Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-06
PARIS HOLOCAUST.
Many Noble Women Perish in Fire at
Charity Bazaar.
OVER ONE HUNDRED DEAD.
Policemen with Gloved Hands Pick Up
Charfed Portions OF Bodies and Wrap
Them In Cloth. AN Paris In
Mourning.

PARIS, May 5.--The conhagration
which broke out in the Grand Bazaar
de Charlie, temporary wooden struc-
ture about 800 feet long and $50 feet
wide, erected in the Rue Jean Goujon
for the annual charity fair of which
all Of the most prominent society
ladies of Paris are patronesses, caused
the deaths of many people, some of
them the most noted in France.
Scores of other notables were injured
and all Paris is in mourning. Early
this morning Ill charred corpses had
been recovered with portions of -
other bodies.
When the fire broke out next to the
stall of the Duchesse Dues, which
superstitious people remarked was No.
Is, the place was crowded with people,
most of them women of the higher
walks of life, not only in Paris, but in
other parts of Europe, with a
sprinkling of Americans. There was
only one exit and at once there was a
terrible panic and fearful crash at
the doors which were choked almostin
an instant. The policemen and others
on duty tried vainly to stay the panic,
which was increased by the rapid
spread of the flames
Before the firemen could arrive the
roof of the structure fell, burylng
scores of those who had been unable
to escape, and undoubtedly causing
the deaths of many who had fallen in
the crush and been trampled under
foot. The firemen worked desperately,
but it was some time before the in
jured and the dead could be rescued.
In less than two hours the bazaar was
heap Of smoking ashes,
AS soon as possible fremen, police
men and soldiers, headed by Project
Lepine and members of the cabinet
still in the city, began the work OF
rescue, while thousands gathered
around, the best society of the capital
being represented. Policemen with
gloved hands picked up the charred
portions of bodies and wrapped them
in cloth. All of the portions found
were terribly burned, and the scene
! was frightful. Many were crushed out
of all semblance of humanity.
The charred bodies were taken to
the Palais de 'Industrie, and friends
of the missing people were admitted
with candles. All night the work of
Identification went on, but few bodies
were positively recognized, for in most
cases the heads of the victims we're
burned to a cinder, even when other
parts of the bodies were not much in
jured This is explained 10y the fact
that the thiclly tarred roof fell in
blazing masses upon the heads.
Since five o'clock this morning
crowds of people have been fiocking to
the Palais de l'Industrie, where many Of
the bodies and large number of the
injured were taken. The search for
the dead continues in the ruins. Guam
titles of coins, watches, rings, neck
laces and bracelets have been picked
up in the debris The scenes witnessed
among those who remained about the
spot throughout the night, unable to
tear themselves away, indifferent
to the entreaties of their friends
or relatives, battle description, Upon
several occasions distracted father or
mother, half mad with grief, would en-
deavor to force a way through the line
of soldiers or the inner line of police
drawn about the blackened ruins.
Children were weeping for lost par
ents, and the oldest, youngest, middle
aged joined in the murmurs of lamen-
tation and exchanged hopes and fears.