The herald., 1897-05-06


Of the Baroness de Saint Did1er.
There are nineteen bodies still uniden-
titled, among which must be those of the
Comtesse de Lupe and Nine. Nitot's
second daughter, both Of whom are MISS
ing.
viscountess Malezieux is now placed
among those officially identified.
| M. Gosse, the notary, on learning that
his wife and two daughters were among
the victims. was 50 prostrated that his
| life is despaired Of.
M. Girard, director of the municipal
laboratory, reports that the ether of the
lamps. in the kinetomatograph set fire
to the film, the flames then igniting the
apparatus. Tonight such theaters as are
open are almost empty and the large
cafes Of the boulevards are practically
deserted.
PARISIAN COMMENT
A somber feeling pervades every class
of society. The newspapers without ex-
ception describe the disaster at the
Grand Bazaar de Charitie in the sober
ard simple terms bef1tting so appalling
an event. The catastrophe will always
be remembered as one of the most fear
full which ever befellr European city.
Nothing comparable in loss of life has
ever occurred here, except the fire which
destroyed the Opera Comique in 1887
Singularly enough that disaster hap
pened in the same month Of the year and
eighty persons were burned to death,
while forty-five were officially reported
as missing.
In aristocratic circles the numberless
dinner parties and other functions of a
gayly opening season have been sud-
denly abandoned.
1t is now estimated that there were
about 1900 persons in the building when
the fire was discovered, about one-half OF
whom escaped unhurt. Some estimates
place the number of dead at 143, others
at still higher figure. The amount ot
administrative negligence surrounding
the catastrophe is almost inconceivable
The structure was so combustible that
many of the victims, if not most of them,
might have been burned alive, without
suffocation No sort of inspection seems
to have been made in advance by the po-
lice or municipal authorities or by the
prefect Of police.
DR.. Natchel who has directed the am
bulance work, says that the number OF
bodies found gives a very inadequate
idea of the number of victims, as dozens
were burned completely to ashes. NJ
Lepine, the prefect Of police, who is Sc
yerely censured for lack of proper su-
pervision of the preparatory arrange.
ments, says in excuse that the patrons
and patronesses of the bazaar were re-
actionists, and he feared if he meddled
liz their program that they void say he
was trying to suppress Roman Catho-
lie enterprise.
| M. Faure has received kilograms OF
coincidence from Queen Victoria, the
Emperor Nicholas, the Emperor Will
liam, King Humbert Ind other sover-
eigns. all couched in terms Of the deep
est sympathy
Mrs. F. B. Gilmour of New York had a
narrow escape. She had consented to
act as saleswoman at the stall of Nine
Costa Beauregard. She left the Hotel
Terminus, where she was staying. about
l1:S0, accompanying the Viscomtesse
Savigny. The saleswas going well, when
suddenly her maid cried: Madame
save yourself; there's a fire." Mrs. Gill
mour, with wonderful presence Of mind
rushed toward the. main entrance, but
seeing the danger OF being trampled to
death she quickly ran back to the rear
of the building where she saw window
that opened in the wall. through which
she reached the street.
Mgr. Clari, the papal nuncio, who had
attended to pronounce hiS blessing upon
the bazaar. says he was talking to the
Duchess d'Alencon at ten minutes to
o'clock. He adds: Around me was q
group Of blind children. Several Of these
must have perished.s'
The vicomte Damaso identified his
Wife's body by piece Of hatr cloth which