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〃Hats were lost； coats torn； boots burst and pantaloons dropped with magnificent miscellaneousness； and dozens of those who rose from the miry streets into which they had been thrown looked like the disembodied spirits of a mud bank。 The snakes crawled on the sidewalk and into Broadway； where some of them died from injuries received； and others were dispatched by the excited populace。 Several of the serpents of the copper…head species escaped the fury of the tumultuous masses； and； true to their instincts； sought shelter in the World and News offices。 A large black bear escaped from the burning Museum into Ann street； and then made his way into Nassau； and down that thoroughfare into Wall； where his appearance caused a sensation。 Some superstitious persons believed him the spirit of a departed Ursa Major； and others of his fraternity welcomed the animal as a favorable omen。 The bear walked quietly along to the Custom House； ascended the steps of the building； and became bewildered； as many a biped bear has done before him。 He seemed to lose his sense of vision； and； no doubt； endeavoring to operate for a fall； walked over the side of the steps and broke his neck。 He succeeded in his object； but it cost him dearly。 The appearance of Bruin in the street sensibly affected the stock market； and shares fell rapidly； but when he lost his life in the careless manner we have described； shares advanced again； and the Bulls triumphed once more。
〃Broadway and its crossings have not witnessed a denser throng for months than assembled at the fire yesterday。 Barnum's was always popular； but it never drew so vast a crowd before。 There must have been forty thousand people on Broadway； between Maiden Lane and Chambers street； and a great portion stayed there until dusk。 So great was the concourse of people that it was with difficulty pedestrians or vehicles could pass。
〃After the fire several high…art epicures； groping among the ruins； found choice morsels of boiled whale； roasted kangaroo and fricasseed crocodile； which； it is said； they relished； though the many would have failed to appreciate such rare edibles。 Probably the recherche epicures will declare the only true way to prepare those meats is to cook them in a Museum wrapped in flames； in the same manner that the Chinese； according to Charles Lamb； first discovered roast pig in a burning house； and ever afterward set a house on fire with a pig inside； when they wanted that particular food。〃
All the New York journals； and many more in other cities； editorially expressed their sympathy with the misfortune； and their sense of the loss the community had sustained in the destruction of the American Museum。 The following editorial is from the New York Tribune of July 14； 1865：
〃The destruction of no building in this city could have caused so much excitement and so much regret as that of Barnum's Museum。 The collection of curiosities was very large； and though many of them may not have had much intrinsic or memorial value； a considerable portion was certainly of great worth for any Museum。 But aside from this； pleasant memories clustered about the place； which for so many years has been the chief resort for amusement to the common people who cannot often afford to treat themselves to a night at the more expensive theatres； while to the children of the city； Barnum's has been a fountain of delight； ever offering new attractions as captivating and as implicitly believed in as the Arabian Nights Entertainments： Theatre； Menagerie and Museum； it amused； instructed； and astonished。 If its thousands and tens of thousands of annual visitors were bewildered sometimes with a Wooly Horse； a What is It？ or a Mermaid； they found repose and certainty in a Giraffe； a Whale or a Rhinoceros。 If wax effigies of pirates and murderers made them shudder lest those dreadful figures should start out of their glass cases and repeat their horrid deeds； they were reassured by the presence of the mildest and most amiable of giants； and the fattest of mortal women； whose dead weight alone could crush all the wax figures into their original cakes。 It was a source of unfailing interest to all country visitors； and New York to many of them was only the place that held Barnum's Museum。 It was the first thingoften the only thingthey visited when they came among us； and nothing that could have been contrived； out of our present resources； could have offered so many attractions； unless some more ingenious showman had undertaken to add to Barnum's collection of waxen criminals by putting in a cage the live Boards of the Common Council。 We mourn its loss； but not as without consolation。 Barnum's Museum is gone； but Barnum himself； happily； did not share the fate of his rattlesnakes and his； at least； most 〃un…Happy Family。〃 There are fishes in the seas and beasts in the forest； birds still fly in the air； and strange creatures still roam in the deserts； giants and pigmies still wander up and down the earth； the oldest man； the fattest woman； and the smallest baby are still living； and Barnum will find them。
〃Or even if none of these things or creatures existed； we could trust to Barnum to make them out of hand。 The Museum； then； is only a temporary loss； and much as we sympathize with the proprietor； the public may trust to his well…known ability and energy to soon renew a place of amusement which was a source of so much innocent pleasure； and had in it so many elements of solid excellence。〃
As already stated； Mr。 Barnum's insurance was but forty thousand dollars while the loss was fully four hundred thousand； and as his premium was five per cent。； he had already paid the insurance companies more than they returned to him。
His first impulse； on reckoning up his losses； was to retire from active life and all business occupations； beyond what his real estate interests in Bridgeport and New York would compel。 He went to his old friend； Horace Greeley； and asked for advice on the subject。
〃Accept this fire as a notice to quit； and go a…fishing；〃 said Mr。 Greeley。
〃What？〃 exclaimed Barnum。
〃Yes； go a…fishing；〃 replied Greeley。 〃Why； I have been wanting to go for thirty years； and have never yet found time to do so。〃
And but for two considerations Barnum might have taken this advice。 One hundred and fifty employees were thrown out of work at a season when it would have been difficult to get anything else to do。 That was the most important consideration。 Then； too； Barnum felt that a large city like New York needed a good Museum； and that his experience of a quarter of a century in that direction afforded the greatest facilities for founding another establishment of the kind。 So he took a few days for reflection。
The Museum employees were tendered a benefit at the Academy of Music； at which most of the dramatic artists in the city gave their services。 At the conclusion Barnum was called for； and made a brilliant speech； in which he announced that he had decided to establish another Museum； and that； in order to give present occupation to his employees； he had engaged the Winter Garden Theatre for a few weeks； his new establishment promising to be ready by fall。
The New York Sun commented on the sp