The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-06
A Soub.e Gr,-t Hangs l. w
Over the Great City.
900 apc DEAD OR INJURED
rJ,IIm %I-NRER OF DEATHS NOW
PUT AT 143.
"a coRPsEs ARE IDENTIFIED
THE EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA is
INCONSOLABLE
SYMPATHY FROM sOVEaElGNs

SYMPATHY FROM SOVEREIGNS
Lack of Municipal Supervision Severely
Censured.. One American Perishss
and One Escapes Shocking Details
of Heart fsencing incidents Some OF
the Bodies Burned TO Ashes r unerai
Service of the Victims TO Take Place
From the Cathedral of Notre Dame.
Paris, May ga sombre feeling per-
vades every class of society. The news
papers. without exception, describe the
disaster at the Grand Bazaar De Charlie,
in the sober and simple terms betting
so appalling an event. The catastrophe
will always be remembered as one OF the
most fearful that ever befell European
city.
Nothing comparable in loss of life has
ever occurred here except the fire which
destroyed the Opera Comique in 1881.
Singularly enough that disaster happen
ed in the same month of the year, and
eighty persons were burned to death,
while As were officially registered as
missing.
In arsstocratic circles the numberless
dinner parties and other functions OF
gayly opening season have been aban-
-aoned.
1t is now estimated that there were
in the neighborhood of 1000 persons in
the building when the fire was discovered,
about one half of whom escaped unhurt.
Some estimates place the number at 143,
others at still higher figure.
The amount of administrative negli-
gence surrounding the catastrophe is al
most inconceivable. The structure was
so cOmbustible that many of the victims,
il not most Of them, have been burned
alive, without suffocation. No sort of
inspection seems to have been made in
advance by the municipal or police au-
thorities or by the perfect of police.
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 half past one, accom-
panying the Vicomtesse Savigny. The
sale was going well, when suddenly her
maid cried: Madame, Sauvez VOus.
VOLTA LIE Ecu" MADAME, save your
self. There's fire.
Mrs. GilmOur, with her wonderful pres
ence Of mind, rushed toward the main
entrance, but seeing the danger Of being
trampled to death, she ran back to the
rear of the building, where she saw
window that opened in the wall, through
which she soon reached the street.
,ryvyO nAnAr HrI-HyCro,c AuonYvNyrV
Mgr Clari, the papal nuncio, who had
attended to pronounce his blessing upon
the bazaar, says he was talking to the
Duchesse D'Alencon at ten minutes to
four o'clock. He adds: "Around me
was a group of blind children. Several
of these must have persisted. My heart
is bleeding to think of all these poor
creatures 1t is too horrible to speak of.
Ny nerves are in a terrible state"
DR.. Nachtel, who has directed the am.
bulance work, says that the number of
bodies found gives very inadequate
idea of the number of victims, as dozens
were burned completely to ashes.
The Vicomte Damas identlned his wife's
body by a piece Of hair cloth which she
wore next to her skin as a member Of the
third order of st. Francis.
NJ. Jean Rafael. the painter. says:
"My daughter had the mark Of heel
stamped into her back She was tramp
led in the heap at the door, near the
main entrance. Her mother tried to pull
her from the blazing fire, but she said:
1T is useless, save yourself, as l shall
die in any case Her mother replied:
Il shall not leave you. l will take you
or stay and die with you Both escaped,
though severely injured"
The Able Marriott says that the COM
Jesse Villeneuve returned to search for
her two daughters, failed to find them
and persisted herself.
PRDFECT MAKES EXCUSES.
N. Lepine, the Prefect of police, who
is severely censured for lack or proper
supervision of the preparatory arrange
ments, says in the excuse that the patrons
and patronesses, of the bazaar were re-
actionists and he feared, Of he meddled
with their program, that they would say
he was trying to suppress Roman Cath
Ole enterprise.
NJ. Faure has received kilograms OF
coincidence from Queen Victoria, the
Emperor Nicholas, the Emperor William,
King Humbert and other sovereigns all
cOuched m terms OF the deepest Sympa-
ehy.
The body of the Duchesse D'Alencon,
has been identified. The Secretary Of the
Prefecture, accompanied by the maid
OF the duchess and a HOFFMAN, belonging
to the household Of the duke examined
the rows Of bodies. The two servants
stopped before blackened and mutilated
corpse They declared that it was the
remains OF their mistress, and also sent
for the dentist of the duchess. The lat