The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-26
Fire in a Paper Box Factory at
Newark, N. ].
Fourteen Known Dead, Nearly
ALI of Them Women
SCORES ARE INJURED.
Panic Causes Many to Leap From
the Windows.
At Least 90 Had Jumped Before
Firemen Could Help.

Newark, N. J., Nov. 26.-In a dis
astrous factory fire here today II lives
are known to have been lost and 40 or
more persons were injured, some prob
ably fatally. Nearly all the victims
were young women workers in the
manufacturing plants in the building.
a four story structure which took fire
from an explosion on the third floor.
Loss of life and injury were heaviest
among the fifty girls on the top floor
who were trapped by the quick spread
ing flames. Some of them jumped to
safety in fire nets and other to their
death Or serious injury on the pave
mentS below.
There is an engine house next door
to the factory but before the f1remen
could give any assistance at least
twenty of the girls had jumped
Origin of the Fire.
The building in which the fire oc-
CURED is a four story structure. The
first and second floors were occupied
by the Newark Paper Box company.
The third floor was occupied by the
Aetna Electric company makers OF
lamps. The fourth floor was used as
a factory by Louis Wolf, manufacturer
of under garments.
It is believed the blaze started on
the second floor in the rear among
lot of rubbish. Within a moment or
two after it was noticed it had made
its way into a lot of waste paper from
"
floors. In all about 200 persons were
employed in the building.
Jennie Gill, who was employed by
Wolf, said she was in room on the
fourth floor with Anna Hague, the
forewoman and Anna Smith and Au-
gusta Ebert.
Miss Hague discovered smoke and
ran to a window. Panic stricken, she
mounted to the sill and plunged into
space. Miss Gill went to a fire escape
and was about to leap when the fire
men raised a ladder and brought her
down.
An immense crowd congregated and
it took the police reserves from the
first, second third. fourth and sixth
precincts to handle the situation
Fifteen Jumped
One Of the spectators said that at
least fifteen girls had jumped from the
dows until frenzied by the flames be-
hind them and nearly suffocated by the
smoke they leaped to the street. With
the exception of two girls employed
b-- the Aetna company all the en-
ployees on the first and second floors
of the building escaped unhurt. The
two who were injured were Sadie Han
son, No. 20 Stone street, and Mrs.
Margaret Molanthy, address not
They were burned about the head and
face.
Twenty-four of the injured were ia
ken to st. M1chaeiS hospital. OI IneSe'
two died.
Life nets were put into use immedi-
ately after the arrival Of the firemen,
perhaps 30 lives were saved in this way.
One girl. Hattie Delapey, was badly
hurt She miscalculated the leap and
struck the edge of the net, falling to
the pavement. Hopnie Diehl was also
injured when she leaped for the net
Eugene NJ. Church, a foreman in the
employ Of the Aetna company, was
among the first to realize the serious
nes of the situation and guided several
score girls to safety down a fire escape.
Less than 20 minutes after the arrival
of the firemen the interior of the build
ing was flame-swept. The floors of the
upper part of the building fell shortly
afterward. It is believed a search of the
ruins will reveal other bodies.
Among those who were early at the
scene was Rev. Father E. F. Quirk, assist
ant rector of St. Joseph church. He gave
the last rites to seven of the victims. The
priest worked nobly, helping the firemen
TO reach parts of the building where 9TH
ers of the injured might be.