THE PARIS THEATRE HORROR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8020, 6 August 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE PARIS THEATRE HORROR.

A GLANCE AT TfllC VICTIMS OF THE

OPERA COMMIQUE HOLOCAUST. Ever since Wednesday night streams of people—some of whom were habitual idlers, but most of whom have forsaken work to satisfy curiosity—have flowed sluggishly and steadily along the different streets that debouch on the Opera Comique ; but none of them could get so far as that, lines of policemen having barred tho way against all who hud not passes from tho Prefecture. Being on good terms with tho Prefect, I was ablo to run this police blockade aud to got a Colonel of the Fire Brigade to take me ovor tho ruins. Thero was iu them & silent eloquence that was nothing less than appalling. Every sense, save tho auditive one, was startled boyoni endurance. You felt as if iu a steam bath. Though fourteen engines bad bcon at work for several days, tho firo was not quite out, and you might have roasted opgs in tho black rubbish, it was so hot. The pungent odour of charcoal took away ono's breath, and made one feel dizzy and as if load and not brains were in ono's skull. Everywhere—pardon my roalism — thore w&s a strong and, uuder tho circumstances, a sickening smell of roasted meat when 1 was on tho theatro of the great fire of Wednesday night. It was eui generis. I suppose a cannibal would have been dolighted. "Thore must," said tho Colonol, •' bo a deep strata oi ; victims here, this gridiron scent is so strong. But we can't be in any haste to dig them out; the building i 3 too shaky to meddle with tho fallen rafters here unless in the most cs.utious way." One did not much discern charnol-hoaso smolla. This is because of tho mass of charcoal in which the unfortunates who met a fiery death were embedded.

It waa only whou one got near oi:p ~>f the few boxes which remained that tho nostrils were dreadfully offended. " Look up there," eaid tho Colonel. I did as ho told mo, and bchqld in a box that held on, as if by a miracle, to tho wall, three ladies with blackened visages. Oue was in black velvet. Another had a jot cuirass. Tho third was in pink and white, and had flowers in a mas 3of frizzled fair hair. Her mouth was opened, as if gasping for breath ; the lips were greatly curled back ; and two rows of white, even tocth were laid bare. Tha others leant back in their chain quite quietly, and one of them held a fan on the lodge of the boxThey formed tho moat awful sight I think I evor gtzed upon. Tho probability is that despairing of escaping in tho fearful torrent of human beings which tore in the dark along corridors ami siaire, they returned to their seats and quietly waited to bo burned or suiYocated. Death camo upon them in tho form of suffocation. It waa impossible, up to tho timo 1 saw them, to get near them, and so they remained iu their conspicuous position for several days. Who these ladies are nobody has an idea. The freaks of tho iiro at the Opera Comique wero very odd. Thus press doors were burned away in tho wardrobe room, and the costumes hauling in tho racks wero in many instances hardly injured. Black must be greatly the fa3hioa, although their is no court any whero in mourning. < All tho seven ladies who wore found in a cluctor wero in arrangements of the colour deer to Whistlor. I oaunot think in virtue of what law they got together, for they were clearly not related, bikl the dressmakers' etiiraps on tho inner belts of their corsages wore in no two cases the same. Au English artist whom 1 took to the mortuary was struck with tho elegance of the gloves, the boots and shoes, and tho stockings. What struck mo wa3 tho horrible mockery of fashion expressed in the condition of the fashionably-attired bodios. Tho quantity of jowela found was prodigious.