A FEARFUL FIRE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3824, 1 June 1891, Page 2

A FEARFUL FIRE.

A CHICAGO MUSEUM JN FLAMES.

The fiercest and most destructive fire that has Dccurred in Chicago sinoe the great fire of 1871, which resulted in the destruction of the city, broke out on April 14, and swept through West Madisod-street. The extensive retail furniture bouse of Mr John M. Smythe, which was perhaps the largest in the world, was totally destroyed. The Dime Museum of Messrs Kohl and Middleton was also so com-' pletely consumed that nothing is left. Five buildings on the North Bide of the street to the Haymarket Theatre, were likewise destroyed. No fewer than thirty-six fire engines were upon the scene to combat the flames, whilst eight hundred firemen and three hundred police were engaged in combatting the conflagration. The damage and loss occasioned by the fire is estimated at not less than 2,000,000 dol, of which 900,000 dol will be lost by the destruction of Mr Smyth's furniture warehouse. The actors on the stage at Eobl and Middleton's Museum were startled by flames leaping through the windows behind the scenes, which opened on the back premises.. They became .

PANIC-STRICKEN, and jumped wildly over the footlights into the auditorium. Here there were about 800 people attending the hourly performance m the theatre. They caught the infeotion of blind terror, and tore down the stairways, howling and stamping like a tribe of Indians on the warpath. Women- and children, who formed oyer half the audience, were crushed utfder foot and jammed against the door-posts in the narrow exits. Policeman Sheehy made his way' through the smoke and succeeded in releasing twenty caged monkeys that were chattering and screaming in terror. Some of the poor beasts' rushed straight for the flames, and were burnt up in a flash. Others reached the streets and were soon lost to sight along the cornices and awnings over the business places, disappearing in every direction.

THE "FREAKS" were all terribly frightened, but all succeeded in getting out alive. Mclme Carver, the 9001b "fat wom|ra,V dragged herself to one of the back, windows, and was about to throw the," " Midget," who is billed on the boards as her son, into the street, when she was stopped. Dola Lorenap, the albino, was so blinded by the smoke that she was found rushing, wildly about, and was caughUnd rescued only with great difficulty. The " pig-headed boy" had to be dragged out forcibly, as he was unmanageable throujh fright. An enormous boa-constriotor was burned, the firemen being afraid to release it. The reptile lashed about savagely but

vainly, trying to smash the thick plate-glass window which formed its cage walls. The building was soon blazing and roaring like a blast furnace. The walls fell inways within an hour, and there was nothing left of the fine block of buildings but a heap of bricks and cinders.