Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-25
CIRCUS BURNED.
Barnum's Iron Building, in New York,
Burned to the Ground.
His Splendid Collection Of Animals and
CuriOsIties Consumed.
Grace CkspeIsnd Other Important Build
ings Share the Same Fate.

New YoRK, December 24-The FIR,
at Barnumis Circus commenced about
four o'clock am. In half an hour the
entire building, though constructed o.
I iron, was in ruins. The flames quickly
spread to the buildings on either side
! Grace Chapel, on the easterly side, was
| burned to the ground, and the Lawrence
mansion, on the westerly side, was seri.
Ously damaged. The fire ran through
the block toThirteenth street, destroying
| the carriage factory of Miner & Stephens
and that of +. Grote. The loss will
amount to half 8 million dollars. An
other account saws the loss will reach 8
million of dollars. The only animals
saved from the menagerie are the camel
and elephant. The cause Of the fire il
unknown,
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
Wiess, a policeman, at sixteen min
utes after four o'clock in the morning,
while on his patrol, noticed the fire
bursting through the roof, Immediately
over where the giraffes were kept, and
soon after the animals and birds began
screeching and bowling in a terrific
but the flames spread with such rapidity
that, almost before the firemen could get
the water on, Rarnum's circus was q
thing of the past. The firemen report
that the roars of the animals were
frightful during the short time that they
lasted. Two elephants were the only
animals saved. When these were led
out by their keepers they were given a
l.
fire, although the animals were very
dOcile considering the excitement on all
sides The front building was two
stories high and composed nearly alto
gether OF corrugated iron and wood.
The structure burned, however, as
though it was a tinder-box. The fire
men aud others were unable to stand
within a hundred feet of the burning
building, the heat was so intense. The
windows Of the Academy of Music
were cracked and broken with the heat
The doors were blistered, and the bill
boards in front Of the Academy wsre
burned on the side toward the circus
Nothing could be- done TO save any Of the
aniBals. Grace Chapel was wholly con-
sumed, the front walls being left stand
ing.
1t was very much feared that the
Academy of Music, which is opposite,
would be burned. 1t evidently would
had not the wind changed, which caused
the fire to extend across to Thirteenth
street, destroying in its way the large
carriage mandatory of Stevens & Co.,
and several private dwellings. Nolives
reported lost.
The fire next spread to the mansion of
Mrs. Lawrence, consuming it; then to
the iron front building occupied by +.
Cote, ivory dealer, which, with rear
building occupied by the same person,
were both destroyed. From thence it
spread to Miner & Stevens's carriage
factory on Thirteenth street, the rear
portion of which was burned, with thirty
thousand dollars worth of carriages.
Curley's carriage factory, adjoining, was
also slightly damaged. Barnum's loss
es are variously estimated at
from two hun,ired to three hum
dred thousand dollars. Barnum
is said to be in New Orleans. The loss
to the Lawrence estate is $500, 600, in
sugei Grote lost $500, 900; insured
for $40, 900. Reed & Co., varnish deal
erS, lost all then fixtures and stock.
Jackson & Co., dealers in fringes, lost
all their stock. RemwOrth, manufac-
turer of piano strings, lost all his stock.
Thousands of people have visited the
ruins during the day, and large force
Of police is on duty to keep tiremen from
being impeded in their duty. 1t is re-
ported that Barnum's insurance on his
animals was only sos, ZOO, the two ele-
phants and camel that were saved COW
ering one-half of that.
A fire in a large building on
damage OF $3.50, 900. Several small fires
have also occurred in different parts Of
the city to-day.