained such headway
before they were seen that with the limited means at
hand IL was found impossible to extin-
Vn,sh them, and attention was al once
turped 10 the Of rescung those in the budng and
getting out whatever property could be readily moved
The alarm In the meantime had been given, and sections
Of police from the Eighth and Fourteenth Precncts,
under the command Of Capts Mills and Garland, were
soon on the spot. The Fat Woman and Fat Boy, the
ciautess and other monstrostes, tegether
with the ianitor's family, were reused from their
s,mbers and safely conducted from the burning build
ing 80 rapidly did the flames spread that II was found
impossible any Of the larger animals OF ,e nne
collection known az Van Amburgh's Menagerie. The
yes of the animals, the flames reached them were
appalling and they bounded from side to sde OF uar'oo
mady against tho bars in their vain efforts TO iree thrn
selves.
few of the animals on the Broadway side. among
them a kangaroo, a small leopard, few monkeys,
together with the peicans, and variety OF other small
birds got The electrical machine, the property
Of the exhibitor, also saved.
On the Meroerst side the police and others were more
successful The giraffe, two camels, pair of Japanese
hoes Burmese COW, Hama and variety of small ami
mails were got ont Many Of them had narrow escapes
however and a few wera slightly singed. Owing 10 the
that the fire apparatus was absent at fire AZ Spring
and Narck sts u was over Ten minutes ehseu iron lns
time the alarm was sOuned before steamer arrived
upon the ground, and by that time the 1re lad
main portion Of the building and when sufficient force
had arrived the fire had attained sneb headway thae IL
was utterly impossible 10 save the building Tue names
raging with force and fury that rendered tne hOleh
streams directed into the building apparently use
In urutiv ive1V q
TIE interior was burned out, and the ad
loning buildings seriously damaged The side OF the
Prescott House Frederick Diez, proprietor, fire
at time, but saved by extraordinary exertlons
The guests aroused from their slnmbers huredy rushed
down stairs many OF them In their night gear. and carry
ing Of their property Trunks were pitched head
ing houses piled up in the hall, ready for re-
moya The thieves who abound IN the Vlclniy COZ
ected In large numbers ana IN the confusion managed
10 appropriate considerable amount OF property Sew
cra Of the spectators also relieved of their watches
and wallets The loss on the Museum ana cohtehts IN
Guiding Van Amburg's Monagerie VIII amount TO about
corpanes could not be ascertaned. Mr.. Barnum and
hs agents being absent owing 70 the ateness OF the hour
was occupied by Charles Gray restaurant known as
the Original oyster Saloon. His loss on stock
was occupied by sgler 4 Clinton sample room Loss
stock Of liquors and fixtures, 5000 insured NO o5l.
p Frankenhemer on the third no3r by c. He5g dealer
Usher and on the first floor BY B. Kahn opcian. All
these parties lose heavily on stock by fire ana water
SEWN i' 9aehHe Company on the second,hoor by VIM
Hall music publisher and the upper floor by various
parties All will suffer heavy loss on stock Dy nre ana
The upholstery store OF samul Ireland on Mercerst
h. the rear, was burned out several oher parties lose
When the fire had been in progress for more than
hour and the entire interior OF the building from Gel
lar to roof one mass Of surging flame
in which 1t seemed impossible tnat any nfe
could exist for "a single instant, sudden
cry OF wonder and horror rose from group of fremen
who were standing near the 'front.' OF the building Grew
poor beast cbarred and wasted that II was impossible
family STRUGGLING TO force its way out from the
horrible pit OF death. There was moment OF silence
desperate effort, cleared the blazing pile OF com
bustihIes that hemmed 1t IN, and half sprang,
stood staring wildly around, uncertain which way to
turn. Then with the first step TO carry itself further
nature gave way, and it fen stranged and strug
Cling to the Sidewalk n was 80 Obvious SsoGS d@d mercy
prompt policeman drew his revolver but burnt,
Of ie was wonderful, ard more than dozen shots
were discharged into its body before it finally ceased
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
At $50 the roofs and floors of the building
had fallen in aud the front and walls toerng
in the wind and fame. fiery tempest Of sparks dashed
down the left side OF Broadway and spread itself overthe
roofs OF the buildings in the direction Of the Bowery The
spray the engines frozen and ratified the hats
Of tho spectators like hastOrm Broadway. from Spring
to Princes bed Of deep slush, and it with the
utmost difficulty that the remen could perform their
duty. In Mercer-st. the corDices Of the houses
were repeatedly flashing in flame, and as repeat
edly quenched with streams OF water The rear
OF the Prescott House was on fire, and the
Aremen were manfully fighting the eucroachng
fame with desperation betokoning though the
probability that the building would Dc considerably
damaged The boarders OF the Prescott House rushed
down Springs I'm scores with big trunks their shoul
ders topping the spectators in tho sush, and creating
considerable alarm among the fa females Of Mercer and
in he wi
whole menagere had broken loose aud madly
Inunching everything human within its reach. In the
eatinghouse opposite Miss Anna Swan the giant
ess Zulema Agra the beautiful Circassan GIRL and the
fat woman.
sTATIMENT OF The BEAUTIFUL CRCAssIAS
sleep on the third floor Of the building; last night
went 20 bed about II o'clock went into dOze, but was
rather restless aud dreamy about midnight awoke and
had confused idea OF something startling going my
room fronts Broadway noise in the street attracted
my attention: sprang the window and opened it;
clear volume OF flame was pouring into the street
ing on n wrapper. / called ont TO Miss Swan |
who greatly aGitated The beasts in the menagerie
the staircase and while celebrating as TO the
feasibility Of this means Of escape, gentleman rushed
% the street This was all done within |
the space Of minute NJ ana ,,d e-o nall a.
sprngng up the OF the thTd Ter hsSe
lost al my wardrobe valuable le"ey' ana other articles
srATEMENT or MISS ANNA SWAN, THE eIAsTEss
o'clock. The gray wolf would howl spasmodicany and
the hons would growl ont halfanry, feeble reply Al
though this was unusual hardly worthy OF notice
did not close my eyes, however, and soon after /
midnight heard quick shout in tho street half |
drowned in sullen roar from the honess heard |
Zulema spring from the bed and raiso the window A |
fash Of light partly inumined the room and heard zu
S up ON ono Jump jump, elaspsd zuisima IN his arms
lowed have saved nothing but this old wrapper which