Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-08-28
ALONE WITH THE GORILLA.

Standing Near the Beast on the Cracking
Stairs of a Burning Museum.
New York CONNER cial Advertiser.]
We heard from straggler in the street
that the fire was at Barnum's museum.
This gave renewed force to our feet, and
we fairly flew along the street. When
we reached the spot what sight was be-
fore us The great building was ablaze
on the two top floors, and several streams
were already pouring water on it. The
night, or rather morning, was bitter cold,
and every bit of water that struck the
lower part of the street would freeze at
once. Even long stalacites 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 Roadway. 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 cry of the animals made the
night one of horror indeed. Just at this
moment, with a grept crash right through
a plate glass window on the first floor
splendid tiger sprang. He lit on the street
and stood for moment at bay, and many
a voice in the crowd cried: "Shoot him!
shoot him!'' We had given our hose to a
steamer. and the water being just let
into it the firemen with the nozzle put
the stream full against the animal. Its
force and wash carried him OH bis feet,
and a moment afterward zone OF the
finest" with revolver put two balls IN
to his body and finished him.
then made my way into the burning
building from the basement and gained
the first floor A flight OF steps was be-
fore me, and at the top l could, through
| the smoke, make out door. mounted
the stairs to render what aid l could. AS
[ got about to the middle the heat warp
ed and cracked the door, and it fell to
one side, and there beyond, making right
for these stairs, was the big gorilla! Oh,
never shall 1 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 l felt my
limbs shake as palsied as l looked,
spellbound, 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. could see his great, mon
strous body writhe almost with heat.
The stairs were narrow, and, great heav
en-! when he reached me what would be-
come of me? l stood transfixed, spell
bound 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. I heard still the shouts of the now
maddened animals within the building.
heard the ak of the fireman breaking
through the floors! thought thousand
thoughts in a second, but l
could not move hairs breath.
I even counted the steps
between the monster and myself. There
were but six little short steps between
me and grim death. The beast came
slowly on, glazing horribly atme There
were but four steps Will he seize me in
those horrible arms of lis, thought l,
from which the matted coarse hair hung,
and toss me into the burning, seething
mass of fire and flame beyond us? Anoth-
er step he came. Oh, heaven! but one
little Short step now 1 made superhu-
man effot to move, if but a muscle;
but, alas! / could not. The
Ioathsome 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. How sickened and shud-
dered as he threw the great mass of hair
and hide over his face and revealed a
rough Celtic face within, and asked in
hurried, frightened and strong Hibernian
tones: sFor the love of St. Patrick
show me the way out of this.'