Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-01
ALONE WITH A GORILLA.
Standing Near the BEAST on the
Cracking Stairs of "a Burning
Museum.


New York Commercial Advertiserl
We heard from a straggler on the
street that the fire was at Barnum' s
Museum. This gave renewed force
to our feet, and we fairly few along
the street. When we reached the
spot what a sight was before 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
stalactites Of ice were beginning
to form on the adjacent buildings
where the hose played on them, and
the red glare of the fire, now under
full headway, lit them up like gold.
The suffering animals within the
museum, imprisoned and ENGAGED, be-
gan to roar and moan. The fire, the
ice, and the wild cries of the poor
animals made the night one Of horror
indeed. just at this moment, with a
great crash, right through pane glass
window on the first floor, a splendid
tiger sprang. He lit in the street and
stood for moment at bay, and many
a voice in the crowd cried Shoot
him shoot him I" We had given our
hose to steamer, and the water just
being let into it, the fremen with the
nozzle put the stream full against the
animal. Its force and wash carried
him off his feet, and a moment after
wards one Of the finest" with re-
volver, put two balls into his body and
finished him..
I then made my way into the burn
ing 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 the 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 I forget 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 and smoke were awful, aud | felt
my limbs shake as palsied as looked
spelIbound, at the awful hairy
mass at the top OF the
steps. 1 could hear the heavy thud
of his huge foot as he moved OF
glided to the stairs. / could see his
great monstrous body writhe almost
with the heat. The stairs were mar
row, aud, great heavens when he
reached me what would become OF
me? / stood transfxed, spell-bound
with an awful terror. One hand
clasped the banisters and one the wall,
and l could not have moved one
finger on either of those hands to have
saved my life. / heard still the shouts
of the now maddened animals within
the building. heard the axes Of the
firemen breaking through the floors
/ thought thousand thoughts in a
SECOND, but l could not move q hairs
breadth. | even counted the steps
beteeen the monster and myself
There wele but six-only six little
short steps betweeen me and grim
DEATH The beast came slowly on
glariug horribly at me-there were
but four steps. Will he seize
me in those fearful arms Of
his, thought 1, from which the mat.
ted, coarse hair hung, and toss me
into the burning, seething mass Of fire
and fame beyond us2 Another steI
he came. Oh, heaven but one little
short step now. | made a saperhumar
effort to move, if but muscle; but
ALAS could not. The loathsomt
BODY of the brute touched me. Ny
breath came in gasps and my hear
stood still, aWe-strieken. 0Re dreaC
claw like hand gripped my shoulde