The silver star., 1897-05-13

ing Instant Death to Great Number.
Paris. May Fire broke out at 4 D.
m. to-day in a crowded charitable ba-
zaar in the Rue Jean-Goujon, at which
the Duchess d'Uzzes and other well.
known patronesses were present.
More than one hundred persons were
burned to death and fully two hun.
dred injured.
There was rush for the exits and
the weaker persons were borne down
and trampied upon.
The infiammable nature of the build
ing and contents caused the flames to
spread with great rapidity and in n
very short time the bazaar was q mass
of flames.
n policeman who was on duty at the
doors of the bazaar says that from
1900 TO 1,S0O people were In the build
ing when the fire broke out. He adds
that the alarm caused general panic,
followed by a terrible rush for the
doors, which were soon choked with
people, thus preventing the escape Of
many who might otherwise have been
saved. The strong trampled upon the
weak. the young crushed the old to
the floor. Heartrending cries of fear
arose on all sides. soon followed by
the shrieks of agony as the flames
swept onward behind the crowds
struggling for the doors.
The building in which the fire broke
out was a temporary structure of
wood. $50 by 300 feet in dimensions.
The flames We're first discovered above
the stall occupied by the Duchess
dUZzes. and while the place was
densely crowded. The bazaar is an
annual function. presided over by the
leaders of Partisan society.
As might be supposed. many of the
ladies' connected with the bazaar
were of the aristocracy or of the
wealthy class, and large number of
these perished.
Very soon after the alarm was given
assistance hurried to the burning ba.
Zaar, and effective help was rapidly
organized by the firemen and police.
men. Although n general alarm was
sent out with reasonable promptness
the whole wooden structure was blaz
ing before the firemen could approach
The roof and almost the whole build
ing collapsed. falling upon the unfor
tunate people, many of whom are sup
posed TO have previously succumbed
10 the sitting smoke
The correspondent of the Associated
Press has had an interview with Miss
Elsie Bushbeck. of Philadelphia, who
with the Misses Hawthorne and Bush
beck, was one of the few who escaped
although not unscathed Miss Bush
beck said:
Il was saleswoman at booth No
10, near the place where the fire orig
mated | arrived at ten minutes past
four with my friends. We stopped &c
leok around the bazaar and stopped at
n lottery wheel, where l won a bunch
OF asparagus. Just then. happening
to turn around. ! called my friends
attention TO n flicker In the corner OF
the wall about fifteen yards away
Hardly had | done SO when a gentle
man behind me cried Fire ladies.
hasten out and pushed me toward the
door rather roughly, but fortunately
for me.
As this was my second experience
under such circumstances, advised
my two friends to raise their skirts ir
the front, so they would not stumble
over them.
I'VE were then just stepping on the
first of the three steps leading out OF
the building. Turning my head TO look
back, | saw the whole place in flames.
AT my left ! caught glimpse OF
an old lady emerging from an ada.
cent door. and saw her stumble OF
her skirts. The next instant quite
twenty persons piled on top of her. /
crossed the street and turned round
10 face the fire. but already the heat
was so intense II scorched me and ]
was obliged to raise my hands to pro.
tect my face. When the roof fell In
with a terrific crash certainly no,
more than five minutes had ELAPSED
from the first warning. Such was the
intensity OF the heat that l saw q
fireman's jacket ignited and several
OF the horses We're badly singed. Out
Of the pile of persons who fell near the
door none We're saved. All were
burned In moment. OF the four nuns
mt my booth, two were saved, and one
of the three blind girls who were en-
gagged there. The visitors were fol
the most part ladies', gorgeously
dressed"
Words would fail to describe the
horror Of the scene mt the Palais de
L'1ndustrie. where the bodies are ex.
posed on the side next to the Avenue
Banton. in portion of the building
now In course OF demolition. Here, In
n large room, rudely covered with
rough planks. the bodies as they ar.
rive from the ambulances are being
placed in three long rows. Here Is
exemplificd death by fire with all its
horrors. bodies completely nude. Limbs
twisted In the writings OF agony,
some still having shreds Of clothing,
which assist recognition In spite OF
horrible Disagreement. bones visible
through fire-eaten flesh, some mere
skeletons or grlnning skulls bIackencd
with smoke.
At 0:30 p. m. only six bodies have
been recognized with certainty.
The wounded are now known 10
number 1SO. Madame Flores, wife
Of the Spanish consul, expired at the
Hospital Beaujon, where are several
others injured. NJ. Faure has visited
the hospital md the Palais de LIN.
dustrie, to pay his respects to the
dead.