In 1897, a four-day charity event in Paris left hundreds of people dead or injured after a fire spread through the town. The fire started on the second day of the event and quickly consumed much of the bazaar and the surrounding buildings. Since firefighting procedures of yesteryear weren't what they are today, the damage was significant. But perhaps more interesting than the carnage was the charity bazaar itself.
Most are used to thinking of "celebrity fundraisers" as a new invention. But they certainly aren't. Even back in the 1800s, the aristocracy would raise money for charities by selling their goods. During the 1897 charity bazaar, it's estimated that around 1,800 individuals were in attendance. Certainly not a number to scoff at during the earliest days of telephones.
The origin of the fire is said to have been a cinematograph, which was showing moving pictures and running on a combination of oxygen and ether. When a match was lit, the cinematograph's fuel went up in flame, and the surroundings along with it. Since the entire bazaar was filled with flammable items — such as clothing — and the quarters were so packed, it wasn't long before everything was alight.
While a disaster, something did come of the bazaar fire. It highlighted the need for better fire and safety standards for such events. Notably, some doors at the bazaar opened inward, slowing people as they tried to escape.
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