Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-06


as we neared them pieces of burning de-
bris fell in showers upon our heads and
we were unable to reach these unfor-
tunates who were then burning ike
torches. They had ceased to stir and they
soon entirely disappeared in the flames
The witnesses Of this awful scene groaned
and wept
The awful drama was then at its height
In the midst of Kissing. cracking flames
we heard the shrieks of the victims, but
they were ~peedily stilled.
Seeing the hopeiessness of saving the
bazaar the firemen turned their attention
to the adjoining convent, up the walls Of
which the flames were leaping.
In few moments the bazaar collapsed
with q frightful crash enveloping the vi
cinity in flaming debris.
Il was able to approach It, on all sides
were the bodies Of lately elegantly dressed
people many Of them stretched on their
backs with arms extended, as though APP
peallng for help.
Owing 10 tie heat we were unable to
give the remains the attention which
would have permitted their relatives to
identify them.
The space in which we were standing
was speedily invaded by despairing crowds
Of relatives, some q whom had TO be tore
IDLY prevented from leaping into the
flames"
The bazaar was opposite Baron Roths-
chlld's stables. One Of the grooms saved
many Of the people whose clothing was in
flames. by drcnching them with the stable
hose.
Gen. Mennier with his clothes ablaze.
rushed into the stable yard and plunged
into a tank of water.
Shortly before three o'clock this after
noon the police officials announced that
sixty-throe corpses had been officially
identified. and II was also officially stated
that the total number Of dead would noc
exceed III.
During the afternoon the bodies Of The
Duchesse de Alencon and six others were
identified.
The Duchessc de Alencon was the sister
of the Empress of Austria and of the wife
of Prince Ferdinand Of Orleans. She was
a Duchesse of Bavaria. and was born in
1Sl7 and married in 1865. Her daughter,
Princess Louise is married TO Prince AL
phonso OF Bavaria, and her son, Prince
Philippe is the husband Of Princess Her
ric,te Of Belgium.
The former Queen of Naples Is one Of
her sisters. The Duchess was a woman Of
great wealth and one Of the most prom
inent ladies Of France.
The remains Of the Duchess were iden-
titled by her dentist, who examined the
tooth OF a charred body which was be-
liovcd to be hers
Among the last 10 escape from the burn
ing building was the BarOnne de Reuter-,
formerly Miss Beatrice Potter, of Phila-
dephia
The Grand Opera House the Opera
Comique the Theatre Francois and the
Odon will be closed tonight as mark of
respect for the families Of the victims.
The unidentified bodies rs we'll as the
Jewels recovered from the debris have
been photographed by the Bertillion meth
cd. The funeral service of the victims
has been fixed for the Cathedral Of Notre
Dame NJ Faure will attend and Pere
Richard will probably officiate
Al to-night's session or the cabinet it
was decided to ask the Chamber Of Depu-
ties for a special credit I'm aid Of the needy
families The minister - justice commu-
nicatod 10 his colleagues the first results
Of the inquiry into the causes OF the fire.
The Investigating magistrate. VI. Rertolu.
reports that there was a great careless
ness and imprudence IN the principal ar
rargcments of the bazaar.
Former United States Consul General s.
F. Morse said TO tho representative Of the
Associated Press this afternoon:
at was siugular'y fortunate that there
was only one american victim. This was
indeed remarkable. because just now there
is an unusually large number Of Ameri-
cans in Paris. They are generous support
ers of such fetes as the Grand Bazaar de
Charlie. and. moreover. it gave them IA
wore BILE opportunity Of getting into close
quarters with the aristocracy ard many
of the celebrities Of Paris"
Mrs. Porges was the only American VIC
tim. She was a Miss Weisweiler. Her
daughter accompanied her TO the bazaar
and escaped uniujured. The Porges fam
lily reside in Vienna.
One feature which is generally remarked
Of the victims taken to the Palace de
lTrdustrie is that the head is thrown back
and the arms upliftod with a peculiarly
weird effect.
The scene on the Champs Elysee is like
that on popular fcte days. The throngs
are enormous and multitudes of carriages
are driving about From time to time a
solemn hush falls upon the crowd and
every head is barred as the hearse passes
by.
Terrible scenes continue to be enacted AZ
the Palais dc rIndustrie this afternoon.
The mother of the four-year-old child.
Alfred David. one Of the victims. arrived
during the day for The purpose Of taking
the body away with her. IL was decided,
however that II was inadvisable TO show
her the CHASTITY remains Of her child.
When this news was communicated 10 the
unfortunate mother. in a paroxysm Of
grief she tried to c1rce he rway into the
mortuary hall. screaming: Il Will see my
child"
~ was fourd necessary 70 forcibly re-
move the poor woman. whose case is one
o. the most distressing. u appears th.t
Nine. David los, her hu bard a month a-o.
and that her only other child died forte
Hight ago.
At o'cloc kthis evening the polio. OIL
ciaily announced ,iat nlnety-iour co1s's
Dad been positively Identified.
There arc nineteen bodies still undcrr-
fled. among which must Doc those Of tho
Comtcssc de Lupe and Nine Nitots Sec
ond daughter both OF whom are missing.
Viscountess Nalczieux is now placed
among these officially identified
n. Gosse. the secretary, on learning that
his wife and two daughters were among
the victims. was so Frustrated that his
no &c foe-,aira1 NJ