The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-05-06
Estimated at Least Two Hun
dred of the City's AristOcracy
Peri>hed.
Over a Hundred Charred Bodies
Taken From the Ruins.
Many Injured.

Paris are patrOnesseS, has thrown the
capital into mourning. The
confederation, which broke out III thu
Kinematograph booth, near the stall OF
the Duchess G'UZes, while from Loo
to 1000 people were present, is believed
20 have caused the loss of over POO
lives.
As this dispatch is sent, Ill charred
corpses have been recovered, together
with II portions of bodies, the identity
of which may never be established.
The building in which the bazaar was
held was IA temporary structure which
burned like finder, and the hlmsy dec
orations aided in the rapid spread OF
the fire. The flames licked o OF
those who escaped, and dresses were
burned from the backs of their wear.
ers, who
Tore on Their Blazing Hats
as they rushed from the building, their
heads singed to the roots OF thelr hair.
The clothing not burned off was liter
ally orr off. The cries from within
were cries never to be forgotten for IN.
tensity of anguish. The tiremen
courageously 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
police says that fully
Three Hundred People Are Missing.
1t appears that the fire originated on
the left side of the bazaar. The lllum-
mating apparatus of the kinemetograph
exploded and set fire to the Turkish
curtains and hangings. In a 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 n 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 1ble to escape, but those at the
other end, not knowing of the doors
reserved for the employees, found them.
selves hemmed IN.
yictjms Crushed to Death.
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.
Suddenly, above the oar of the flames,
were heard. cries of terror and despair
ing appeals for help from the real,
where the unfortunates were being
burned alive. The fire made furious
Roadway. Cries Of despair arose out
side in the Avenue Montague, the
Place Alma and the Rue Franchise,
adjacent streets. In all these thor.
oughfares there was a veritable flight
of %maddened people. mostly women
without skirts, pettlcoats or hats, their
feet naked and their clothing either
burned off or torn off.
scenes Were Remarkable.
The scene at night was a remarkable
| one. Long lines of infantry were drawn
in Gordon around the dreadful spot.
The bontires and torches, electric lights
and ga Jets used to illuminate the
scene reflected upon the bayonets and
Announcements Of the soldiers, and
threw a CHASTITY illumination upon the
houses of the vicinity, the windows Of
which were crowded during most o,
the night with people watching thu
work of horror. Every now and thel
a hearse would be called from the lin
of vehicles stationed in proximity t
the scene of the fire, a black mass o
what was but so recently joyous hu
mainly, would be tenderly lifted int
it, and another unfortunate victim o
the CONFEDERATION would be taken t.
one of the temporary morgues in tn
Palais de pIndustrie, or at the neigh
boring Hospital Beaujon. Frequentl
as many as a dozen hearses were gath
cred together in the court yard OF. tn
Palais de l'Industrie, and opposite tn
entrance of that building hundreds G
cofins were ranged, ready to receiv
the bodies of those who had perishe
in that terrible stampede, and whic
had subsequently, in most cases, bee
charred beyond recognition.
The scenes witnessed among thos
> who remained about the fatal sp'
' throughout the night, unable to tel
, themselves away, Indifferent to tt
eutreaties of their friends or relative
|, battle description. Upon several occ
!. sion a distracted father or mother, ha
I mad with grief, would endeaver
g force q way through the line OF sc
diers or the inner line Of police draw
about the blackened ruins. Childr'
r are there, weeping for lost parents, al
n the oldest. youngest, m~iddleaged join
in the murmurs of lamentation, al
exchanged hopes and fears.
!. The atmosphere of the hall in t
Palais dc l'Industrie, where the burn
AL bodies were ranged, was almost q
bearable and there again most hea'