Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-01-02
NUMBER 3e.
BARNTMss MUsErN.

81 NEW L Okky lJcC. SA.-~EoT tUc tulfu
time has Barnum's museum snccumbed
to the fire fiend. Fire was discovered
at about 4 o'clock this morning in the
circus and menagerie formerly owned
By Lent, but recently purchased aud
fitted up by Barnum. a strong breeze
was blowing, which swept the flames
in oil directions. Great exertiOns were
made to contlne the limits Of the IRE,
but the inf1ammable nature Of the struc.
ture caused the flames to spread with
appalling fiereeness, and 1t was feared
that New York would eclipse Chicago
by the magnitude of its conhagrstiOn.
Notwithstanding the early hour and
the bitter fierceness OF the weather. nu-
merous spectators assembled 10 witness
the terrible scene presented. In y
short time the building became one
mass of flame. and the fire communi-
Gated with the buildings on either side,
Grace Chapel TO Grotc's ivory ware
house, and on the other. The Acade-
my Of Music, ON the Opposite side,
caught fire on the outside woodwork
IN several places. The wind was
blowing in the opposite direction. and
the prompt application Of water alone
saved this structure from . second
burning. As tho fire increased in vol.
ume and communicated with the quar-
ters occupied by the wild animals, the
most diaboiical screams rent the air,
from the deep roar Of tho lion TO the
shrillcry OF the monkeys. Such com.
bination of noises was never before
heard.
Several brave iremen attempted 10
release the suffering animals, but the
intensity Of the heat rendered vain all
their efforts, and with the exception OF
two elephants and two camels, the vast
collection Of wild beasts psrishcd In the
flames. The mOst pite0us cries were
ever and anon heard amid the seethinx
Of the fire as the savage beasts strug-
gled in the fiery caldron. Fiercety
did the lions. tigers and lcopartls tear
at their iron bars, desisting only when
the tongues Of the flame entered their
cages and ended their suilerinxs. Sud-
denly the most unearthly ycils could
be distinguished from the general
clamor, which told that the destroyi ing
element had reached the water-tank
where were confined two sea lions.
But short time elapsed before their
doom was sealed.
Among the animals lost are several
of the most rare, which il will be diff
cult, if not impossible TO replace. Two
giraffes, the only ones in the country,
cost $4,000. His natural history coll
lection was claimed to be the most
valuable In the United States.
Thousands of people visited the ru-
ins during the the day, and a large
force Of police are on duty to keep the
flrcmen from being impeded In
their duty. 1t is reported that Bar-
nuns insurance on the animals Is only
$4,000 The two elephants aud camel
saved will cover one half Of that.
Ii appears that Barnllm's insurance
on the building and contents is in the
neighborhood of $4,000. In his re-
port for November. Fire Marshal Me-
Spedon called attention TO the unsafe
condition of Barnum's museum, and
the danger of the surrounding build
ings from it.
The men who slept in the building
threw open the doors opening on Four
teenth street, and two of the perform
ing elephants, Jeanette and Betsey,
and camel walked out. These were
the only uufInats rhnt escaped. The
remaining animals. terror -stricEen By
the flames sweeping toward their cages,
the heat, and the sitting smoke that
dashed madly against the iron bars
that confined them, or crouched In the
corners of their cages, were overcome
with fear. The performing elephant,
Pedro, magnificent specimen Of his
kind, which arrived here only last week
from Hamburg, was securely fastened
by chains on his fore feet. Cnavail-
ing efforts were made 10 undo these,
aud the keepers were obliged 10 leave
him to his fate. His shrili trumpet
ings could be heard for considerable
time after the advancing flames had
driven away those who had yainly en-
deavorcd to rescue him. The follow
ing is list OF the adimals burned:
One elephant, gilaffes, camels
and dromedaries, magnificent Abys-
sinian lions, 3 sea lions, the only ones
attached to a menagerie. , whitc polar
bears, ? Bengal tigers, ] African ieop-
ard, African and Asiatic yak. xni,
horned horse, chacema, the largest
of the baboon tribe. The celebrated
happy family, consisting Of u number
animals, among them a lnccoOn, rat.
dog, cat, and other small animals. and
number OF birds, living together in
in the same cage. A large collection
OF apes, gorillas. monkeys, raccoons,
and small animals. pelicans. 0strichcs,
and other rare birds. 5 large anacondss
and boa constrict0rs, In = cage.
One hundred and fifty persons are
thrown out OF employment. All the
performers lost their warirobes and
effects.