The New York herald., 1878-02-09
PANIC STRICKEN GIRLS.

WHAT CRY OF ''FIRE" DID IN WEST BROAD
WAY CIGARETTE FACTORY.
At Nos 139 and 14l West Broadway 10 q building
four stories high, about aity feet in width Sky
feet in depth, occupied by Francis s. Kinney as
cigarette marulactory. In this building en-
poyed 800 girls. ranging in years from thtrteen
upwards aud about fifty men and boya
Tho entrance and exit for this numbcS
Of employees Is up ght of eleven steps and through
q single door opening inward. This door 10 locked
after eight O'Clock In the morning, opened again At
noon for half an hour. and then locked again iii the
hands quit work IN the evening. There are notices
posted inside the building telug tho people employed
how of Ore. and Of the numerous provi-
sions made to prevent it. There are large sheds
in the rear which might be used as fire escapes
for those whose presence OF mind would impel them
TO seek that means exit; but there hre
escapes proper the building Yesterday afternoon
about fifteen minutes af.er four O'Clock a quantity
OF snow fell through the skylgnt Of this building and
struck the steam pipe. Tho cloud OF steam thus pro-
duced enough to cause Of the female workers
10 imagine there was either hre IN the building or
boiler had exploded and her shouts OF "Firel Fire"
were caught up ana resounded through every floor.
Inc gs' nnxng possibly 2, Inc ,a'e barclay s''e"' @
OF the street door being iockcd became packed
In one mass against it. They could not open
from sheer fright Happily for the girls the men Of
Hook and Ladder Tsuck No. g. which has ss quarters
IN North Moore sueot, near West Broadway heard
tho alarm and rushed TO the spot a. onoe. Win
their axes they broke IN the panels oil the door
and helped those who were nearest out on
tho ssoop They then wrepched the door from
of its hinges, while as the samc time the
slouest and strongest Of them stood with arms out
stretched 10 prevent this mass of women from falling
headlong TO tho street In their mad rush. They
were allowed TO pass out by degrees, and BY the
timely and prudent exertiOns o these nremcn, under
tho direction Of Captain Reeves and Lieuvenant Mo.
Donald, the panic which might have resulted Ia
great loss OF life, stayed. WE al the girls
were taken TO their homes IN very weak condition,
and Two had their hands badly cut With broken
glass. Tho panic lasted but short timo, but the
utmost excitement prevailed Ladders were raisod
TO tho windows, which many OF the em-
ployes descended, and the workmen on the Elo-
vatcd Railroad stretched ladders horizontally IRON
the irouwork to the windows on tho second
story. None but the male employees, however,
trusted 70 this mode OF escape. By hve o'clock The
panlc was quito subdued aud the most OF the grla
won't back TO their work. Last evening HERALD fo-
porter called the Filth precinct station and ask Cd
the Captain and Sergeant II they had any particulars
concerning u nre or alarm OF FIRE at Nos 130 aud
lll West Broadway. Tho Captain said that
there was nothing except alarm from station 143
corner OF West Broadway and North Moore street,
and tnat proved be a iasc alarm. al understood
there was panio there Captain and several persons
injured said the reporter "0h, no; would know
u II there waA Their srrAngsmsnta are tev pefesee
tor anything Of that kind 70 eeeuxn