The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-27
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r. 8 - 10
Tie Eufrafns or Easian1rs,s sTascnzn i'm.
rev Eora-DestrHdtion as Ets Circus
ana Meaasesic gfltfna SectEssaud
SOUNDS, de.
The fire was first discovered at 4:10 bursting
through the roof Of the circus just over.
where the CRATES were Kept, and lmfne.
diately after. animals and birds began howl.
ing and screeching In terrific MANNER. an
alarm was sounded, which quickly brought
tue district engines on the spot. a second
and third alarm were sent out, but tie tialiies
spread with such rapidity that almost before
the fremen could get the water on, the circus
was gone. Some of the firemen who were
first on the ground state that the roaring OF
the animals was something frightful 70 listen
to during the short time that u lasted, as
they were speedily put out OF misery by the
rapiditv with which the devourlng clement
lapped up the tinder-l!ke structure IN Wnlcn
they were Gagged. The only animals saved
out Of the valuable collection which barnum
had taken suct, pains to secure were TWO
elephants and camel,
The building was two stories In hesshII;
and composed nearly altogether o.. eorru.
gated iron and wood, which, With that pofs
ton of the building used as circus, was
totally destroyed, the whole building burn
ing as though it was Undertook. Nothing
could be done to save any more OF the ami
mails. The firemen state that they would
sooner risk falling walls any time than enter
den OF wild OF tame beasts In case OF lhE
kind. -. ... ......
Fremeh, poleenienj and others who we're
in the Vicinity, were uDahe to stand "lthin
&c fl,o lf,r1
the heat was SO intense; which is verified by
the fact that the windows of the Academy OF
Music were cracked and broken by the heat,
doors were bistered, and the bill-boards III
front Of the Academy were burned on the
side towards Che circus. 1t was very much
feared that the Academy Of Music would also
be consumed, and it evidently would had not
the wind changed.
The fire next extended to the church ad-
Joining, which Is known as Grace chapel, or
Church of the Redemption, and although
the frenen used their utmost endeavor5 to
save the building, they were uuavailing, as
it shared almost the same fate as the circus,
only the front walls being left Standing.
The fire also extended to building Nos.
1874 and 13G cast Fourteenth street, owned
and occupied by the mother of Abraham Il.
Lawrence. The fire also extended to the
new iron-front building adjoining the circus
and owned and partly occupied By +. Grote,
deuler in ivory. Grote also occupied build
ing in the rear, which, together with the
front building, was totally destroyed.
The next building visited by the fire was
Miner, Stevens & Co.'s carriage manufac-
tory, situated on Thirteenth street; running
from One Hundred and Fifteenth to One
Hundred and Twenty-Grst street. The rear
portion of the building WIS completely
burned, together with about $4,000 worth
of stock. E. G. Curlcy's carriage nlanufac-
tory, on Thirteenth street, was also slightly
burned.
Barnum's losses are put down at different
sums, ranging from $4,000 to 100000. As
those parties that do know anything about it
cannot be found, it is impossible to make any
True estimate of his losses. Mr.. Barnrm is
said to be in New Orleans at present.
The damage to Mrs. Lawrcncc's house is
supposed to be about $4,000, and the dam
age to the furniture about $4,000, which is
fully covered by insurance.
F. Grote states that his loss is $500, 0eO on
stock and building, OIL which there is an in
surance Of $4,000.
&C. Reed d Co., dealers In rarniShcs, oc-
cupied the second floor front of No. ia, and
their stock ana fixtures were totally de-
stroyed. Jackson & Co., dealers in frin9cs,
occupied the fourth floor. Their stock was
totally destroyed. c. Reymouth, manulac-
turer of piano strings, also occupied por-
ton of the second door, and loses all his
stock.
1t appears, so far as can be asccrtained,
that Barnum's whole insurance viii amount
to 100000.
In bis report for November, Fire-Marshal
McShedou called attention TO the unsafe con-
dition of Barnumfs Musucm, and the danger
Of the surrounding property from it.
The tire in Fourteenth street originated
in tic boile!-room OF Barnum's mcnageric.
The giraffe cage was opened, but the animals
were too frightened to escape, and all four
pcrsiicd They were valued ut $4,000.
Earnun'S agent estimates his loss ct $500 900.
All the performers lost w%rdrohcs, many
being very valuable. About 100 persons are
thrown out OF employment by the burning
of Barnum'S show.
from the New York Tribune, December Isl
The circus building, mcnagerie, and most
OF the WaTdrobes and properties, belonged to
=. I. Barnum & Co. The firm consisted OF
2. Z. Barnum, his son-in-law 6. Ii. Hurd),
Dan. CASTILLO, and William c. Coup. Hurd
and Coup were The business managers, and
Dan. CASTILLO was the equestrian manager.
Mr.. Barnum is in New Orleans with bis cir
Gus, a portion Of the mammoth troupe with
which ne travelled last summer.
The building WIS purchased Of Dir. Lent
last August with the lease of tho ground,
which has several years yet TO run. The ell
tire interior was remodeled at an expense OF
about 100000. The ring was lowered ten
feet, and Il raTqEette and balcony capable OF
seating 5000 persons were constructed. The
interior fittings were equal to those Of first
class theatre. There were a considerable
number OF orchestra chairs, and these and
tue parQuetlc seats were handsomely uphol-
stored. 1t was intended to be equal to any
metropolitan place of entertainment. The
front of the building was widcned and car
ricd up to height OF forty feet. 1t had
q frontage Of 125 feet and depth OF
10 feet, or II little more than five full city
lots. On Thanksgiving night the receipts
were ST. 800. The management had just
brought out the pantomime Of "Blue
Beard" ata cost of $1,000. All the men,
bcrs Of the troupe took part i'll it, and all
had keen provided with new costumes. 1t
was well received, and the management en-
pected that it would run through the hoi-
DAYS with full houses. Mr.. Hurd estimates
the total loss ut about $500, 900, and there is
only an insurance. of $4,000, mostly in COM
panies out of town. The policies are in the
safe, which has been removed from the ruins
to the mandatory of Herring IL Co.
The menagerie WIS the finest in the coun-
try. Nearly oil of the animals were imported
expressly for Barnum s. Co., and were good
specimens of their kind. The elephant Pedro,