, 1872-12-28

"H6.%~7s
only seemed to feed them more fierce]y, This
was due to no small extent to the manner II,
which the corrugated iron which composed tho
building had been heated. In some places
and the water which dropped upon it in huge
nlasses only sputtered and fell without the
slightest effect. This continued for some time,
but at length it was perceptiblo that some effect
the flames had caught on each side
Of tho thin structure. But it had not
dono burning yet. It was aB combus-
tible as q tinder-box, yet had so nuc], of in
tammable material in it's enclosure that the
flames, unsubdued, still went tapping around
every now piece of woodwork or material, and
left only burned ashes behind it, Two hours
after the fire had first broken out not vestige
of wtnt had been tho Now York Circus or Bar
NUNS Museum remained, except pile OF smok-
ing and smouldering embers. Not oven yestige
Of the walls remained. ALI was as
FLAT As 4 PANCAKE,
and all that noted tho former existence OF the
place was an occasional little mound whereon
the flames were playing about like wiu-o'the-
wisps in city cemeteries, and disappearing every
moment as some jet Of water Was thrown upon
them.
But the fire did not aatiate itself with the cir
Gus. 1t had too good headway on, and was de-
termined upon rioting time for its Christmas
owe.
TIRE GR0TE BUILDING.
Next to the Hippotheatron, on the west side,
stood the four-story brica-front manufactory Of
Grote l. Co. workers in ivory. It was stored
with valuable material and musical Instruments.
the property OF c. Rerwarth. The flames pene-
trated into this establishment early in their ca
reor. The material so indammablo that
they leaped along the floors and walls, from story
to story, almost without impediment from tho
! floodsates that the htemen ut once opened upon
! them. The security Of the rest of the block to-
| ward Fourth avenue, whereon is the new stone
building,-tho German Savings Bank,-was
AVID r1rr finfa
substance fell far and wide, threatening places
distant by several blocks from the immediate
sceno. In less than an hour the Grote building
WAS gone, only wreck Of the iron walls remain
| ing, with haf-burned sign and thick mass Of
| icicies dnnglng over the blackened doorway.
| GRACE CHAPEL.
| Adjoining the circus, on the east, stood Grace
| Chapel, or the Protestant Episco.>:! FREQ
| Church. q beautiful edifce, in the Gothic style,
q branch institution of Grace Church, and built
in the modest imitation Of that magnificent
| temple. Within it Tas decorated for Christmas.
Tie holly aad the mistletoe hung from its
arches and clustered about its railing, while the
gifts of merry Christmas for the children at
tached to is Sunday School were lavislly be-
slowed in the secret places, waiting for the sur
prise that was to como to-day. On this fair
! object the greedy flames fixed their fangs, while
| the circus Should have yet boon enough to sat-
I isfy their hunger. They leaped through the
! high windows just above the roof OF tho Hippo
theatron, and thence 1ioted on nave,
column, arch,, gallery, and organ loft.
In an hour the roof fell in, leaving only
| ing very picturesque ruin with its delicate
arches and slender columns, ornamented and
draped as it soon WAS with long icicles. From
the church the flames spread to
| THE OLD LAWRENCE MANSION,
O. landmark Of the city that tor forty years has
! been the residence of the old family Of LaN1er-
ccs, of whom Abraham R Lawrence ia one, and
which when first built was considered one Of the
&-f~
stood so far out OF the city limits that it's
felt secure against the encroachments of city
business, and certainly could never have fore
! seen that its proximity to circus and q church
in crowded part Of the town would be the final
cause of its destruction. The flames gutted this
| fine old relic and left only the walls standing.
! Thence they Threatened the carriage factory Of
Meonro. Minor j. 9tovons aud tho valuable build
| ings on Thirteenth street, but at this point were
stayed by the desperate efforts Of the fremen.
| THE LOSSES OF THE MUsEuN-THE ANIMALS
On entering, on the right Of the building, the
animals were presented to view.
First cage contained two lions, valued at
910,0 900.
Second cage contained two Bengal tigers, of
the value Of $4,000.
Third cage contained u leopard, yalned at
$4,000.
Fourth cage contained Rocky Mountain sheep,
valued ut $2U0.
Fifth cage contained IN Albino deer, valued at
$500.
Sixth eage contained an African wart hog,
Seventh cage contained a llama, valued at
$3.50.
Eighth cage contained q lax, valued at S400.
Ninth cage contained an elan, valued at 5000.
Tenth cage contained an ostrich, valued at
$500.
Eleventh cage contained five snakes, valued at
800.
Twoltth cage contained four giraffes valuedat
800, 900 each, or $4,000 in al.
Thirteenth cage contained a happy family, Of
which it is impossible to state the value.
Fourteenth cage contained q large As1atic ron-
| KEY, valued st $400.
Two small cages wore under these, containing,
ono porcupino and the other badger.
Fifteenth cuge contained fno specimen of
tho "Iion slayer" monkey, valued at $500.
On the left Of tho entrance as one went in
tho
- First cago contained two sea lions, valued ut
Second cage contained tro Polar BEARS valued
at $4,000.
Third cage contained a horned horse, valued
Fourth caso contained four-horned deer, val
ucd q. 5000.
Fifth cago contained two seals, valued at 300.
A little further on was . large ostrich in 4
cage, valued at $4,000. three elephants in
another cage, valued ut $4,000, and ten came1s,
valued at So, 600, only one of which WAS saved.
Besides the living animals there we're one
Polar bear and one black leopard stuffed, a large
quantity Of stetuary, wax figures, mechanical
singing birds, flute players. organ players: me-
chanical monkeys and other musical automat9ns,
making, in all: some thirty groups, valued at
from 1000 to $4,000 each. In addition to these
thoro were the apparatus of the Bohemian glass
blowers, large number Of oil paintings, ten
tcles of curiosities, &C.
ALI the performers lost their wardrobes, with
out oxception-the Albino family losing articles
valued at $1,000, and Admiral Jot aud family
losing all their parapherualia; Charley Whites
trained dogs were also burned to death. They
were very valuable animals. The Giant lost his
wardrobe, and all tho dresses which h.d been
made for = Blue Beard" wele also lost; aud all
the performers (somo 100 in numtcr) hayo lost
all their wardrobes.
SKETCH OF BARSu,1s BUILDING.
The building lately occupied by P. 7. Barnum
! rs a meuagerie was built during the war BY
James E. Cooke, an English equestrian, and
WIS first named the New Pork Hppotheatron
It failed to pay, however, aud after couple OF
seasons was sold to some billiard men, whc
made it an exhibition hall for match games. Il
then passed through various hands aud suffered
various misfortunes until taken by Mr. L. B.