The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-09
Affecting Echo Of the
Terrible Charity Ba.
Zaar Fire in ParisNine
Years Ago---Desjar.
dins' Sad Plight.
BY Sterling HeIlIg.
special Correspondence of Tho journal.

NJ ARTS, Aug. 25.-On the fatal day
in May, 1897, when the Charity
bazaar fire was breaking out, a
young leadroofer out Of work passed
down the Rue Jean Coujon.
Seeing the smoke and flames coming
from the one-story wooden building, he
pushed in to find himself in a mass of
fashionably, dressed girls and. men,
crazed, rushing about or clinglng. to
ably dressed men.
The young artizan had no scruples.
he picked up girl, fought his way out
with her, returned, picked up another,
kicked aside third who had grabbed
him by the legs, struck down frantic
man who would not let 90 his coat,
staggered with his burden to the street
and hurried in for another woman.
A few other heroic men Of his own
kind joined in the work-Georges, a
eoachman, Piquot, another leadfoofer,
two hotel cooks who pulled women thru
a window, and three compositors from
an adjoining printing office, work
Ing at two other windows; but the
catastrophe was sudden and the fire
None took out so many women as the
young. leadroofer. A charred joist, fall
cried horre sf G m y yts a har
IS burning!'' And she put it out with
her gloved hands.
He saved twenty women-went in
twenty times. When it was over he
walked away simply, and his name
would never have been known had not
his landlord, the next day, called in
poor doctor to treat him for bad case
Of cheat fever.''
He was Leon Henri Desjardine, %
years old, unmarried.
Four years passed. On Nov. 10, 1901,
q young man fell in the Avenue de
Vi1liers and was all but run over. As
he could not rise to his feet, two police
men judged that he was drunk and led
him to the station, amid the jeers Of
the street.
At the station, however, he explained
that he had been without food for two
days. Comforted by a bowl of soup
and warmed at the fire, he who had
been fainting from starvation was able
to. reply to M. Michaud, the police COM
missary.
~ am q leadroofer by trade" he
said, "but injuries by burns and ioist
falling on my head prevent me from
finding much work nowadays. The
roofs. Therefore I do odd Jobs. This
week I have been following cabs with
baggage from St. Lazare railway
depot"
Much has been written on the psy-
chology of this most shiftless of the
little trades Of Paris, whose prac-
titioners, while 80 curiously incapable
of moderate but sustained effort, are
willing on occasion, to put forth i'm
mense exertion. They do not know the
cab 8 destination, yet they follow at
dog-trot on the mere chance of earn
ing franc by carrying trunk up four
flights.
"What is your nameq" asked the
police commissary.
leon Henri Desjardins."
"You say you have suffered from
burns. Are you the Desiardins who
d distingu ashs5 himself at the Charity
eyes, monsieur lie commissaire.
''Have you not medal7'
81 have three.'
Were you not decorated with the
Legion of Honor7''
TYes, MONSIEUR
"Then why do you not wear the
Tibbon?'
With the child's logic that dis
tinguishes him, Desjardins replied:
IL IS not nttlng-When L work at
tramp's trade.''
1.-THE dishonor Is rather for those
who let you do it, said the commits
sary. "Give me your address; I shall
occupy myself with you.' Then hand
ing him few dollars he walked out
with the young leadroofer to the police
room. "This is not drunkard, but a
herol' he said to those who arrested
him.