Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-09
FIRE.
A GREAT FIRE IN PARIS. AND HOW II
WAS MANAGED.
Sad Scenes at the Confagration-Patt and
Her Singing The Assassination
of the Gear.
PARIS March -. 1881.

PARIS, March II, 1881.
As general thing the French people
who visit America ridicule our passion for
fires, as they call it, and so that we may
have an opportunity of exercising our per-
fected system of quenching that fiery ele-
ment, accuse us even of setting houses on
fire. They are led to indulge in this last
exaggeration on account of the frequent
opportunities they may have in short
time of witnessing this important opera
| ton. Fires at Paris are certainly of infre-
ouent occurrence, and in all the eight years
| | have resided here | have never yet seen
a fire. The buildings are solldly con-
structed, with solid walls separating each
section, so that often room will be en-
| tirely burned out without the adjoining
rooms being damaged. Fires with US are
generally so disastrous that out OF self
preservation have grown our different In
ventions and the perfection of our system,
yet there is no reason why in America the
| houses should not be as solidly built as in
| Europe, and that Paris should not be as
well provided for putting out fires as New
York or Chicago. The complete destruc.
ton of the Printemps," one of the
largest dry goods stores of the city,
which occurred day before yesterday,
has caused the French people to change
their tune of ridicule to that of admiration
for the perfected fire systems of America.
A store of such dimensions has but its
outer walls for protection, and the material
which fills it is generally but exciting food
| g., H., A., +ha had
but started in this case when discovered,
and had relief been Immediately procured
more than half the building and all the
basement would have been saved. A gen.
tleman, on driving at o'clock in the morn
ing to the st. Lazare station close by,
SAW THE SMOKE
Issuing from the building, and informed
the gardens de la paix. The alarm was
given, and had there been proper instru-
ments at hand the fire would have amounted
to almost nothing but as it was, the en-
gines had to be taken squares away to
procure water, and when it did reach the
fire through these yards and yards of hose
1t was a feeble stream, which could not
strike the first windows above. 1t was s
o'clock before the engines were at work,
and the whole building at that time was
mass of flames. Different companies of
ponlpiers arrived at an early hour, but hav-
ing no ladders and unable to procure water,
they could do nothing. These pompiers are
a courageous, heroic class of men, and
valiantly risk their lives in moments of
danger, that it does seem too bad they
should not profit by advantages easily OBJ
tanned, and so put their valor to more
profitable use. During the Exposition of
rs a number OF improved ladders were
exhibited, and many persons at that time
insisted on the French Government pur-
chasing them, and were at least desrous that
the Municipal Council should invest in them
for the use of the capital, but no attention
was paid to the request, and it is only at
this late day regret is expressed at the in
difference manifested as to life and property
of this crowded city. In the three large
stores of Paris, the employers not only eat
in the establishment, but a majority sleep
in the building as well, and on the occa-
sion of this fire there were two hundred
persons soundi asleep on the topmost story.
The origin of the fire has not yet been
learned, and probably never will be /; it
was first discovered by man employed to
formed the chief superintendent, who in
turn hastened to warn the proprietor, Mr..
Jaluzot. This last gentleman occupied
with his wife the fourth story, which was
exclusively their apartment, and on the
story above lodged the young women and
young men clerks. Mr. Jaluzot, after slip
ping on part of his clothing, descended to
see what could be done, when perceiving
Aar,ac Ri ra,,iJyt1r
owing to the light fabrics of embroidery
served as light fuel, he remounted the
stairs with
EVEN GREATER HASTE
To save his wife and awaken the sleeping
people. He had the presence of mind to
seize his hunting horn, and, blowing it
with all his force, he reused the inmates,
who sprang from their beds with as much
terror as ON listening to the trumpet to be
sounded on Judgment day. The greatest
confusion ensued; there were cries for help
In all directions, and as the fire had broken
out in that part containing the principal
stairway, there was fearful panic. Nine.
Jaluzot was able to escape by small stair
case, but even that was almost Immediately
afterwards enveloped In flames, so that
these young girls and clerks had to save
themselves by attaching their sheets and
letting themselves down ON to balcony,
and from there climb over to another bal
cony of the adjoining house. Nine. Jalu-
zot had had time to slip dark wrapper
over her, but these young girls-a whole
regiment of them-were on the sidewalk
in their bare feet and with nothing ON
them but their thin, white night-dresses
nor were they able to save anything-all
was lost to them-all their clothes, their
relics and their savings. The disaster was
terrible. The poor pompiers, having neither
water nor instruments to work with, at.
tempted acts of great bravery, for which
they paid, some with their lives, others
with severe wounds. Opposite the
"Printemps" is the apothecary shop of
Mr.. Rogers, an American, who turned his
rooms into temporary hospital, and it
was here all the wounded were carried
and attended to. Mr.. Rogers placed all
medicines and instruments at the disposal
of the different physicians who attended
the unfortunate creatures, for which kind
ness and generosity he has been highly
complimented by the authorities and Landed
by all the newspapers, that it must be g an
ill wind which blows nobody good" One
OF the poor firemen, while upon the wall
FELL INTO THE FIRE,
And although all the water power was di.
rected to that spot, it was half hour be-
fore he could be rescued; he was
found with half his body burned, and still
alive. As they carried him to the hospital
one of his comrades said, Courage, my
friend; | am sure you will be decorated
The poor creature smiled sadly, and before
the hospital was reached he had breathed
his last. Mr.. Jaiuzot's groom had his
hands badly burned, and he was so be.
wildered by the event that his mind be.
came deranged, and they were obliged to
retain him by main force to prevent him
from rushing into the flames, too. as he