The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-05


ct OF the right eye the brains slowly
oozed. The arms and legs were burned
of.
little farther off was the body of
another woman. nude. the entrails pro-
trudlng and the head missing. IL was
CHASTITY sight.
The building was constructed about
six months ago AT the time, IL was
remarked that II would burn like match
wood. The interior was divided into
shops, la old Paris, constructed OF
prettily painted canvas.
Miss Elsie Bushbeck OF Philadelphia,
with the Misses Hawthorn and Dresher.
were among the few who escaped.
although not unscathed.
origin of Fire.
The Duchess D'Alencon, sister of the
Austrian empress. is among the injured.
the list Of whom includes the Duchess
ID Uzes, the Comtesse Savig1y and Mile.
DE Laboulaye. In the streets adjacent
To the bazaar were long lines OF sump-
tuous equipages. The most of these re-
turned empty; their owners were dead.
The others were seen moving off with
occupants injured in head or limb, and
in many cases with faces streaming with
blood. The search In the debris con-
tinued all night 1t appears that the
fire originated on the left side OF the
bazaar. The Illuminating apparatus OF
the kinematograph exploded and set fire
TO the Turkish curtains and hangings.
In few moments the flames spread
along the whole side of the bazaar. The
public threw themselves instinctively 10
the right side of the building. which
backed on high wall of an adjoining
edifice. The bazaar altogether had eight
doors. three in front and one on the left
side. In the rear were four, like French
windows. which were specially reserved
for the employees. The crowd near the
main entrances was able to escape. but
those at the other end, not knowing OF
the doors reserved for the employees.
found themselves hemmed in. as i'm a
cul de sac.
Another version Of the origin OF the
fire Is as follows: There was a nun at
the stall OF the Duchess D'Uzes, who
lighted spirit lamp under n toy bal
loon. which took fire, the flames then
sreedily connecting with the drapery
AS the fire spread the pressure on the
right side. where there were no exits.
kept steadily increasing Here a num-
Der OF the victims were crushed &c death.
Happily the wall Of the Hotel Du Palais.
against which the bazaar backed. fur
nished a barred window. Immediately
on the alarm being given the servants
hurriedly broke the bars and were able
to rescue large number.
Suddenly above the roar OF the flames
were heard cries OF terror and despair
Ing appeals for help from the cul de sac
end, where the unfortunates were being
burned alive. The firemen threw hum
dreds OF buckets of water upon them
from above at the greatest risk TO them
selves. but their courageous efforts were
all In vain. The fire made furious head
way. Howls Of despair arose outside, In
the Avenue Montaigne. the Place Alma
and the Rue Francois. adjacent streets
In ali these thoroughfares there was n
Veritable flight of maddened people,
mostly women without skirts, petit
coats or hats. their feet naked and their
clothing either burned off or torn off.
Every available fiacre was taken by as
sault.
The first terrible fact realized was the
absence OF water. AS has repeatedly
happened In Paris. the firemen, though
brave even to death, were hampered by
defective appliances. Though they cut
with their axes through the planks and
trellts work. comparatively few were
able TO make their escape i'm that way.
The scene in the Champs Ulysses bore
Gruesome resemblance to the scene in
the same locality during the last days
of the commune, and its gruesomeness
was intensified by the appearance OF
ambulances bearing the bodies of priests
with remnants of their monastic garbs
still clinging 10 them. A gang OF thieves
was active in the crowd Of spectators
and friends Of the victims and several
were caught in the act Of pocket pick
dng.
Distracted Relatives.
The whole OF the highest society in
Paris Is in horrible pell-mell. prey
to the deepest despair, husbands seek
Ing and calling for wives and fathers
seeking and calling for daughters. one
young woman. still wearing on her
breast the badge of n stall attendant.
was seen rushing about in hoo petticoat.
her dress having been torn off to be
thrown over lady who was in flames.
Her one anxiety was TO find and tell her
parents of her safety.
Words would fail to describe the horror
OF the scene at the Palais de Industries,
where the bodies were exposed on the
side next TO the Avenue Danton, in a
portion OF the building now in course OF
demolition. Here in a large room. rudely
covered with rough planks and on sheets
hastily spread over planks, the bodies as
they arrived from the ambulances were
placed In three long rows. This was
death by fire, with all its horrors-bodles
completely nude. limbs twisted In the
writings Of agony. some still having
shreds OF clothing which assist recogni-
tion In spite OF horrible dishguremen.,
bones visible through firc-eaten flesh.
some merely skeletons or grnning skulls
blackened with smoke.
"A large force OF officials is engaged in
regulating the admission OF friends at
the entrance which Is besicged bv
crowds shouting and fighting. Only
small groups are admitted at a time. ard
the visitors are supplied with candles TO
assist them Ia the lugubrious search. II
ig a strange scene ns tbov fro orCriptr