Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-03-27
fhe Catastrophe in New York.

New York, March, 81. Facing the
fact that there are not less than 100
loft buildings in Manhattan alone
which are veritable fire traps, and that
horror exceeding that Of Saturday
afternoon which cost 142 lives when
the plant OF the Triangle Waist Com.
pany was destroyed s possible at any
time, immediate plans to remedy this
situation we're set on foot today At the
same time the district attorneys and
coroner's Offices started an inquiry to
place the blame for Saturdays holo-
caust. It. seemed certain, however,
that the FAULT vas not alone negligence
of individuals but laxity in the laws
and that it will be necessary to appeal
to the legislature for action. OF the
| 142 bodies that had been taken to the
morgue mp to noon yesterday when it
was decided all OF the dead had been
recovered, all but Al had been identi-
fed today. All through the night, the
old covered charities pier had been
besieged By persons whose loved ones
were missing, but most OF the re-
naming bodies are so terribly charred
that Identification seems impossible.
A heavy rain that began to fall soon
after dark last night drove the mere
curiosity seekers away, but those who
were honestly seeking relatives or
friends, stood in line, although in
many instances wet 10 the skin, until
they we're permitted to enter.
With daylight the line began to grow
again and by nine O'Clock there we're
more than thousand people waiting
to gel inside.
At 80 the line Of those seeking adj
mission to the temporary morgue ex-
tended over five blocks. The police
would only permit half dozen in the
building at time.
All OF the bodies had been placed in
rough painted pine boxes and, where
it was possible, the dead had been elc-
waited so that recognition might be
facilitated. AS quickly as Identification
was made, The lids were clamped on
the collins and they were placed at the
rear OF the pier to await transfer by
undertakers to the sorrowing homes.
Over at the Mercer street police
station the police have half hundred
women's hats and furs, ~ welI as other
yalnablcs, arranged around the floor OF
the reserve squad room. These belong
ed to The dead, and were being held for
the relatives to identify and claim.
| There are also in the captain 5 safe
number Of pay envelopes and pieces OF
ieNeIy picked un il the street sitter
the victims jumped.
That the actual responsibility for the
holocaust rests with John Williams,
state Superintendent Of labor, was the
statement Of District Attorney Whit
man after he had looked over the
burned structure aud inspected tbs
laws bearing on the case. He said that
Williams department. under the law
was obliged to see that the factory
buildings OF the city were sale, and on
February l OF this year, one OF the
deputies et the State Department o.
K'd' this structure, despite the narrow
stairWay5 and dangerous exits. Whit
man said that he has demanded from
tie state commissioners copy Of this
repor, which will probably be presented
10 the grand jury.
Chicago, March 27.-Saturday's
holocaust will probably teach New
York the sobre ire lesson that Chicago
learned in the Iroq',ois Theatre fire,
tile Fish Furniture Company fire and
the stockyards disaster, declared Fire
Chief Seyferlich. Of the Chicago fire
department.
Seyferlich declared that Chicago is
today probably better equipped with
life saving apparatus than any other
city in the world.
81. Louis, March Assertions
that fire similar to the New York
horror Of Saturday would be i'm
possible here vas given today BY COM
mission Of public buildings, James A.
Smith. Smith and Fire Chief Swing
ley. Joined in declaring, however, that
the fire Noiild permit Immediate inyeS-
legations.
Boston, March 27.-Fire protection
that will abolish conditions such as
made the New York horror OF Saturday
possible and which are declared by
Buildina Commissioner Yerett to exist
throughout Metropolitan Boston. today
vas confidently predicted as = result of
the horrible loss OF life.
Fire trap construction has been com.
mon in Boston, particularly in the sub
urban tenement districts.