The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-05-06
Two Hundred People Perished
/ and Nearly as Many More
Were Injured.
ToTABLEs AMONG THE VICTIMS.
Social Leaders of France and
Europe Numbered With
the Missing.
OF Those Who Escaped Many
Had Their Clothing
/. Burned Off.

PARIS, May ga disaster such as
the metropolis of France has not seen
since the tragedy of the Opera Comique
has thrown the city into deepest
mourning. During the afternoon fire
started during the progress of charity
bazaar patronized by the most fashion
able people of the city, and in the wild
panic that followed it is estimated that
200 people lost their lives, social leaders
of France and Europe being numbered
among the victims. The bazaar was in
a temporary wooden building which
burned like finder, and the flimsy dec
orations aided in the rapid spread Of
the fire. The flames licked most OF
those who escaped, and dresses were
burned from the backs of their wear.
ers, who
Tore OF Their Blazing Hats
as they rushed from the building, their
heads singed to the roots of their hair.
The clothing not burned off was liter
ally torn off, The cries from within
were cries never to be forgotten for in.
tensity of anguish. The firemen
conrageously let themselves down from
houses roundabout, but their efforts
were too often fruitless. Holes were
broken through the walls by navvies
who happened to be working near.
There was one awful procession of 60
corpses on the stretchers formed with
the handles of spades and pickaxes
with green canvas. The project OF
pol ce says that fully
Three Hundred People Are Missing.
The building in which the fire broke
out was temporary structure of wood.
The flames were first discovered above
the stall occupied by the Duchesse
Dues, and while the place was densely
crowded. The bazaar is an annual
function presided over by the leaders
of Partisan society. A terrible panic
and crush followed the alarm of fire.
There was wild rush for the exits,
and the weaker persons were borne
down and trampled upon. The in.
fammable nature of the building and
contents caused the flames to spread
with great rapidity, and in a very short
time the bazaar was a mass of flames.
NotabIes Among the Dead.
The missing who are supposed to be
dead include General Meunier, the
Marchioness de Gallifet, the Duchess
d AlencOn, the countess de Nun and
st. / ..ier, the Marchioness de Flores.
the Viscountess Hunol Holstein, Bar
oness Mackan, wife of the leader of
the PrOratists in the chamber of depu-
uties, and Nine. Northumberland, her
son and four daughters. Other bodies
supposed to be recognized are those of
the Baronesse st. Didier, Nine. Lauren
Cosselyn, Nine. Henliette Hinihadal,
Baroness Elizabeth St. Martin, Wis
countess Marie Boneual and Nine. de
Crancy. The wounded are known to
number at least 1870.
Caused by an Explosion.
1t appears that the fire originated on
the left side of the bazaar. The illum-
mating apparatus of the kinemetograph
exploded and set fire to the Turkish
curtains and hangings. In few mo-
ments the flames spread along the
whole side of the bazaar. The public
threw themselves instinctively to the
right side of the building, which
backed on the high wall of an adjoin-
ing edifice. The bazaar altogether had
eight doors. three in front and one on
the left side. In the rear were four,
like French windows, which were
specially reserved for the employees.
The crowd near the main entrance
were able to escape, but those at the
other end, not knowing of the doors
reserved for the employees, found them
se.ves hemmed in.
Victims Crushed to Death.
As the fire spread the pressure on the
right side, where there were no exits,
kept steadily increasing. Here num-
Der of victims were crushed to death
Suddenly, above the roar of the flames,
were heard cries of terror and despair
ing appeals for help from the rear,
where the unfortunates were being
burned alive. The fire made furious
leadway. Cries of despair arose out
side in the Avenue Montague, the
Place Alma and the Rue Franchise,
adjacent streets. In all these thor.
Onghfares there was q veritable fight
of maddened people, mostly women
without skirts, petticoats or hats, their
feet naked and their clothing either
burned off or torn off. Every available
fiacre was taken by assault.
Scenes At the Temporary Morgue.
The whole Of the highest society in
Paris is in horrible pell NELL, prey
to the deepest despair. Words would
fail to describe the horror of the scene
at the Palais de l'Industrie, where the
bodies are exposed in a portion OF the
building now in course Of demolition.
Here in large room rudely covered