The New York herald., 1868-03-04

seemed
70 nave relaxed into utter stupor most likely however
from suocaton for stlths time the heavy plate glass
windows on the second floor intact hiding the ami
mais entirely from view and preventing all egress or
smoke from this quarter. Meantime the names crept
lazy over the south window II was a quarter OF
by the City Hall clock aud single Jet OF water would
have saved the building.
STRANGE PARTY AT RESTAURANT.
But the little old gentleman who cackled instead OF
laughing had guilty OF little bit OF fnsse which
bafed the Fire Department few minutes before the
1re Was discovered an alarm had been raised al the
Of Spring and Renwick Streets and engines
just their way TO that spot when the bell struck
for BarDum's This little rre caused the loss Of the
Museum building and the curOsities as well II
minutes before they could be headed in the drec
ton Of the Museum, and during these minutes the
sibs to save the building It was one O'Clock, in
fact before single jet was directed upon the
building and the fames had already extended
TO No. 541 occupied in common with the two num-
bers adjoining museum, and were breaking out
from the second floor in the roar on mercsr street AZ
this time il became evident that some oil the aniinais
alive; and effort on the part or several en-
ploy6s OF the Museum, seconded by tho police was
made to rescue them. few minutes after one o'clock
this attempt made resulting, however, In the
rescung only OF leopard Kangaroo two peicans ana
silver pheasant from the front door and from me
stage entrance OF giraffe q zebra two cames three
Japanese hogs cameleopard and several small birds
The giraffe only refractory and in the struggle ad
the Eighth precinct by way of emphatcay expressing
his gratitude 70 that funconary. THIS done the res
cued taken into TaylOr's Saloon and snugy
ensconced in the cellar. In addition these stuffed
horse supposed TO have been that OF Alexander the
Great, few stuffed BIRDS few pictures and snnd small
The fat woman, meanwhile, not reishng the idea Of
being roasted. had male her way out assisted by be-
nevolent policeman In costume III adapted to the sea-
son. The giantess had been saved and the Teutonic
Crcassians were already luxurating in freedom
and simplicity OF attire at Taylor's saloon, which
had before been honored with the pr Of
genuine Circassans These made an interesting knot
of curiosity knck.knacks, TO which soon added
The painters family and lew ballet girls dress
less scany though more classical than that worn upon
the STAGE So far as is ascertaned human being
II.
ono knew ANYTHING OF the origin OF the re or had seen
ANYTHING Of " .hs little old gentleman with the fagso's
AT 80 the flames enveoped tho entire building with
winding sheet without, though previous to TINS they
tongues and jes and about this time also vent was
gwen by roof of the theatre in the rear and ab
souto column OF fire shot suddenly in the night pre-
ceded by volumes and followed by absolute cloud
small meteors the form of sparks which nOated
away like an atmosphere OF blaze IN the direction OF
the Bowery The revel Of the Fire Imp was now at its
height; and, amid the roar of flames. broke
occasionally upon the night air something like
the accents OF strange cacklng laugh
the same which had been heard lbut was noD
couple OF hours before In the dark of the thd
story. The little old gentleman exactly his ele
ment-in the very climax Of his element II was q
pyramid OF fire founded upon dark smodering base;
Tor as yet the first story had been comparatively
harmed of the flames and formed sort of solid founda
ton for the palace Of fire, with turrets OF fire and
streaming banners Of fire, which the little cacklne, in
visible gentleman had elected all from few aggot5
and couple Of iucifers No. 537 had taken fire also
aud the three buildings without and within
tongues os fire serpcnts thereof were beginning TO
fasten themselves to the woodwork OF the Prescott
House, which, however. was only tr1ingly damasod.
SENSATION ON THR FIRST Story.
Rapidly now the flames worked downward toward the
fret story, and presently the little old man directed
tongue Of fire downward. which licked the ceiling OF the
first story with bills erng heat. Then the same old
laugh cackled, "In wake thom up! haha haha haha
III wake them up hahaln and the hour of the imps
most peculiar sport began. They woke up-thcy whose
terrible crescend0es and dminuenders had caused the
night air 20 shudder with moaning agues OF but
An hour
crescendoes aud howl aud beasy shrek fol owed
the lash which the little old gentleman wiedod Tor
with the old cackiing laugh OF desiiishness tho
lto dwarf had descended to the first story and was
amusing himself In the humor OF his mood, with
tigers bears and oopards into unearthy They did
not 500 him; they did not hear him; he went TO
and fro like shadow, and mis- footsteps
still those OF velvet slippers upon tho foot OF
shadow. They felt his presence only and only in the
desperation the bear sbriekcd with unearthy shrek
while the more demonsirave tigers beat iercey against
the bars Of their grated cells the little old gentleman all
the time cackng over the success OF his deyish joke
Then rapidly fell dozen lashos If welded by dozen
imps and, goaded to fury, the spoedlemperor OF the
desert batled ercey with his bars cleaved them at one
fe swoop and with second leap. broke through the
window, and, followed by the lash Of his mpish tormen
the beast stood aercey at bay and nen started
at full galop down Broadway jet OF water brought
him to a stand however, and, with three four shots
from tho revolver Of an adjacent NJ. i. lhe tiger
rolled upon his sdo doad. Thus ended
the sensation OF the night-with the retreat. how.
ever, OF large number Of the spectators who slipped
round the corner muttering something about Napoleon
and his Moscow. Within, in tho meantime, second
tiger had broken loose aud was rolling on the noor be
meath the whip OF his devish tormenor, which sfnged
and blistered at every stroke.
difncult 70 imagine. Even Nero might have been
thereby provoked into cynical fddling Nos. 537 $50
and GAL actually solid pyramid OF fire. whence
upwards long, urd tongues Of fire into the murky
volumes OF smoke that overhung the doomed Museum.
The walls still standing Ss n served q, 70 S.ss give form
simply the crater unto the volcano; while
the last faint dimnuendoes Of the concert
within seemed simply to issue through curtains OF fire
that tho tall lurid wnd0ws Even the 0cosity
OF the little old gentleman who had slipped through
the front door but four before, satsed aud,
with cacke, he slipped out the same front door,
the faggos and the lucfers, aud ambed on with the
Thus cacked the little old gentleman as he went No
policeman stopped him. nobody heard hi. footsteps
he slipped past Velvet slippers on feet OF shadow, he
moved through the din and turmoil. An incendiary-
the very imp Of inccndiares-hs was the most invisible
with this joke Of conaagration: "a ioke-hahs; .
capital Joke laughed the same old Japanese-!sh cAcke
and the little old gentleman scnsE ,.s,ssn., was gone.
was one Of peculiar ensen.bie In the midst Of the
block, wrsahed with cework supported with fantastic
buttresses OF Ice and seeming 10 DO upheld with
columns, stood the Museum building. On the corner
OF spring street engine was still II work with tug
another and couple cordons Of the police held pos.
session Of the square. On the sidewalk was piled rub
bIsh OF every sort debris OF mermads and wooly
horses-while within the walls smouldsred the smbers
Of the menagsne. reduced 70 . mass OF burning
pulp Slush some half Q foot deep filled the square
from end 10 end and ali reeked the smoky smell
OF devastation. Jets still falling upon the build
ing only serving. however, for further iciag Of the
huge skeleton OF the building.
EARLY THE BUfLDNu
Tho last connsgraton on record, resulting In the de-
sruction Of place Of amusement occurred little after
mdnicht on shs morning OF the I'd, and Barnums Mu-
scum was the structure devoted TO the hory element
On the 18Th Of July 1885, the establishment known under
the same namc suffered ike fate, and prac
tlcsbs Afterwards buildings Nos 500 and Sal Broad
way were selected and fitted up for the purpose OF
ryinr on the museum business" These buildings
were erected about eighteen since and were tnen
known as the .sChnose Museum but wers Afterwards
changed 10 the 'Chinsss Assembly Roomsn Here many
time ana Oft did Young America the Terpsichorean
goddess and chase the ae citing hours IN tho enchanting
inazes Of tho dance. Again the buildings changed
Buckley serenaders. and under thor management
Obtained . large share Of popularity. Heller subss-
quently practsed magic art, and John E. Owens sue
cecdod in . unique entertainment descriptive Of tho
perIlous ascent OF Mont Blanc. When the pretty
Ax 4