Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-02-07

Baltimore Sun, Jan. Dist.
Frank @. Bostocls,s Zoo. at Mount
Royal and Maryland avenues, was
destroyed by fire last night.
Nearly 400 animals we're burned. some
of them being of considerable value.
Mr.. Bostook said he estimated his loss
at about 5000, 900, upon which he car
ried an insurance OF about $50, 900.
The origin of the fire is to some
extent mystery. 1t started about
10. 40 O'Clock in the southeast corner of
the building and is supposed to have
resulted from crossed electric wires.
Patrolman Kearney saw flames shooting
from the Mount Royal front Of the
building and turned In an alarm. The
| FIRE seemed to spring to all other par is
Of the structure at once and second
alarm was turned In. This brought to
| the scene most of the fire-fghting
apparatus Of the central section OF the
CITY.
The building, being of wood, with a
shell of corrugated iron on the outside,
burned like a finder box. As 1T hap
pened, only two visitors were 10 the
building, having fingered after the
show. They made dash fer the street
and escaped danger. The attendants
OF the animals tried to rescue their
pets, but the fierce rush OF the flames
drove them back. 1t was impossible
to save the animals in the cages.
big Liz. the largest elephant
three canels, three donkeys and two
monkeys were all that were saved.
The animals which persisted In the
flames were as follows; IA lions. In
Guiding cubs; royal Bengal tiger,
jaguars. II puuas, polar bears,
black bears, sun bears, grizzly
tear (blind), Z wolves Is in one cage,
I, IN anotherl, Philippine COW and
calf, 2 cebus, / wapiti, 20 snakes, 4(
dogs, 40 cockatoos, 60 monkeys. {
ponies, / sloth, 3 ant eaters, 60 birds
of many varieties. 2 pigs, I goose,
Thibet bear.
The list does not include mum Der OIL
smaller animals, which were in cages
as happy families &C., nor is il
+ thought to be q complete list of al
those which had separate apartments
No one had such list ut hand. The
above, numbering 324, therefore, il
not approximately correct. 1t is giver
by Herman, the han who wrestles with
the lions.
Madame Piansa, who has been giving
exhibitions with trained lions, made ,
brave attempt to save her four especia
pets She dashed into the building
and worked at the. bars OF the cage
until the approaching flames drove he
away. Madame Morelli, who has ha,
charge of the seven jaguars, tried &
save them. but did not succeed AL
the attendants were compelled to fie
for their lives.
The flames of the burning building
. ~. IL hnk sol @1h,+
general confiagration WAS ip progress
The fire broke out just as the audi
! ences of various theatres were hurryin
homeward and hundreds of person
stopped off ia learn the extent O
!. damage. Two sharp explosions ocourre
:, In the building soon after the fir
!, started. They were caused by gas tank
which had been used in producing cal
cium light effects.
During the progress of the FIRE eevera
electric light wires parted aud droppe
to the street. They spluttered an
wriggled and caused considerable ex
oitement. Flashes of light shot up int
the air and lit up the fast dying flame
creeping about the wooden FRAMEWORK
of the Zoo building.
The police had the greatest troubl
to keep in check the many curiou
persons who were moving franticall
up and down Mount Royal avenue i
4 front of the Zoo. Quite numbe
insisted on exposing their lives
!, jumping over several live wires tina
7 were lying on the pavement
About 11.35 O'Clock three young me
attempted to perform the feat, an
/, seen, ingly were deaf tic warnings {
keep back or meot your death y froi
; patrolInau standing near by.
!, just as hey were within few fec
4 of the fire Marshal Hamilton, in cit
! zen's clothes, noticed their actions
: and. rushing toward them, he fiourishe
: his cane and yelled: Sect right bac
= there. tell you, get back" And th
: three men did get back, much to til
relief of the spectators lined up on th
steps of the houses 10 the nejghbol
hood.
Mr.. Bostock was overcome by b
e misfortune, and was not able to talk
& his plans for the future. He has SHOW
g in Milwaukee and indianapolis siinilt
it to the one destroyed in Baltimore. II
said that Fatima, his Oriental danciu
Il bear, was worth $4,000 A einguli
y thing about the fire, according to M
II Bostock and his treasurer, n. Patricl
d ia that no uproar was heard from ar
It of the animals.
s W4TCHTNG THE W4lsPs.
n
Among my fayurfte insects, writ,