New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
FACTORY DOOR LOCKED
Witness al Newark Inquest SAYS
Girls Could Mot Be Warned.
EMpL OYER BLAMES WOMAN
Declares Ali Could Have Been
Saved but for Delay in
Giving Fire Alarm.

A Corouer's Jury in Newark began its in
cI.irv yesterday 70 fix responsibility for the
loss az twentv-fIve lives IN the factory IRE
which occurred in High street, that city,
oo November 2s Seven witnesses among
them ". IrvinE Wolf. secretary and treas
urer Of the concern which occupied the
fourth Hoor Of the FIRE swept building, were
heard and an adjournment was taken 1IntH
10 O'Clock this morning
John c. Blevney, a machinist whose shop
was on the ground floor in the northern
end Of the building. testified that at least
Eve vea-s ago he condemned the fire pro-
lection IL the building and called il 10 the
attention Of the landlord, J. Nathaniel
Glass. OF Manhattan
From the testimony Of Eugene Mcouat
rIsrse-intendent OF the Anchor Lamp Com
psny. ia which plant. on the third floor the
Ere originated, confirmation was obtained
of the report that a door leading from the
third foer 70 the workshop Of the Wolf
company. on the fourth floor, had been
locked
Mr. Wolf declared there were us persons
~ the payroll the day OF the fire All were
women except TWO. Miss Anna Eaas-who
wss manager OF the plant and was among
the dead-the witness said, had full con-
rrol Of the place. Il was her duty 10 see
rhst the factory complied with ali the re
Qui-enents o1 Insurance companies and
building inspectors
y believe all could have escaped & they
had received warning promptly" Mr.. Wolf
.&id. "and as II was TWO or three escaped
80 the street down the stairway"
Eugene McOua1, superintendent OF the
Anchor Lamp Company, in which plant on
fhs third floor. the flames originated, de-
h and a
declared that II would never be known
what started the fire. He said that Miss
sadie EEnpson was working at a 5lament
machine. when she called 10 him to put
OF Z fire. a glass bottle II which gasolene
was kept witness said. had capsized
and -i,e burning fluid was streaming over
rhe Aoo-. 7 threw three pals OF sand on
the flames, McOust said and then some
sparks few into q false ceiling The
blaze then spread SO that It was useless to
fight il ary longer ana ] then ordered the
girls 10 get out"
Ncoust went on 70 say that he then
Erzzted 70 give the alarm 70 the Wolf en-
rloyes On the floor above, ana found the
coo- leading upstairs barred with q Yale
lock. EEe said ne pounded OF the door, and
8 moment later was Joined BY Captain
Van Volkenburg OF Engine 4. stationed
across Ef15 street rom TIE turning Du1o-
Ing.
Miss HszE finally opened the door, the
witness said. and then turned quickly and
-su hack upstairs. In the excitement Nc
o1z- seid IL might be that several girls ran
past hin N the hallway. getting TO the
street Miss Haas. he said. turned back.
md The door closed. automatically locking
aEalr- Witness said he tried 10 open It
szan. when rhe flames burst OUT around
hirr and threatened his life.
E6Uz-6 : Kemp, 2 surveyor. who made
diaErsu of the building, including the
80 escapes and stairs. with their measure
ruer1s, was called He testified giving ths
r7essu-enents ne had made Of the fire es-
-s0sz. and they were found 70 have been
vyI-n-1 reouITsTnsutS. except with reference
- the lae1ght Of the balcony ratings which
were four inches lower than the law speci-
faz
N=uar declared that the stairs leading 70
80 UPPER floors OF the building were three
feet fozr inches vide the stairway being
lnclcsed by 2 twO-inch partition wall In
answer to one Of the Jurors. tbs witness
Es.d he 7oUld not call tle stairway fire.
r-cof