Tuesday, September 9, 2014

A SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINMENT AND BARNUM'S CIRCUS BURNED OUT



The Cortland Democrat, Friday, November 25, 1887.
A Successful Entertainment.
   The entertainment given under the auspices of the W. C. T. U., in the Congregational church, last Monday evening, was largely patronized, and duly appreciated. Prof. Von Schauppenhausen (alias Dr. Nash) certainly had a very foreign look in his professional habiliments, notwithstanding he talked in the "United States" dialect. His mode of instructing his pupils in the rudiments of music so that they will be able to render the most difficult pieces in an hour's time, was truly novel and amusing, and called forth frequent applause.
   A canvas was spread out in an erect position upon the stage, upon which was a representation of the rising and falling of the scales, and each note had an aperture in it of sufficient size to admit a person's head, which was occupied by the "Humanophones," and through which they received the instructions of their preceptor and teacher. They made great progress under the Professor's thorough training, and learned to sing like "nightingales' in an incredibly short space of time. Both the musical and literary part of the programme were all very fine, and, should it be repeated; we predict for it a still larger house.

Herr Johann Most
[Editorials/Page Two]
   Gov. Bub Foraker, of Ohio, ran behind his ticket in Hamilton county, his own home, about 6,000 votes. Evidently his neighbors appreciate him at his true value.
   Many good people in this and surrounding counties would be pleased to be informed of the present whereabouts of Clark's Anti-Saloon party. It is many months since it has been heard from.
   The Board of Supervisors selected the Homer Republican and the Cortland DEMOCRAT to publish the session laws for the ensuing year. The Cortland Standard would undoubtedly have stood a good chance had it seen fit to support the Republican county ticket during the last campaign.
   A member of the Republican County Committee says, that he has no doubt but that the Standard would have supported the Republican candidate for Coroner during the last campaign, if it could have been made to appear to the editor of that paper, that such action would not help the balance of the county ticket.
   Herr Most, the Anarchist, was arranged before Judge Cowing in New York last week on the charge of uttering seditious language in a speech made to some of his fellows immediately after the hanging of his comrades in Chicago. Bail was fixed at $1,500, which was furnished by a red-headed woman named Hoffman.
   The Syracuse Journal announces that the coming legislature "will put Gov. Hill on record more clearly than ever before." That was about all the republicans in the Assembly and Senate tried to do last winter, but the Governor's record came out very bright while his would-be tormentors left nothing but bad records behind them. In other days a giant tackled a party of the same name and it wasn't David that was worsted.
   Jimmy Husted, better known perhaps as "step-ladder Husted," wants to be speaker of the Assembly again. Fremont Cole, of Steuben County, who is a friend of Platt, wants the same place. Husted thinks he will get the place. Platt says he won’t. There is every opportunity for an interesting fight between these two shining lights of republicanism, and there will be few mourners over the defeat of either. Platt hates Husted most cordially for using the step-ladder to look through the transom and Husted hates Platt, because he knows the latter hates him. The republican party ought to be proud of the prominence given these two men.

BARNUM BURNED OUT.
The Showman's Winter Quarters at Bridgeport Destroyed—Nearly a Million Lost.
   BOSTON, NOV. 30.—A special to the Globe from Bridgeport, Ct., says that the main building of Barnum & Bailey's "greatest show on earth," was entirely destroyed by fire this evening. About 10:30 o clock an alarm was sounded, quickly followed by a general alarm, and thousands of persons were attracted to the spot. In less than 30 minutes the big building, which was 600x200 feet and two stories in height, was entirely consumed.
   The first intimation of the fire was given by the roaring of the lions and tigers, which seemed to realize the impending danger. Next the elephants struggled in their chains, but in an incredibly short time the flames swept from one of the huge structures to the other. There were six watchmen employed on the premises but they were helpless to check the flames. One of the men was in the horse building when his lantern exploded igniting the hay and straw.
   Five of the watchmen have reported but one is missing. The upper portion of the building was filled with hay and all the paraphernalia of the great show.
   Before the first alarm ceased sounding the whole building was enveloped in fire and no one dared to approach the building being fearful of the crazed animals. Three elephants were burned and thirty-six broke from their fastenings and dashed through the side of the burning building, their roars and trumpeting and sounds of torment were terrific.
   Six elephants and a large African hippopotamus rushed about the streets presenting a sickening appearance. Their sides were burned, and great pieces of flesh one foot square fell off. Thirty elephants and one large lion made their escape, and have started off across the country toward Fairfield and Easton. Great alarm has seized a great many residents of the west end and they have taken refuge within their houses.
   In the horse room were all the ring animals, trained stallions, ponies, etc. These were all burned. In the upper rooms were tents, poles, seats, harness, etc., for the entire show and these too were all destroyed. In the cat room were the birds, monkeys, rhinoceroses, hyenas, tigers, lions, and all the menageries which fell a prey to the flames.
   So rapid did the flames leap across the main building that the firemen made no attempt at it; but turned their streams upon the chariot buildings and car sheds which they succeeded in saving. The total loss is estimated at $700,000 upon which there was but $100,000 insurance.
   Before the building went down Barnum's agents stated that the new show building will likely be built at Jersey City on account of better railroad facilities there. Mr. Barnum is in New York.



In an Elephant’s Stomach.

   BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Nov. 24.—Drs. Seguin and Godfrey have secured and examined the stomach of Alice, Jumbo's widow, who was burned to death in the recent fire. It has proved a perfect bonanza and possessed all the treasures of a curiosity shop. Little did this particular elephant dream when she demurely stole and swallowed pennies one by one, cutlery, etc., that they would be recovered. The stomach was found full of hay, and in the hay was found between three and four hundred pennies, part of a jackknife, a job lot of cane ferrules, a coil of lead pipe and a collection of assorted pebbles. The elephant Gracie, which was drowned, has floated over to Long Beach and lies buried in the sand. Nearby is a summer resort. The skeleton will be ready for next summer's opening.
 

AUCTION.
   On Tuesday, November 29, A. P. Rowley will sell at auction on his farm in South Cortland, 15 Young Dairy Cows (High grade Durhams,) 4 grade Jersey heifers, coming two years old, 1 Thoroughbred Jersey bull, 3 years old and perfectly kind, bred by August Belmont, of Newport, R. I., and sired by Duke Ipswich; dam Bell by the Sea; 1 thoroughbred Jersey bull, coming one year old, sired by Baton Rouge; dam Blue Ribbon; 1 good sized chestnut work mare, 2 lumber wagons, 1 Top Buggy, 1 Open Buggy, 1 McCormick self-Binder, 2 Mowing-Machines, 1 Wheel-Rake, 1 Revolving Rake, 1 set Double Harness (light), 1 set Heavy, 1 Kalamazoo Fanning mill, 1 McLean Churn Power and Half-Barrel churn, 1 16 cow set Jewitt Milk-Pans, 1 six-foot Wheel Whipple-Cultivator, 1 Smoothing Harrow, 2 Corn Cultivators, 1 Side-Hill Plow, 1 Syracuse Plow, 1 pair bob-sleighs, 1 Hay Rack, 1 Grain Cradle, and other farming tools too numerous to mention. Also 40-tons of hay. Under $10, cash down; over that amount a credit of 9 months on approved notes bearing interest. Sale commences at 10A. M.

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