Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-11-26
A MENAGERIE ON FIRE.

Forepaugh's menagerio caught fire
in Philadelphia on Saturday night,
and, from the following account, there
was lively time among the animals
The buildings of Mr.. Forepaugh
were completely wrecked He esti.
mates his loss at between 100000 and
G,000. He had no insurance what
ever upon his properties. Two or
three cages of small animals were de-
stroyed; one Of them contained sew
eral specimens of monkeys, the others
were filled with foxes, raccoons and
wolves. Besides, no less than fifteen
Of his fancy wagons were destroyed,
in addition TO harness and other para
phernalia incident 10 a menagerie.
Although, as mentioned, some of the
animals were burned, fortunately the
great majority Of them were rescued.
AS soon as the flames were first dis
covered the animals were thought of,
and citizens rushed in and rolled the
cages out into the street. 1t was i'm
possible to save the wagons
The fire burned stubbornly for some
two hours before the frcmen could
get it under control.
OF course the fire soon gathered
large crowd TO the spot, and the high.
est excitement reigned-an excite
ment, too, very materially augmented
by the escape of several of the ami
mails from the cages during the hurried
confusion OF rescuing them from the
rapidly approaching flames. Before
the fire reached the building in which
were most of the cages, the fremen
and citizens had succeeded in getting
them out and running them along the
sidewalk and the street. While this
work was in progress, tigress was
seen making her way out of the build
ing. She had escaped from the cage
in which she was confined, and, brist-
ling with fright, rushed toward the
street-rapidly, to be sure-but yet
with much uncertainty.
As soon as she was observed a shout
arose-"A tiger tigerp p and men,
women and children, dismayed at the
thought Of encountering the formida.
bic beast, ran pell-mell in every direc-
tion, in search of places of safety.
The women shrieked, the children
cried and the men yelled. The very
noise lent speed to flying legs, and
some of the more aged, hurrying in
fight, made far better time than they
had done for years The firemen,
however, stood their ground, watch.
ing a chance TO capture the escaped
animal Following after the tiger
came n leopard, then a wolf Things
were getting. warm, and one might
easily have imagined himself-as the
noise Of the cracking timbers sounded
in his ears, the lurid light of the flames
burst upon his eyes, and the unshaclxled
beasts passing near him-upon W est.
ern prairie while it blazod in fire.
The people who had been gazing
from doors and windows upon the
scene of confagration hastily retreat.
ed, and shutters were closed in a trice.
Clouds of pettieoats lodged around
the corners, and many were trampled
under foot in the demoralized skedad.
die. The fortunate presence of Mr..
I Forepaugh and some of his assistants
at the breaking out of the fire, togeth.
er with the manly conduct of the fire.
men, prevented, however, any serious
consequences resulting from the escape
of the beasts.
In one instance, where bar was
loose from one Of the cages, and tiger
was endeavoring 20 make his exit, two
men stood by the opening with club:
and beat back the animal until one oi
Mr.. Forepaugb's employees reached
the scene and replaced the iron bar
} A lion succeeded in getting free, but
as the huge brute was about to pas:
down the street some Of the firemer
seized large packing box, and throw
J ing it over the dangerous customer
held him prisoner until after the fire
was extinguished.
The animals themselves were evi
IDENTIFY frightened, and only sought
after their escape, places where they
could hide.
Some of the employees of Mr. Fore
paugh started in pursuit of the fugi
, tive animals. The tigress was founC
in the cellar of building about two
! squares distant from the fire, wher,
+ she had taken refuge she was easily
; captured. The leopard ran up Jeiler
son street to Twenty-first, when, per
t ceiving the open door of a dwelling
! in he ran, passing, on his way to tn,
parlor, one or two ladies. They q
! first supposed the brute large dog
5 but after they discovered its true char
D actcr precipitately left the place. Nh
Forepaugh' assistants some time after
0 wards were informed OF his wherea
I bouts and captured him.