Articles on a Benefit for Barnum's Employees

     Includes a list of employees affected by the fire.  “Contributions to the New Museum.

     The following letter was received by Mr. Barnum yesterday: -

New York, July 14, 1865.

P.T. Barnum, Esq.: -

     Sir – Considering the burning of your time-honored Museum a public calamity, and anxious to aid as far as in my power towards the beginning of a new collection of relics and curiosities to be exhibited under your management, I beg to place at your disposal a lot of rarities from Arizona and the Pacific coast, gathered during recent explorations there; also a collection of relics of the Crimean war, made during my sojourn at Sebastopol in 1854-5.  I shall be glad if this humble example of interest in the upbuilding of a new museum is followed by other individuals, who have had opportunities to secure articles worthy of preservation and of public exhibition.  I am your obedient servant,
    R. C. McCormick, Secretary of Arizona.

The Museum Employes [sic].

     Every one will sympathize with the employes [sic] of the Museum, nearly all of whom have been heavy losers by the fire.  The actors and actresses have lost their wardrobes and other articles; the clerks, ushers, superintendents, and numbers of other attaches have lost considerable property which they had been in the habit of keeping in the establishment, and, in addition, are now thrown out of employment.  It has been suggested that the theatrical profession of this city give them a benefit at the Academy of Music.  Numbers of these employes [sic] called on Mr. Barnum yesterday, anxious to know what course he intended to pursue.  The store No. 35 Chambers street was filled with ladies and gentlemen, with whom our public are familiar as appearing daily and nightly on the boards of the Museum theatre.  Many of them are now left in rather straightened circumstances, and it would be well for the public to look to those who have so long catered for their amusement.  Millions have gone away from Barnum’s Museum in high spirits and well pleased with what they saw and heard.  Many a pleasant hour has been spent within its walls, many a hearty laugh evoked, many an afternoon whiled away which would otherwise have been dull and profitless.  The ladies and gentlemen who have thus contributed so much towards the public amusements should not be forgotten in their hour of trial.  There are nearly one hundred of them.  The following are the names of some of those who have suffered most from the conflagration: -” [Lists employees of Barnum’s Museum affected by the fire.]

     “Meeting of Attaches of Barnum’s Museum. – A number of the attaches of Barnum’s Museum met at St. David’s Hall, Canal street, yesterday morning.  All those who, so short a time since, used to occupy their mornings at rehearsal for some sensational drama were there.  Tony Denier, the American one-legged dancer, on his last legs; Mr. Harrison, the improvisator, with his ‘heart bowed down;’ the tragedian, who was wont to walk the boards with many a strut, and the comedian, who used to convulse the audience with laughter – all were there, and Mr. John Bridgman was in the chair.  Thrown out of employment, and many of them having had their wardrobes burned, they met to concoct some means by which to relieve their immediate wants.  The general idea was the suggestion of the Herald: to obtain a hall and give a public performance, and a committee was appointed to procure a place suited for a grand entertainment on Friday next.  The committee was composed of Messrs. Fox, Denier, Cunningham, Connolly, Harrison, Cohn, Woodroffe, Tiffany, Lusby, Grossi, King, Burns, Lawrence, R.S. and T. Walker and R. Cutler.

     We would call the attention of the profession and others to the accompanying card: -

     The late disastrous fire having caused to a large number of actors, employes [sic] and attaches of the Museum the entire loss of their wardrobes and other valuable property, and also taken away the means of support to themselves and families, they appeal to a generous public, and to their professional associates, for their kind support and co-operation at their proposed benefit next Friday afternoon and evening.  The theatre at which the performance will take place will be announced as soon as final arrangements are made.  In the meanwhile they invite all friends who desire to aid them on this occasion to address John Bridgman, chairman, at the committee’s headquarters, No. 438 ½ Broadway.

     The Late Fire. – The loss of Mr. John Duane, No. 146 Fulton street, was not stated in the account of the late fire given yesterday.  It was $13,000, on which he held insurance for $10,000.

     Among the parties suffering by the fire who have not been noticed in the newspapers was Mr. Hugh Martin, No. 151 Fulton street, dealer in boots and shoes.  His loss was $3,000.  $1,500 of which was covered by a policy in the North River Insurance Company.

To the Editor of the Herald.

     Your statement in the Herald that the Albany City Fire Insurance Company are insurers with the North American Insurance Company on the stock of Jones & Kenwood, Nos. 10 and 12 Ann street, for $10,000 is erroneous.  This company have no policies on those numbers, or in favor of that firm.
T.H. Crosby

To The Editor of the Herald.

     In your list of sufferers at the calamitous fire at Barnum’s Museum my name was omitted.  I beg to say the whole of my stage apparel was lost, and I had to escape from the street balcony into No. 214 (next door), and finding the wax figure of Jeff. Davis in crinoline blockaded the way, I assisted in pitching him over among the crowd.
W.B. Harrison.”