Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-25
Destruction of Barnum's Museum.
The Building and all its Contents Con.
sumed by FIre-AII the Animals Perish
butTwO.

New YORK, Dec. 24.-Blrnums museum and
circus was discovered on fire about four O'Clock
this morning, which was totally destroyed, to-
gether with Grace chapel adjoining, two stores
on Fourteenth street, aud Steyens'S carriage
store on Thirteenth street. The only animals
saved from the menagerie are camel aud an
elephant. The cause of the fire is unknown.
LATER-FULLER DETAILS.
New YORK, Dec. 24-NOOn-The fire at
Barnum's circus commenced about Jour O'Clock,
and in half an hour the entire building, though
constructed OF iron, was in ruins. The flames
quickly spread to the buildings on either side
of Grace chapel, on the easterly side, which was
burned TO the ground, and the Lawrence man.
sion on the westerly side was seriously damaged.
The fire ran through the block to Thirteenth
street, destroying the carriage factories of Miner
& Stevens and F. GrOtes. The loss will amount
to fully half million of dollars.
The fire was first observed by policeman at
4 20 this morning, bursting through the roof Of
Barnum's circus, Immediately over where the
girafeS were Kept, and instantly after the ami
mails and birds began bowling and screGchng
in a terrific manner. Three alarms were sent
out, but the flames spread with such lightning
like rapidity that almost before the iiremen
could get water Barnum's circus was thing
of the past. Some of the tiremen who were
first on the ground state that the roars of tae
animals were frightlul to listen to during the
short time they lasted, but they were speedily
put out of misery by the rapdity with which the
finder like structure in which they were Gagged
was destroyed The only animals saved were
Two elephants and a camel. As these beasts
were led out by the keepers very
large space was given them by the fire.
men, policemen and citizens. They were con-
veyed oa place of safety. The anmals were very
docile and trartabe. The front of the building
was two stories in hei ght and composed nearly
altogether OF corrugated iron and wood, which,
with that portion Of the building used as a cir
Gus, was totally destroyed, tile whole building
burning as Il finder box. Nothing could he done
to save any more of the animals, and the fire,
men say they would sooner risk falling walls
any time than enter that burning den of beasts.
Those in the vicinity were unable TO stand with
In hundred feet of the burning building, the
heat was so intense, which is verified by the TACT
that the windows of the Academy of Music were
cracked and broken with the heat the doors
blistered, and the bill boards in trout Of the
Academy burned. The fire next extended to
the church adjoining, known as Grace ChaOel
or Church OF Redemption, and although the fire.
men used their utmost endeaYofs to save the
building, they were unayaing, as it shated al
most the same fats as the circus; only the front
walls were left standing.
The fire originated III the boer-rOom OF the
menagerie The 9iraffes' cage was opened, but
the animals were too frightened to escape and
all four persisted; valued at $50, 900.
Barnum's agent estimates the loss at 100000.
All the performers lost their wardrobeS, many
being very valuable. About one hundred and
fifty people are thrown out of employment by
the burning of Barnum's show.
1t appears thai Barnum's insurance on build
ing and contents is in the neighborhood OF
ninety thousand
In his report for November, the fire fnarshal
Mr.. MrSpeeden, called attention 10 the unsafe
condition of Barnum's museum and the danger
OF the surrounding property from it.