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Several monkeys escaped from the burning building to the neighboring roofs and streets； and considerable excitement was caused by the attempts to secure them。 One of the most amusing incidents in this respect； was in connection with Mr。 James Gordon Bennett。 The veteran editor of the Herald was sitting in his private office； with his back to the open window； calmly discussing with a friend the chances that the Herald establishment would escape the conflagration； which at that time was threateningly advancing up Ann street towards Nassau street。 In the course of his conversation； Mr。 Bennett observed： 'Although I have usually had good luck in cases of fire； they say that the devil is ever at one's shoulder； and'here an exclamation from his friend interrupted him； and turning quickly he was considerably taken aback at seeing the devil himself； or something like him； at his very shoulder as he spoke。 Recovering his equanimity； with the ease and suavity which is usual with him in all company； Mr。 Bennett was about to address the intruder； when he perceived that what he had taken for the gentleman in black was nothing more than a frightened orang…outang。 The poor creature； but recently released from captivity； and doubtless thinking that he might fill some vacancy in the editorial corps of the paper in question； had descended by the water…pipe and instinctively taken refuge in the inner sanctum of the establishment。 Although the editorperhaps from the fact that he saw nothing peculiarly strange in the visitationsoon regained his composure； it was far otherwise with his friend； who immediately gave the alarm。 Mr。 Hudson rushed in and boldly attacked the monkey； grasping him by the throat。 The book…editor next came in； obtaining a clutch upon the brute by the ears； the musical critic followed and seized the tail with both hands； and a number of reporters； armed with inkstands and sharpened pencils； came next； followed by a dozen policemen with brandished clubs； at the same time； the engineer in the basement received the preconcerted signal and got ready his hose； wherewith to pour boiling hot water upon the heads of； those in the streets； in case it should prove a regular systematized attack by gorillas； Brazil apes； and chimpanzees。 Opposed to this formidable combination the rash intruder fared badly； and was soon in durance vile。 Numerous other incidents of a similar kind occurred； but some of the most amusing were in connection with the wax figures。
〃Upon the same impulse which prompts men in time of fire to fling valuable looking…glasses out of three…story windows； and at the same time tenderly to lower down feather bedssoon after the Museum took fire； a number of sturdy firemen rushed into the building to carry out the wax figures。 There were thousands of valuable articles which might have been saved if there had been less of solicitude displayed for the miserable effigies which are usually exhibited under the appellation of 'wax figures。' As it was； a dozen firemen rushed into the apartment where the figures were kept； amid a multitude of crawling snakes； chattering monkeys and escaped paroquets。 The 'Dying Brigand' was unceremoniously throttled and dragged towards the door； liberties were taken with the tearful 'Senorita' who has so long knelt and so constantly wagged her doll's head at his side； the mules of the other bandits were upset； and they themselves roughly seized。 The full…length statue of P。 T。 Barnum fell down of its own accord； as if disgusted with the whole affair。 A red…shined fireman seized with either hand Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan by their coat…collars； tucked the Prince Imperial of France under one arm and the Veiled Murderess under the other； and coolly departed for the street。 Two ragged boys quarreled over the Tom Thumb； but at length settled the controversy by one of them taking the head； the other satisfying himself with the legs below the knees。 They evidently had Tom under their thumbs； and intended to keep him down。 While the curiosity…seeking policeman was garroting Benjamin Franklin； with the idea of abducting him； a small monkey； flung from the windowsill by the strong hand of an impatient fireman； made a straight dive； hitting Poor Richard just below the waistcoat； and passing through his stomach； as fairly as the Harlequin in the 'Green Monster' pantomime ever pierced the picture with the slit in it； which always hangs so conveniently low and near。 Patrick Henry had his teeth knocked out by a flying missile； and in carrying Daniel Lambert down stairs； he was found to be so large that they had to break off his head in order to get him through the door。 At length the heat became intense； the 'figgers' began to perspire freely； and the swiftly approaching flames compelled all hands to desist from any further attempt at rescue。 Throwing a parting glance behind as we passed down the stairs； we saw the remaining dignitaries in a strange plight。 Some one had stuck a cigar in General Washington's mouth； and thus； with his chapeau crushed down over his eyes and his head leaning upon the ample lap of Moll Pitcher； the Father of his Country led the van of as sorry a band of patriots as not often comes within one's experience to see。 General Marion was playing a dummy game of poker with General Lafayette； Governor Morris was having a set…to with Nathan Lane； and James Madison was executing a Dutch polka with Madam Roland on one arm and Luicretia Borgia on the other。 The next moment the advancing flames compelled us to retire。
〃We believe that all the living curiosities were saved； but the giant girl； Anna Swan； was only rescued with the utmost difficulty。 There was not a door through which her bulky frame could obtain a passage。 It was likewise feared that the stairs would break down； even if she should reach them。 Her best friend； the living skeleton； stood by her as long as he dared； but then deserted her； while； as the heat grew in intensity； the perspiration rolled from her face in little brooks and rivulets； which pattered musically upon the floor。 At length； as a last resort； the employees of the place procured a lofty derrick which fortunately happened to be standing near； and erected it alongside of the Museum。 A portion of the wall was then broken off on each side of the window； the strong tackle was got in readiness； the tall woman was made fast to one end and swung over the heads of the people in the street； with eighteen men grasping the other extremity of the line； and lowered down from the third story； amid enthusiastic applause。 A carriage of extraordinary capacity was in readiness； and； entering this； the young lady was driven away to a hotel。
〃When the surviving serpents； that were released by the partial burning of the box in which they were contained； crept along on the floor to the balcony of the Museum and dropped on the sidewalk； the crowd； seized with St。 Patrick's aversion to the reptiles； fled with such precipitate haste that they knocked each other down and trampled on one another in the most reckless and damaging manner。
〃Hats were lost； coats torn； boots burst and pantaloons dropped with magnificent miscellaneousness； and dozens of those who rose from the miry st