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DESTRUCTION OF BARNUM'S MUSEUM BY FIRE.

Barnum's Museum in New York city was burned on the night of the 3rd. Tho building was completely gutted and nearly the entire collection of curiosities, together with many of the animals belonging to Van Amburgh's menagerie, was destroyed. A part of the bersts forming the menagerie wero saved. The scene was very exciting, the struggles and noises made by the animals causing many of the spectators to fear that they would break loose. Some of the men] employed in the building succeeded in saving tho giraffe, which was taken out through Mercer-street. It was severely burned. A small elephant, two kangaroos, a leopard, and several other animals were saved through the Broadway entrance. About two o'clock a tiger confined on tho first iloor burst Ihe burs of his cage and sprang through a window to the street. In an instant he turned down Broadway, when a stream of water stopped him. A policeman then stepped up, and with threo pistol shots despatched the beast, and allayed the apprehension of the spectators. The destruction of property was very great, and it is supposed the loss will amount to half a million of dollars. The firemen were fortunate in confining the flames to the building destroyed. The night was one of the most severe of tho season : the hydrants were surrounded by snow and ice ; the hose froze, and tho water froze upon the clothing of firemen, who in many cases stood in water nobly performing their duty, until their limbs became numb with exposure. The room in which the fire broke out was called the Bird Department. It is supposed that tho lire originated from a defective flue. The room above was occupied by the giantess, fat woman, Circassian girl, and others connected with the museum, all of whom escaped. The following is a list of the animals burned : Four lion cubs, four leopards, two hysenas, one white bear, two lynx, four porcupines, two large lions, two black bears, ono ibex, one Brazilian tiger, four kangaroos, two white peacock, together with all the birds, parrots, monkeys, &c, on the upper floor were also burned. The following named animals were taken from the building, some of them badly burned : — One giraffe, one sacred zebra, one young elephant, three llamas, one four-horned ram, one Hindostan goat, two pelicans, one Bengal leopard, one moose, one sacred bull, two camels, two Japanese hogs, one Persian sheep, three kangaroos, two silver pheasants, three porcupines, one wambot. A large number of small animals were also saved. The giraffe waa burned so badly that it is not expected to live. It was valued at 2,000 dollars. The seal rescued from tha fire at the old Museum was burned. 150 pers6ns are thrown out of employment by the fire. Mr. Barnaul says the loss of the Barnum and Van Amburgh Museum and Menagerie Company, including the contents of the Museum, is upwards of 400,000 dollars. The insurances amount to about one-third of this sum. The Museum will not be rebuilt on this site. Tho land Is offered for sale.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18680428.2.18

Bibliographic details

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 51, 28 April 1868, Page 3

Word Count
517

DESTRUCTION OF BARNUM'S MUSEUM BY FIRE. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 51, 28 April 1868, Page 3

DESTRUCTION OF BARNUM'S MUSEUM BY FIRE. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 51, 28 April 1868, Page 3

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