Dreamland

Note: This story is based on a real place, and a real event. People and animals tragically die. Reader discretion is advised for this reason.

Dreamland had to be the most magical place on Earth. At the very least the most magical place in America. People traveled from far and near to come and see the wonders it held behind its entrance, guarded by a great stone angel whose wings became the arch in which you entered through.

Once inside, the wonders spread out before you, and seemed to go for miles. You could go to Venice and ride in a gondola, gliding down Venetian canals. Board a sleek red sleigh and take a ride through the Swiss Alps, complete with concealed pipes that blew refrigerated air at you, chilling you to the bone.

You could discover Midget City, and see how a city built just for them would look and function. Or, you could learn about baby incubation, and see the largest baby incubator building ever made, filled with living babies in real incubators! View the wonders of a human zoo, and see how far we have really come as a society.

If you crave more excitement, Dreamland can offer you this as well. Such as death defying roller coasters, or perhaps Bostock's Animal Arena, where lions, tigers, hyenas and even polar bears are tamed, and perform amazing shows with their trainer. There was also Shoot-the-Chutes, a monumental slide you ride in a boat down, and shoot out onto the water, flying under a bridge as people walk by above you! It's as exhilarating as it is refreshing on those hot summer days and nights, I think.

For the most daring, there are three well known attractions. The Destruction of Pompeii, where Mount Vesuvius erupts, and you are there to witness its great destruction! The finale to this attraction is surely the most breathtaking performance I had ever seen! Also, there is the Village of Moqui Indians, where snake dancers put real rattlesnakes in their mouths! Finally, there is the End of the World show. A four part show depicting the book of Revelations, and not for the faint of heart.

And there is more! So much more to explore in Dreamland! I've come to enjoy everything Dreamland has had to offer for years now. This year they have a new attraction, and I intend to experience this one for the first time at night! Hell Gate, a boat ride through the underworld, with caverns, stalagmites and stalactites. An attraction to surely make any person tremble in fear as they tour such a terrifying place!

After a fun filled day in the sun, complete with a viewing of the Congress of Curious People and Freak Street, I stood on the Beacon Tower and watched as the sun went down. "What an exciting finale to my day", I thought.

The perfect ending to a perfect day.

If only I knew how wrong I truly was.

Dreamland at night sparkled like a diamond, with more lights than the Heavens. The air was warm and the breeze felt amazing as it caressed my arms and face. I stood in line to finally experience Hell Gate. Dreamland would be closing soon, and I would be on the last ride. I looked up to see a demon, wings spread staring down at me, his pointed ears and horns a jagged silhouette against the night sky.

It was then I heard it. It sounded far away. A shout... maybe a scream? The attraction must be so terrifying, the people inside are loud enough to hear outside. Then a second sound. A roaring sound, not from a living being, though. It sounded like... fire. Well, of course, I mean. Hell Gate, surely there was a fire element inside, that made sense. The screaming became louder, and I saw a flicker on the wall to the entrance that I hadn't noticed before.

Just then a man in overalls came running out, some of his flesh still on fire in areas where it appeared something had exploded upon him. The smell of burning flesh and clothing nearly gagged me, as the man ran past me, screaming for everyone to "run"!

The roar I had heard earlier suddenly got much louder, and fire spilled from Hell Gate like a dam that had burst open. Pandemonium ensued as the last of the park goers stampeded for the front archway, pushing each other in their fear and haste, making some of them fall to the ground. Cries, screams, and shouts were all you could hear.

"The babies!" I heard one woman scream, and multiple people, men and women, echoed those words. A group of people ran into the baby incubation building, and you saw them all, including nurses, running out with the babies who had once been in their capsules. The babies were crying and screaming from being woken up and hastily taken.

"Bostock's animals!" The cry, I thought, was to save Bostock's exotic animals. However, he had already begun releasing them, and they were now attacking the running people like they were prey, ripping men and women to shreds, bones crunching in their jaws. I could hear a pained roaring coming from a ways away, and I could smell burning fur and flesh. Not all of the animals had been freed, as the fire kept spreading faster and faster because of the breeze. Bostock simply couldn't reach them all fast enough to move them all to safety.

Then I heard the sound of a gun. I assumed it was someone firing upon the feasting animals, but when I looked in the direction it had come from, it was coming from the shooting gallery. The fire had reached the bullets, and the loaded guns inside. I watched in horror as a running woman was shot in the head and fell to the ground, dead.

The Midget City had a waterfall of little people running out of their homes and into the night. They were all crying and shouting, horrified by what was happening, and crying because they were losing everything.

I heard more screaming coming from a building known as "Alligator Joe's". I had never gone inside because it was filled with reptiles, including alligators and sea cows. I heard the words "can't you help?!" and "they are being boiled alive!"

It all happened so fast. My head was whirling, and I can't remember what I did... How long had I stood and watched these horrors? Did I stand and watch, or did I run and see all of these horrors as I fled... It's all a blur.

The last thing I saw before I ran under the front gate to safety was Beacon Tower tumbling down in a fiery blaze. A falling pillar of smoke and flame crashing down onto Surf Ave.

This all happened on May 26th, in 1911. Today is November 3rd, 1961. I'm writing this story again, because they all say I went crazy after that day. That I didn't see or hear what I thought I had. The tragedy wasn't that bad, the park was closed when the fire started. They are liars! I know what I saw, I have nothing to hide! No one else was brave enough to say anything after the owners sent men to all of our homes. I told them I'd never be silent! I will get the truth out, and be heard! Perhaps today, finally, with your help, I will accomplish this life long goal. Perhaps whoever is reading this will share my story. Share the truth! Please don't throw it away like all of the others! People should know what really happened that day. You now know what happened that day! Please tell people. Please tell them I'm not crazy. Please.