The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-05
ROARING
Continued from First Page

done so when a gentleman behind ne
cried: Fire. Ladies. hasten OUT anC
pushed me toward the door rathe.
roughly. bu, fortunately for me.
las this was ny second experience
under such circumstances, 1 advised my
two friends 10 raise their skirts II the
front so they would no; stumble over
| them.
I'VE were then' just stepping on the
first OF the three steps leading out Of the
building. Turning my head 10 look back
l saw the whole place N flames. At my
left l caught a glimpse OF one Old lady
emerging from an adjacent door, ard
saw her stumble on her skirts. The next
/ instant quite twenty persons piled on top
| OF her. l crossed the street and turne
round 10 face the fire, but already the
heat was so intense that il scorched me,
| and l was obliged 70 raise my hands 10
protect my face. When the roof fell in
with q terrible crash, not more than
| five minutes had elapsed from the frs,
alarm. Such was the intensity OF the
neat that l saw fireman's jacket ig-
nited, and several of the horses were
| badly singed. Out OF the pile OF persons
who fell near the door. none were saw
Cd. All were burned in a moment. OF
the four nuns a, my booth two were
saved and one of the three blind girls
who were engaged there. The visitors
were for the most part ladies, george
ously dressed"
The Duchess D'Alencon, sister OF the
Austrian empress, is among the injured,
the lis. of whom includes the Duchess
D'Uzes. the Comtesse Savigny and Nile.
De La Boulaye. In the streets adjacent
70 the bazaar were long lines OF sump-
tous equipages. Many OF these re-
turned empty; their owners were dead.
The others were seen moving off with
occupants injured in head or limb. in
many cases with faces streaming with
blood
The search in the debris will continue
all night.
HOW THE FIRE STARTED.
II appears that the fire originated OF
the left side OF the bazaar. The illum-
mating apparatus of the kinetemato-
graph exploded and set fire 10 the Turk
ism curtains and hangings. In a few mo-
ments the flames spread along the whole
side Of the bazaar. The public threw
themselves instinctively 10 the right OF
the building, which backed on the high
wall Of an adjoining eiifice. The ba-
zaar. altogether, had eight doors, three
in front and one off the left side. In the
rear were four, like French windows,
which were specially reserved for the
frances were able to escape. but those at
the other end. not knowing OF the doors
for the employees, found them |
selves hemmed in, as in a cul de sac.
As the fire spread the pressure on the |
right side, where there were no exits, !
kept steadily increasing. Here a num- |
Der Of victims were crushed to death. !
Happily the wall Of the Hotel Du Palais. |
against which the bazaar backed. fur |
nished barred window. Immediately |
on the alarm being given the servant: |
arge number Of persons.
BURNED ALIVE.
Suddenly above the roar of the flames /
were heard cries OF terror and despairing
appeals for help from the cul de sac end,
where the unfortunates were being burn
ID alive. The firemen threw hundreds OF
buckets Of water upon them from above,
A. the greatest risk 10 themselves, but
.heir courageous efforts were all in vain.
The fire made furious Roadway. Cries of
despair arose outside, in the Avenue
the Place A Ina and the Rue
Francois, adjacent streets. In all these
:here was a veritabie
light Of madienad people. mostly wOm-
N, without skirts, peticoats or hats,
heir feet naked and ,Feir clothing either
burned or torn off. Evs-J available fla
re was taken by assault.
The whole Of the highest society in
Paris is ir horrible pell neil. a prey %
he deepest despair, husbands seeking
md calling for wives. and fathers seek
ng and calling for daughters. One young
still wearing on her breast the
,adge OF stall attendant. was seen
usairg abou. in her p ttic0a., her dress
leving been torn of TO throw over
ady who was in flames. Her one anx-
ETY. was TO find her parep;S and tell
hem OF her safety