Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-29
ESTABLISHED 1850.
ALONE WITH THE GORILLA.
Standing Near the Beast on the
Cracking Stairs of Burning
Museum.
Ne,o York comn.ereial Adrertiser.


We heard from straggler in the
street that the fire was at Barnum's s
Museum. This gave renewed force to
our feet, and we fairly flew along the
street. When we reached the spot what
sight was before US? The great build
ing was ablaze on the two top floors, and
several streams were already pouring
water on 1t. The night, or rather morn
ing, was bitter cold, and every bit of
water that struck the lower part of the
street would freeze at once. Even long
stalactites of ice were beginning to form
on the adjoining buildings where the
hose was played on them, and the red
glare of the fire, now under
strong headwav, lit them up like
gold. The suffering animals within
the museum, imprisoned and Gagged, be-
gan to moan and roar The fire, the
ice. and the wild cries of the poor ami
mails, made the night one of horror in
deed. Just at this moment, with great
crash, right through a plateglas win
dow on the first floor, splendid tiger
sprang. He lit in the street and stood
for a moment at bay, and many voice
in the crowd cried: "Shoot him! shoot
himP We had given our hose to
steamer, and the water being just let
into it the fireman with the nozzle put
the stream full against the animal. Its
force and wash carried him off his feet,
and moment afterwards Zone of the
finest, with a revolver, put two balls
into his body and finished him.
then made my way into the burning
building from the basement and gained
hn inI4 r ca ho
fore me, and at the top could, through
the smoke, make out a door. mounted
the stairs to render what aid | could. AS
got about to the middle the heat warped
and cracked the door, and it fell to one
side. and there beyond, making right for
these stairs, was the big gOrillal Oh,
never shall forget that dread moment.
The big flames began to lick the walls,
and the whole space beyond that dread
full beast was blaze of fire. The heat
and smoke were awful, and / felt my
limbs shake as palsied as looked, spell
bound. at the awful hairy mass at the
top of the steps. l could hear the
heavy thud, thud of his huge foot as
he moved or glided to the stairs. l
could see his great mOnstrous body
writhe almost with heat. The stairs
were narrow, and. great Heavenl when
he reached me what would become
of me? l stood transfixed, spellbound
with an awful terror One hand clasped
the banisters and one the wall, and /
could not have moved one finger on
either of those hands to have saved my
life l heard still the shouts of the now
maddened animals within the building.
l heard the axes of the firemen breaking
through the floors. | thought thousand
thoughts in a second, but | could not
move a hairs breadth. / even counted
the steps between the monster and my
SELF There were but six-only six little
short steps between me and grim death.
The beast came slowly on, glaring hor
rlbly at me. There were but four
steps. viii he seize me in those
horrible arms of his, thought |,
from which the matted, coarse
hair hung, and toss me into the burning.
seething mass of fire and flame beyond
us? Another step he came. Oh, heavenl
but one little short step now. made
superhuman effort to move, if but a
muscle; but alas could not The loath-
some body of the brute touched me. My
breath came in gasps and my heart stood
still, awe-stricken. One dread claw like
hand griped upon my shoulder as the
other arm of the wild beast was raised to
his neck. He tugged there moment as
if for breath and strength. Now |
sickened and shuddered as he threw the
great mass Of hair and hide over his head
and revealed a rough Celtic face within,
and asked in hurried, frightened, and
strong Hibernian tones: 'For the love of
st. Patrick, show me the way out of
thisl"