The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1897-05-07
Over Two Hundred Lives Lost and Many
Of the Bodies Incinerated or So
Badly Burned as to be Be-
yond Recognition.
Many of the Victims were Ladies' of tn,
French Nobility, Among Them the
Duchess D'Aiencon, Sister of
the Empress of Austria
Tn. French Capital In Mourning.

Jean-Goujon, for the annual charity
fair, OF which all the most prominent
society ladies of Paris are patronesses
has thrown the French capital into
mourning. The confiagration, which
broke out shortly after four o'clock
Yesterday afternoon in the kinemato-
graph booth, near the stall of the
duchesse dues, while from 1, 500 to 2, ..
900 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 IL portions of bodies, the identity
of which may never be established.
Since a. m. crowds OF people have
been fiocking to the Palais de Pin
dustrie, where many of the bodies and
. large number of the injured were
taken. At six o'clock detachment of
the Zarde Republique relieved the de-
tachment of infantry which had been
ON duty all night about the scene of
the catastrophe.
The search for the dead continues in
the ruins. Quantities of coins, watches,
been picked up in the debris.
At eight o'clock there was move
ment toward a corner of the ruins,
and another body was slowly drawn
from the mass with which it had been
covered. 1t was little more than
black trunk, headless and limbless,
and little hope is entertained of dis
covering its identity. In this case,
- in all other instances the fire.
men and police, upon discovering
body, carefully overhauled every
thing near it and under it, in order to
discover, if possible, some piece of
jewelry or other article which might
lead to the Identification of the re-
mains.
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
the spot throughout the night, they
are placed in carriages held in waiting
and taken to their former homes.
The scene all night was a remark
able one. Long lines of infantry were
drawn in Gordon around the dreadful
spot. The bonfires and torches, cleo
trio lights and gas jets used to illumi-
nate the scene reflected upon the bay
onets and accoutrements of the soldiers,
and threw a 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 horror. Every now and then
. hearse would be called from the
line of vehicles stationed in
proximity to the scene of the fire, a
black mass of what was, but SO recent
ly Joyous humanity, would be tenderly
lifted into it, and another unfortunate
victim of the confagration would be
taken to one of the temporary morgues
in the Palais de rIndustrie, or at the
neigh boring Hospital Beaujon. FIRE.
quently as many as a dozen hearses
were gathered in the courtyard
Of the Palais de PIndustrie. and
opposite the entrance of that
building hundreds of collins were
ranged, ready to receive the bod
les of those who had persisted in that
terrible stampede and which had sub
beyond recognition.
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-
sions distracted father or mother,
half mad with grief, would endeavor to
force way through the line of sol
diers, or the inner line of police, drawn
about the blackened ruins. Children
We're there weeping for lost parents,
and the oldest, youngest and middle
aged joined in the murmuKs of lamenta-
ton and exchanged hopes and fears.
The atmosphere of the hall in the
Palais de fIndustrie, where the burned
bodies were ranged, was almost UNI
bearable, and there again most heart
rending scenes were witnessed.
Men, women and children passed
up and down, weeping distract.
bodies eagerly scanning the
terrible remains, and now and then,
throwing themselves down by the side
OF some seemingly unacceptable
corpse which they, by an instinct
which an outsider could not under
stand, made out some dearly loved one
and missing relative.
SOME OF THE IDENTIFIED DEAD.
30 far as known the following bodies
nave been recognized:
Mile. Henrietta Hinihsdal
baronne Elizabeth St Martin
Nicomtesse Marie Bonneval
sister Gufnoux. the superior OF the Sisters o.
sAe convent OF St Vincent de Paul at Rainey.
Mile De Grancy.
ComtesSe St Pierre.
baronne st. Didier
Nine Laurent Cosselin.
Mile l. Chivgny.
NINE Florez, wife Of the Spanish consul
tomtesse Miramel
Oomtesse Broderville
NJ Victor CosseIin
sister Leonie Guillaums
Nine. Haussmann
Nine. Schlumberger
SomteSse Humolstein.
Aarquise DIES Maison.
Anne. Ventimesaill