The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-05-13
CAUGHT IN A FIRE TRAP.
A Frightful Holocaust DC.
Cured in Paris.
OVER ONE HUNDRED Persisted

Many OF Them Were Of the Aristoc-
racy-Terrible Scenes In and
About the Building.
Paris, May 6.-Fire broke out at r.
M. in a crowded charitable bazaar in
the Rue Jean Goujon, at which the
Duchess d'Uzes and several well-known
patronesses were present.
The building in which the fire broke
out was a temporary structure OF wood.
The flames were first discovered above a
stall occupied by the Duchess Dues,
while the place was densely crowded.
The bazaar is an annual function pre-
sided over by the leaders of Partisan
society. There was wild rush for the
exits, and older persons were horne
down and trampled upon. The infiam-
mable nature of the building and its
contents caused the flames to spread
with great rapidity, and in short time
thre bazaar was mass OF flames. The
bodies of thirty victims Of the conf1a-
grafton, mostly women, were recov-
cred and laid out On the sidewalk,
where the corpses formed a CHASTITY
spectacle.
The number of injured is greater
than first estimated. Over 100 persons
have been conveyed to the Hotel Gu
Palais, in the Cour de la Raine, but
many critical cases have been trans
ported to the Hospital Beaugon. The
policeman On duty at the doors OF the
bazaar says from /, 500 to 800 people
were in the building when the fire
broke out.
The alarm caused a rush for the
doors, which were soon chOked with
people, this preventing the escape of
many who might otherwise have been
saved. Heart-rending cries arose, soon
followed by shrieks of agony as the
flames swept upon the crowds strug-
Cling for exit.
Further details just obtained show
that before the fremen could arrive
the roof of the bazaar crashed in, bury
ing numbers of those who had been
unable to make their egress from the
building.
Very soon after the alarm was given,
assistance hurried to the burning build
ing, and effective help was rapidly
organized by the firemen and police
men. Although general alarm waa
sent out with reasonable promptness,
the whole wooden structure was blaz.
ing before the fremen could approach.
The roof and almost the whole build
ing collapsed, falling upon the unfortu-
nate people. Many of them are sup
posed to have previously succumbed to
the sitting smoke.
In spite of the efforts of the firemen,
some time elapsed before the charred
bodies could be pulled from the smoke
and burning mass of debris covering
the spot which but short time before
had been the scene of so much gaiety.
AS the work progressed and the in,
quiries became more numerous and
pressing, it was seen that the death rate
would be much higher than at first es-
timated.
One hundred corpses have been laid
out in the Palals de l'Industrie. It is
believed another hundred are beneath
the ruins. The building was erected
in the flimsiest manner, the nudity Of
the scaffolding inside being concealed
by tapestry of the most infiammable
description.
The bazaar was in full swing when
suddenly about o'clock the cry OF
fire rose in the quarter where the kin
etemagraph was being exhibited.
One of the survivors tells to the cor
respondent of the press his experience:
1.-THE place was crammed full of peo
pie, and the heat was sitting. Being
very uncomfortable. my friends and
determined to leave, but somehow we
could not make much Roadway through
the tbrong toward the door. I stayed
little behind, as was offered nose.
gay by stall holder, when of sudden
the shout Of fire was raised. Instantly
all was cOmmOtiOn.
"We tried to keep cool, but the rush
from behind forced us forward and we
were separated. Then l tried to work
my way back, but was carried off my
feet and carried backward and forward
in the swaying crowd. lost my hat,
then coat was torn off, and then waist
coat. All this happened in few seconds.
Immediately the full extent of the
calamity dawned upon US all. The
flames spread with startling rapidity
throughout the whole building, which
rumbled like living furnace, but the
uproar of the conf1agration could not
drown the groans and cries Of the agon-
lied crowd.
Gradually I found myself pushed
back against the wall of the building,
and finally succeeded in scrambline
through an opening made by some oil
those who were near me. Ten seconds
later would have been a victim, fol
hardly had struggled through the hole
before / heard dreadful crash as the
blazing roof fell in. cannot describe
the struggle which followed. No words
can depict the horror of the scene. Il
seemed, as look back upon it, hide
Gus nightmare. The whole thing was
over in twelve minutes, and nothing
remained but the charred and blackenet
ruins of the bazaar"
Crops in the Palouse Country.
Garfield, Wash., May 6.-Seeding O
crops in the Palouse country is two.
thirds done. Very few farms will have
to be resown. Fall grain is lookine
snlendid There ia abundant uoistrrt