The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-25
FIRE AT CIRCUS QUARTERS
BARNUM Dc BAILEY,S DAMAGED
no EXTENT OF 500, 900.
Excitement During the Removal of
Fourteen Elephants Their Loud
Trumpeting Causes Rumor That They
Had Escaped-six Brand New Pull
mans Bnrned-The sGold Caro- Badly
. Damaged.

Bridgeport. Feb. 24-Fire, this after
noon, partly destroyed the new brick
car barn at the winter quarters of the
Barnum & Bailey circus on the west
side of this city and burned a number
of cars belonging to the circus. The
loss is estimated at 100000, on which
there is insurance of $33, 900.
The fire originated in the south end
of the building, where painters and
decorators were at work preparing the
cars for use. In some manner a lamp
was overturned and fell to the floor in
the midst of quantity of benzine and
other infiammable material which i'm
mediately burst into flame and COM
municated to the building and cars.
Two alarms of fire were Immediately
sounded and six fire companies re-
sponded. The entrance of the building
was a mass of flame which prevented
the removal of any of the cars, but a
fireproof partition in the middle of the
building was dropped and saved twelve
Of the cars in the north end of the
structure.
While the fire was at its height a
cornice fell, carrying to the ground
with it twelve firemen, who were at
work on the roof. The men were con-
siderably bruised but no bones were
broken and they continued their work.
Considerable excitement was caused
during the removal of fourteen ele-
phants which were quartered in a
building adjoining the car barns. There
We're a large number of cars standing
on the tracks outside the barn and
some Of these We're blazing It was
necessary to remove the elephants
through door facing the burning
building and across the tracks between
rows of burning and smoking cars. In
order to accomplish this safely the four
keepers took one animal out at a time
until the entire herd was removed. The
loud trumpeting of the elephants while
they We're being driven to a place of
safety gave rise to a rumor that the
animals had broken loose. This rumor
rapidly spread around the city and oc
casioned much excitement and alarm.
The other animals, however, We're In
danger at no time. s..., 3.
LAC IliS was CuIIlIOl III dUOuL
AZ half an hour AS a result of the blaze
six brand new Pullman cars, which,
were used for the transportation of the
star performers of the circus, and two
new fiat cars We're entirely destroyed.
The Pullmans were valued at $4,000
each and the flat cars at $4,000. More
than one hundred and fifty feet of the
barns was burned to the ground and
ten stock cars which were standing out
side the barn We're considerably dam
aged.
'The Gold Car which was inside the
burning building was also badly dam
aged. This car which was to have been
used for advertising purposes is said to
have been the finest of it's kind in ex-
istence. Gold leaf was used exclusive
ly in the decorations, which are said to
have cost over $4,000. This was dam
aged to the extent of $4,000.
The show is due to open in about
three weeks at Madison Square Gar
den, New York, and the loss of the
cars will cause considerable inconven-
ience as work was being rushed in
preparation for the initial performance
Of the season. Superintendent John
McLachlan, however, is authority for
the statement that the opening will not
be delayed. =