Year: 1872




Shortly after four O'Clock yesterday morning fre
was discovered on the ground door OF the Hippo
theatron building in Fourteenth street, known OF
late as Barnum's Museum. There are several
accounts Of the manner in which the fire was first
seen, but there is no doubt that the first who
discovered 1t was George Nelson, the night
watchman, whose duty it was to patrol the build
Ing at night. He was walking past the immense
cage in which the four giranes were confined and
noticed smoke. He coon found that 1t was coming
up through the chinks OF trapdoor directly beside
the cage. His first impulse was to rush to the
water buckets, which stood full near by, and was
assisted by several other men who were


IN THE BUILDING


at the time. It was very soon seen that water in
such small quantities was insufficient to quencn
whatever fire there was, and Nelson ran to the
street to give the alarm, while the others threw
water on the noor where the smoke was ascending
every moment in denser masses. The alarm was
speedily given and In few moments several
engines came rushing TO the spot. Yet these few
moments suflced to make q serious calamity of
what had at first been supposed matter OF hardly
any consequence The speed Of the fire was Such
tnat the men whQ were fFesent have difficulty In
believing 80 short q time had elapsed between the
nrst breaking out and that when they were obliged
to rush from the building before the growing
names.


below THE SPOT


at which the smoke had been noticed ascending
was large furnace OF new patent, and an inch
or two from the nues which proceeded from this
were woodwork attachments The fire, as usual,
had been kept alive in the large furnace and, being
allowed to burn at will, had heated the fiues to
such an extent that they had gradually carbonized
che adjacent woodwork until 1t caught fire. 1t was,
no doubt, when this had happened that the watch
man first noticed the smoke. But beneath the
h0orlng the entire theatre was nothing but mass
OF board and wood, which when once set on 6re
there was hardly any means Of stopping; for when
che engines got in readiness to play upon the build
ing the flames had already consumed the door of
the theatre and were shooting up on all sides Of the
building. Then curious phenomenon took place.
The walls OF the building are Of thin corrugated
iron, which from the fierce fire at their base heated
rapidly, and, instead OF opposing


A RESISTANCE TO THE FLAMES,


only helped them to spread with greater rapidity,
and, acting like the sides OF stove, engendered an
tnsupportable heat, which made all efforts by the
nremen to enter the building perfectly futile.


In the meantime some ninety or hundred ami
mails were Gagged In the building, and they already
snuned the smoke and showed signs OF apprehcn.
sion. As the noise Of the fire and the heat grew
gradually their excitement increased. The bears





In which rage was strongly developed. Evidently
understanding the position Of things, they lashed
their hanks with fury and sprung with terrific force
against the sides OF their cages as II In an endea-
vor to break them open. Unfortunately, the cages
had been constructed for the express purpose OF
avoiding such possibility and the efforts OF the
wild brutes were impotent. The elephants were
peculiar in their manner Of taking things There
were two fulgrown female elephants and one
baby elephant. The mother and the cub drew up
closely together, while the old one put her trunk
around the young ones body and every now and
then snuifed the air.


TIE THIRD ELEPHANT


grew more excited, and turned about as II seek
lng . way out OF the building. Finally 1t lay
down on its knees. This was when the build
ang had not succumbed to the flames. Several men
rushed in to see what might be saved and made
an opening In the cages where the elephants were
confined. The mother and little one were led out
together, and obeyed the keepers with docility,
though the old elephant still wound Its trunk
closely around the body OF the baby. 1t was not so
with the third elephant, however This one, which
had been imported from Europe only few days
since, continued to lay obstinately on the ground,
aud, though every means were employed, even to
burning, 1t would not stir an inch from the place,
and after futile attempts to make 1t move 1t was
abandoned. II was already too late to save the
giraffes, the most valuable animal property in the
Museum. The fire had already interposed between
the keepers and these beasts and they could not
be reached In any manner.


THE CAMELS


were ten in number They also showed signs OF
the greatest uneasness IS the fire increased and
gave vent to low m0ans, as M suffering morally
more than physically. There was yet chance to
save these and the keepers rushed for them. But
they, like the elephant, were lying down on their
Knees, as they are so familary represented 10 pic
lures ofthe DESERT with the exception OF one,
which seemed to be all excitement and unable to
maintain the quiet philosophical attitude Of the last
TINS one keeper seized by it's bride and led out
y, tne building, while the others could not be made
Sr 70 SUI an inch and also were left as they were
aounu. The two polar bears were meanwhile In an
S0ny OF terror. They had succeeded in getting
.en ,ens armis threugh the bars and with their Inn
~ ~ dvrce Were endeavoring to disodge them, so
pesistcd, and though The h;I0e paws worked con-
wuslvey 10 pun nem asCnder II seemed to be to
and, A'"isi "Au AssS.


THE PLANES GREW HOTTER


and hotter, even those animals which had ahown
the least concern began to manifest the strongest
symptoms or fear. The monkeys partienIarlv
which had quietly sat on their haunches iootng nn