Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-01-03
The Destruction OF Barnum's Museum.

HE alarm was sent out at 800, and the
location of the signal showed the fire to
be at Barnum's Circus, in Fourteenth
street. Ten minutes later, when a CON-
nserc5M reporter arrived on the ground,
the interior of the newly-constructed
HlppotheatrOn was mass of solid flames,
and the strong west wind which prevailed
carried the tongues of flame against the
great ivory warehouse of F. Grote e Co.,
on the west, and the brick walls of Grace
Chapel, ON the east.
1t required no more than glance to
show that the circus building, with all its
valuable animals and other contents, was
doomed. The Waterman, at great per-
sonal risk, rushed to the rear and succeed
ed in bringing out two of the three ele.
plants in safety. When an effort was
made to save more of the animals the
flames drove back the gallant fremen and
handful of spectators and policemen
who had assembled, and the effort had to
be abandoned. The Commercial reporter
stood on the sidewalk near the western
entrance, when the last attempt was made
to save some of the more valuable of
the animals. The roar of the tigers
and lions was fearful, while above the
crackle and din of the flames arose the
unearthly yell of the sea lions. The
chatter of the monkeys could also be
plainly heard. AS the fire encircled the
re-proof corrugated frame, and advanced
toward the western side, where the more
valuable animals were Gagged, the lions
and tigers became frantic, and beat the
iron bars of their prisons with frantic
rage. The Commercial reporter, remem-
bering with great vividness previous ex-
perience on just such an inclement night
in March, 1868, when Bengal tiger
broke from his cage at the previous burn
ing Of Barnum's, and landed at the
scribes feet in the middle of Broadway,
quickly made up his mind that discretion
in this case was much better to use than
undue curiosity, and lost no time in seek
ing the protecting recesses of one of the
Academy entrances, safe from further
which froze the instant it touched the
clothing.
There was no occasion for fright, how
ings Of the poor beasts were at an end,
structure fell, a crumbled-up mass of
debris.
The fire originated from the boiler in
the basement of the circus building, and
spread with such surprising rapidity that
the Waterman had only time sufficient to
save two elephants.
The loss of Mr.. Barnum, who at pres
ent is in New Orleans, is estimated to-day
by Mr.. S. B. Hurd, his treasurer, at
$500, 900. His insurance it is impossible
to ascertain at this hour, as the safe, with
the policies, are in the ruins. Of this
proportion about 100000 was expended
recently in reconstructing the building.
The natural history collection, it is
claimed, was the most valuable in this
country. The giraffes burned cost
$50, 900, and were the only ones in this
country. The sea-lions were also the
only ones at present in the United States.
MIR. Barnum gave employment to 100 per-
sons, 100 of whom were employed in the
arenic department. None of the horses
were burned, as they are stabbed in Thir-
teenth street. An elephant, belonging to
George f. Bailey's Circus, which was i'm
ported but last week, was also burned
The wardrobes of the members of the
company were also burned.
The following is list of the animals
burned: CRATES, white Polar bears, 2
monster sea lions, horned hose, seals,
Alpine goat, ostrich, pelicans, Abyssin-
ian lions, 2 Bengal tigers, Asiatic yak,
Gland, llama, leopards, serpents, apes,
gorillas, chacma, 6 camels, 2 drOmedaries,
l elephant, Happy Family, and other
minor animals, amounting to one hun
dred spontaneously. Y. Commercial Id
gertsSer.