The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-03
BURNING A B0WERY MUSEU NJ
THE ARMLESS MAN'S NARROW ESCAPE
AND THE DEAN OF THE PIG.

A Burst OF Flame and n Dash for Lir-The
Man and Woman FIsh Losing their Ward
robe-The CuriositIes Going up In smoke.
Bunnells New American Museum at 20s
Bowery. was discovered to be in flames Mt 10A
last night The show had been closed barely
quarter Of an hour and no one was in the
building except those who were in the habit Of
sleeping in 1t. These were Walter II. Stewart.
the no armed man." Charles Bar
bor an usher and Edward Doyle.
the driver OF the advertising wagon.
They were gathered in Stewards room. which
was in the second story front To mis- fact
they owe their escape. as tho infammable ma
ture OF the fixtures and properties OF the place
caused the flames to extend with rapidity.
Stewards escape was narrow as 1t was. He
Is very intelligent. and his story OF his
experience indicates his presence OF mind as
well as agility, His stumps. Of course. are not
furnished with hands. but have Joint at the
elbow. and a. flexible thumblke protuberance
In place OF n forearm. His limbs are short and
pndeveloped. reaching only half way TO the
knee of man OF his frame and build. He
weighs 1870 pounds. and Is powerful.
Driven out by tho flames last night. he had
not even time to catch up 5000 that was in the
opposite side Of the room. or his jewelry and
wardrobe. He ran TO the front windows. Tho
nrst one ne was unable 70 open, but the second
yielded 10 bis efforts, although he had to hold
his breath to avoid suifocation. As he opened II
the flames. famed by draught from below.
followed him out. The window had no sash
weight, and he was delayed in getting through.
and even when once outside he caught the
flesh OF his thigh on a, spike and hung help
lessly dangling head downward. The fumes
were bursting from the window. and the can
vass signs that lined the front OF the building
Stewart remained in this position for two
minutes. and was rescued by Frederick Clark
OF Boston. an old volunteer fireman. All this
occurred while the firemen, whose response 10
the alarm was very PROMPT. were getting
TO the spot. They found the entire
mass Of flame that N the stormy sky. The
great store OF oil paintings. scenery. wax. and
papier mache work caused the herceness OF the
hame. which under Hood Of water was sub
dued bafore the build ng was seriously dam
aged. The loss falls heaviest on George b.
OF the show Major BunneIi is in Boston
running side show TO Barnum's show.
:, Mr.. g. II 4. Jacobs. another partner. is in
Pnterson The loss was estimated at fl5. 900.
This includes the oil paintings Of the Ruins
OF Pompeii and the Paris Exhibition. recently
received from London the paraphernalia Of
the Ghost Show. realistic Chamber of Horrors.
a score OF wax figures and Incidental statuary
and commentator OF more or less value.
ldoletta and Wallace. the man and woman
fish who did a tank act, lost their wardrobe
and fixtures. worth $1,000. The arm
loss viii reach $1,000. Richard % LEI 81,
liotts rained piG. Toby was burned In
his his casEe which was near the highly nilamma;
nj $500. Other properties belonging To- the
exhibitors Of the one pound baby. the 81. Benoit
Twins, and minor attractions OF the show were
burned.
Inside tho front door was n painted wooden
screen. and about the entrance were quantities
OF paper and canvas signs hearing legends Of
the amazing things within. These caught
readily from tho first outburst OF flame. which
shot out the doorway in a singularly short space
of time after the discovery OF the fire. and
Immediately the big pictorial designs on the
front OF the building, and variety q wood
work and fixtures of various kinds with which
the upper stories were decorated were blazing
furiously. The numerous coored glass globes
were shattered. tho plate glass windows crashed
out on the pavement. and the scorching heat
drove the spectators away 10 the shelter OF the
doorways opposite.
As the trains on the elevated road came by
the excitement Of the passengers was manifest
from the street below. They could be- seen
crowding tn the windows. but both they and the
conductors beat n hasty retreat from volume
of flame that reached the sides Of the cars aud
would undoubtedly have burned severely any
hing that projected on that side.
When the engines arrived the fire had gained
full headway inside, and was burning furious
": but the mnterial on the outside that had
made so great blaze at first. had been con-
sumed, aud had dropped in "A pile OF sparks
and embers on the sidewalk.