During the colossal fire at the new American Museum, some of the animals in Barnum's menagerie escaped into the streets of New York City. A tiger was shot dead in the street by a member of the New York Police Department.
A Dramatic Scene in New York City
From Robert McNamara, About.com
Everything associated with Barnum was somehow dramatic.
Barnum's Tiger Escapes
courtesy New York Public Library©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.
All rights reserved.