The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-20
Alone with the Gorilla.

Says u writer: we heard from straggler
In the street that the fire was at Barnum's 3
Museum. This gave renewed force to our
feet and wc fairly few along the street.
When we reached the spot what sight
was before us The great building was
nblaze or. tho two top floors, and several
streams were already pouring water On it.
Tho 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 stalactites of ice were
beginning to form on the adjoining build
ings where the hose was played OH them,
aud the red glare Of the fire, now under
strong headway, lit them up like gold.
imprisoned and Gagged, began to moan and
roar. The fire, the ice, and the wild cries
of the poor ANIMALS. made the night one
of horror indeed. Just at this moment.
with greet crash, right through a plate
glass window on the first floor, splendid
tiger sprang. He lit in the street and
stood tor a moment at bay, and many a
voice IN the crowd cried: "Shoot him
shoot him3" We hati given our hose to a
steamer, and the water being just let into
1t the fireman with the nozzle put the
stream full against the animal Its force
and wash carried him off from his feet,
and q moment afterwards "one 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
the first floor. A flight of steps was before
me, and at the top could, through the
smoke, make out a door. mounted the
stairs to render what aid could. AS l
got about to the middle the heat warped
and cracked the door, and il fell to one
side, aud there beyond, making right for
these stairs, was the big gorilla Oh,
never shall l forgot that dread moment
The big flames began to lick the walls, and
the whole space beyond that dreadful
beast was blaze of fire. The heat a1d
smoke were awful, and l felt my limbs
shake as pals ! as l looked, spcllbound,
at the awful mass at the top of the
steps. l could hear the heavy thud of his
huge foot as he moved or glldcd to the
stairs. l could see his great, monstrous
body writhc almost with heat. The stairs
were narrow, and, great heaven when he
reached mo what would become of met
l stood transfixcd, spcllbound with all
awful terror. One hand cluspcd the ban.
listers and one the wall, and l could not
have moved one finger on either of those
the axes Of the firemcn breaking through
the floors I thought thousand thoughts
in second but | could not move hairs
breadth. even counted the steps between
the monster and myself. There were but
sl1-only six little short steps between me
and grim death. The beast came slowly
on, garing horribly at me. There wero
but four steps. Win he seize nc III
those horrible arms of his. thought l, from
which the matted, coarse hair hung, and
toss nc into the burning, seething mass of
fire and flame beyond us9 Another step
he came. Oh, heaven! but one little short
step now. | made a supcrhuman effort to
move, if but muscle; but alas could
not The loatbsome body of the brute
touched me. My breath came III gasps
and my heart stood still, awc-slrickcn.
One dread claw-likc hand upon my shoul-
der as the other arm of the wild beast
was raised to his neck. He tuggcd there
moment as if for breath and strength.
Now l sickencd and shuddcrcd rs he threw
the great mass Of hair and hide over his
head and revealed rough Celtic face
within, and asked in hurried, frightened,
and strong Hibcrnian tones: "For the love
OF st. Patrick show me the way out of this7"