New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-06


NJ Girard. director OF the Municipal Labora.
tory REPORTS that the ether for the lamps used
in the cinematograpA set fire to the him. anu
the flames then ignited the apparatus.
DESCRIBED BY WITNESSES.
uDARrRENpING SCENES AS PEOPLE WITH THEIR
CLOTHING IN FLAMES RUSHED FROM
THE BURNING BUILDING.
Paris, May 5.-An eyewitness OF yesterday
fire describes the scene as follows:
The women mostly wore light costumes ana
those who escaped from the furnace were
screaming Fire! Help The faces OF many "a
them were covered with blood. From tune 10
time children ran out of the burning puii''ne
CRYING for their mothers. NUMBER Oh women
~ IN. noorer classes standing in the crowd. AT
the risk OF burning themselves, tore the naming
clothing from the bodies of the women as the
latter dashed in terror through the streets
"The bazaar at that moment was nothing more
nor less than a huge brazier. As the neat WIS
unbearable. we made our way to some vacant
ground between the bazaar and the convent Vi
the Rua Rayard and Joined a handful of work
men. who trying to rescue people i'o''
tho DANES by means OF a ladder too short to
avail much.
"Wbue the work of rescue was in progress
Two women who had escaped from the flames
were living writing on the ground, just beyond
tho margin OF the fire We darted In that al
rec,,on hut as we neared them pieces or purn-
ing Debris fell In showers upon our heads. ana
We yern unable to reach these unfortunates'
who were then burning like torches. they had
ceased to stir and they soon entirely disap-
peared in the flames. while the witnesses OF TINS
awful scene groaned and wept.
"The awful drama was then at its height In
the midst Of kissing. cracking names we healu
the shrieks Of the victims. but they were speed
ily stilled. Seeing the hopelessness or saving the
bazaar. the firemen turned their attention 70 the
adjoining convent, up the walls OF whicn the
flames were eapins.
an n few moments the bazaar collapsed with
n frightful crash enveloping the vicinity III
flaming debris. 7 was then able to approach 1t.
On all sides the bodies OF men ana women
many Of them stretched on their backs. with
arms extended. as though appealing for heip'
Others were still burning their bodies emitting
a cracking sound and sickenng odor owing
to the heat we were unable TO give the bodies
IN. attention which would have permitted rea-
tives to identify them
"The space in which we standing was
speedily invaded by despairing crowds OF rea-
tives some Of whom had to be forcibly prevented
fro n leaning into the flames. 1t was imposslple
then to find those whom they sought IN the
heap of shriveed limbs. twisted bodies ana
blackened. grinning faces.
The bazaar was situated opposite the Roths-
childs stables Gamard, groom In the employ
of the Rothschilds witnessed the whole scene
He says
"At 4:2O Yesterday afternoon I saw the Com
tesse De Reese rushing into the street from the
bazaar shouting Fire" / looked up ana saw
nothing but a little smoke rising from the roof
of the structure. and could not think why the
woman was in such a fright. Then. suddenly.
heard a confused murmur. deepening into roar
The roof of the bazaar burst into flames, ike q
box of matches. Instantly there was terrible
rush of people like a wave. into the street Fear
fui terror was depicted on each face. some OF
them had their hair burning. and the clothing OF
others scorched
There was such a crush from the inside OF
the building to the door that ten women fell IN n
bean TO the pavement. and those following piled
on top OF them crushing ana bruising the help
less ones The women snrieked with agony.
Il rushed out and tried TO lift some Of them
up but was driven back by the frenzied crowd
following Many of them threw themselves on
the ground and rolled over and over or from side
TO side in their attempts to stife the flames.
zone woman reached the street In Saiety, ana
then noting that her child was lost, forced her
way back, biting and scratching IKE iiiau
creature and succeeded in re-enterng the fur
mace in search of her darling. She never again
emerged.
Men with their hair and boards In flames
came out among the women. General Meunier'
with his clothes abaZe and in great agony.
rushed into the courtyard In front OF the STAPLES
and plunged into q trough Of water Forty per
sons sought refuge in Baron Rothschilds house.
Women with their dresses in flames rolled upon
the stones Of the courtyard. utterng frightful
shreks
~ fetched a hose and turned water on the burn
ing people and so saved several OF them from
being roasted alive also assisted several
women. who were almost naked their clothing
having been burned or torn OH their bodies, TO
reach the Hospital Beau)on
According my estimate. barely five min
utes elapsed between the time went to the nos
Dit al and the time | returned, when the bazaar
was no longer in existence
NJ DieudonnG, secretary OF Baron Mackau.
the president OF the bazaar, is quoted as saying
in an interview:
"A lamp in the cinema tograph started the fire
The cinematograph was fitted up In separate
building by the side Of the bazaar. and It's en-
trance covered with curtains. which were
the first to catch fire
'If people had only kept their heads. many.
perhaps ALL might have escaped across the va
cant plot OF ground behind the building. But ]
saw women glued to the ground; some OF them
were speechless. and others were shrieking Tor
help. when a few steps would have taken them
out Of the building. They Seemed To be hypno-
tized or paralyzed with fright One woman
plunged her nails into my waiscoat and chung 10
it in desperation until 1t gave way and she fell
into the flames while succeeded In reaching the
vacant plot. There the people were literally
roasting Some tried to climb the wall. but they
were overcome with heat or smoke ana Tell back
into the flames
THE Baronne de st. Pierre, though a cripple
and on s<e-utches. reached the door easily. as