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

shortly after o'clock yesterday in the
kinematograph booth, near the stall of
the Duchesse dues, while from 1900
to 1000 people were present, is believed
TO have caused the loss of over 200
lives. As this dispatch is sent, early
Wednesday morning, Ill charred
corpses have been recovered, together
with twelve portions Of bodies, the iden-
tity of which may never be established,
Since o'clock this morning crowds OF
people have been flocking to the Palais
de LIndustrie. where many of the bod
les and a large number OF the injured
were taken. At six o'clock a detach-
ment Of the Garde RepubliQuaino re-
lieved the detachment of infantry which
had been on duty all night long about
the scene of the catastrophe.
The search for the dead continues
among the ruins. Quantities of coins,
watches, rings. necklaces and bracelets
have been picked up in the debris.
At s o'clock there was a movement
towards a corner of the ruins, and an
other body was slowly drawn from the
mass with which it had been covered:
II was little more than a black trunk,
headless and limbless and little hope
is entertained of discovering its iden-
titv. In this case, as in all other in
stances. the fremen and police, upon
discovering a body, carefully over
hauled everything near it and under 1t,
in order to discover, if possible, some
piece of jewelry or other article which
may lead TO the Identification OF the
remains
So soon as the bodies are claimed
by the anxious relatives and others who
are searching for the missing, and who
have been lowering in despair about
this spot throughout the night, they are
placed in carriages held in waiting and
taken to their former homes.
The scene at night was a remarkable
one. Long lines Of infantry were drawn
in Gordon around the dreadful spot.
the bonfires and torches, electric
lights and gas jets used TO illumine the
scene. reflected upon the bayonets and
accoutrements of the soldiers and threw
chastity illumination upon the houses
of the vicinity, the windows of which
were crowded during most of the night
with people watching the work Of hor-
ror. Every now and then hearse
would be called from the line OF We
bicles stationed in proximity 10 the
scene of the fire, a black mass OF what
was but so recently joyous humanity
would be tenderly lifted into it and an
other unfortunate victim of the con-
fagration would be taken to one OF the
reigbboring morgues, IN the Palais de
I,Industrie or at the neighboring hos
pital Beaujon. Frequently as many as a
dozen hearses were gathered together
in the court yard of the Palais de LIN
dustrie and opposite the entrance or
that building hundreds of coffins were
ranged ready TO receive the bodies OF
those who had perished in that terrible
stampede and which had subsequently
in most cases been charred beyond rec
ognition.
The scenes witnessed among those
who remained about the fatal spot
throughout the night unable to tear
themselves away, Indifferent to the en-
treaties of their friends or relatives,
battle description. Upon several .occa-
eions distracted father or mother. hall
mad with grief. would endeavor to
force q way through the line of soldiers
or the inner line of police drawn about
the blackened ruins. Children were
there weeping for lost parents and the
old and young and the middle aged
Joined in the murmurs of lamentation,
and exchanged hopes and fears.
The atmosphere at the hall, in the
Palais de L'Industrie, where the burned
bodies were ranged, was almost unbear-
able. and there again most heartrending
scenes were witnessed. Men, women
and children. passed up and down,
weeping distractedly, before the lines
Of black bodies, eagerly scanning the
terrible remains. and now and then
throwing themselves down by the side
of some seemingly unrecognizaole
corpse which they, by an instinct which
an outsider could not understand, made
out some dearly loved one and missing
relative.
So far as known the following bodies
have been recognized:
THE IDENTIFIED DEAD:
MILE. HENRIETTA HINIHSDAL.
THE BARONNE ELIZABETH ST.