Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-05-29
ROASTED ALIVE.
A MenaRerIe Totally Destroyed by
-FrightfuI Cries Of the Tor
tured Animals-A Scene that
VIII never be Forgotten
by those who Wit
messed Ii.

by those who Wit
messed it.
From the Detroit papers we condense the
following account of the destruction OF
French 8 menagerie at Detroit on Wednesday
morning. Mr.. French was the owner OF
large collection OF wild animals which, dur
ing the winter months, were quartered In
building especially built for their accommo-
datlon on his premises. During the tenting
season the animals are leased to various
menageries and exhibited throughout the
country. Mr.. French had just leased them
to the managers of geological garden near
Chicago, to which place they were soon to
be removed. The collection consisted of the
elephant Sultan, for which Mr.. French
had recently refused an offer of four thou
sand dollars, seven hons, one tiger, one zebra,
a sacred cow and calf, three leopards, wolf,
and Rocky mountain deer. There was also
stored in the animals quarters collection OF
stuffed animals, a quantity of circus proper
ties, and many other articles of more or less
value. The fire began In the haylott at the
east end Of the barn, directly over the large
stall occupied by the elephant, and spread
with the rapidly of wind-fanued prairie
fire through the entire upper story of the
barn. SO that within fifteen minutes from the
time Miss Price discovered the fire the large
area of root was one sheet of flame, while the
lower story was so deDsely filled with smoke
that men, women, and children, who had
hocked to the scene of the conhaeration,
could only work from the outside. Mr.. French,
who started on a run as soon as he heard the
first alarm, arrived at the barn in about if
teen minutes, followed by Morley and Wells.
Mr.. Frenchs's first thought was how
to save Sultan. Opening the barn
door at the east side of the barn,
he was greeted by a dense volume
o,kor l,rE
ing every turn and detail of the interior
of the barn, he stopped and CROPPED
his way to Sultan's stall. The huge animal
was perfectly noiseless, not having been heard
to utter the slightest groan, but when Mr..
French reached his side, and, calling him by
name, placed his hand on him, the poor beast
was found to be rocking to and fro rapidly,
while his hard hide was crawling and rolling
in every direction. Mr.. French says the an
imal acted much like a human being suffer-
ing from nervous chill. Sultan while in his
stall always had one foot chained to the
frame work. Mr.. French stopped to loosen it,
when the crazed beast brought his trunk
around with terrible force and Mr.. French
was thrown about twenty feet, striking
against the side of the building. Nearly
suffocated by the smoke and badly confused
by the shock, it was several seconds before
Mr.. French could realize his position, and
then he saw that to save his OWE life he must
get out. he I6lG dis way drOuuu the sue OF
the barn until he saw daylight through the
smoke, and with a rush soon gained
the open air. Amid the crack
ling and roaring of the flames
could be heard the outcries of the poor suf-
ferlng beasts as they struggled in vain to re-
believing of the lions rose above the roaring
of the gale-fanned flames, while anon could
be heard the bark of the wolf, the unfamiliar
cry of the elephant, and the Plaintiveibleating
of the deer and sacred COW, at times re-
sembling the wall of human being in the
most excruciating agony. For period that
seemed very long to those who heard them,
these sad cries arose from the burning build
ing. Finally they ceased, and then it was
known that their sufferings were over. While
Mr.. French feels the calamity keeniy, his
feelings are not much more expressive than
those Of Schroff, the lioa-tamer. At the time
the fire began poor Paul Schroff was about
three miles away, driving along slowly.
From person whom he met he learned that
the animals were burning, and putting his
horses to run, was taken
to the scene in a few minutes. At
first he was wild with excitement. Then
he relapsed into a melancholy state, from
which he did not recover for several hours.
Almost aimlessly he wandered around until
the ruins were in condition to permit of
walking over them. Then he visited the
blackened, roasted carcasses of his old friends,
stopping before each and not looking st or
speaking to anyone, seeming to be holding
silent converse with the dead beasts, ard oc
casionally brushing away tear. Stopping
before the huge frame of Sultan, ne stood
for several minutes, silent and alone, until
he was aroused by the presence of several
persons who had crowded around him and
began sympathizIng with him over the loss
of his old companions. Schrof is a German,
and is not thoroughly acquainted with the
English lang uage, but, In pleasant dialect,
he remarked (: HE vas a goot fellow aud he
loafed me-" ''Shoost ike big calf is the
way he described Sultan appearance when
he brought him to this country, and contin-
ued II watched over him like baby all
desc times, and We vas so goot friends"
After talking of the many towns they had
visited together, and recounting two or three
episodes In which Sultan had defended him,
Schroff continued: "He used to get mat
sometimes, ind l had to punish him, but den
We always made it up like schildrens." The
only euIogy the lion-tamer passed upon the
lions was when be kicked one of the bodies
with his foot, and remarked: "Vell, Nero,
we've got through; you'll never bite me
some more" Then, glancing over the ruins,
he sighed, and said with grim humor; "Yell,
mine friendts, | guess We don't trafel toged-
der dis season.