The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-27
FIRE KILLS 14O.

Continued from Page Onel
later we would all have been on our
way home.
ALREADY some 80 the helpers in the
factory, boys between 16 and IS years
old, had started to gather up the
bundles of cloth from which we cut
patterns. The cloth we used was of a
light nature. and was easily handled.
After the cuttings were made, the
patterns were hung on a long wire
which stretched the entire length of
the tables, and which was about four
feet above our heads. I should say
that as many as thousand pieces
were hanging on this line.
MY position was about in the middle
of the cutting table, and half way be-
tween the windows on the Washing
ton place side of the building, and the
elevator shafts leading to Greene
street. Standing Immediately behind
me when my attention was first called
to the blaze, was the cutting manager,
Samuel Bernstein.
Managers Face White.
Suddenly felt someone punch me
in the back, and turning around, I
saw Bernstein with his face white
from fright. At the same moment
almost there was cry of 'Firen and
saw that the material which hung
on the pattern line was ablaze.
Instantly several of the cutters
jumped toward the fabrics and tore
them from the line, but the fire got
the better of them, and even before
the rest of us could snatch the pat
terms which hung near US they had
started to burn. Some of the burning
pieces rose from their own heat and
floated across the large room to set
fire to other large piles of cloth and
Innings which stood in piles on the va
rious tables. The room clouded with
smoke and became so filled with the
suffocating fumes of the burning cloth
that we scarcely had time to snatch
| several emergency fire pals which
| stood in racks on the wall.
These pals contained water.
! which we threw over the mass of
flames. That was all 1 remember of
what took place, except that in the
rush of men and women to get to the
stairway on the Greene street side
was carried along with the others who
were screaming and shouting and
fighting"
Rothen was one of those who es-
capped from the factory by way of the
stairs.
Investigation Begins.
Fire Marshal Beers has summoned
the proprietors of the Triangle Waist
company and several employees of the
| firm to testify at the public investiga-
| ton he instituted today He has been
| busy cOUeCI1nS All aNdildDie AiIOAllit'-
ton regarding the conditions in the
factory when the fire started and will
inquire particularly into the truth OF
the statements that doors leading to the
exits were locked.
so far as 1 have been able to dis
cover said Mr.. Beers. there has never
been a fire drill in this factory. In my
opinion it would take the 200 girls three
hours to reach the street by the fire
| escape that was used in the building.
can say that the shutters obstructed
| this fire escape.
There are a thousand other build
| ings in this city in the same condition
as the scene of Saturdays disaster. The
| buildings are passed as loft buildings
and are then converted into factories.
Nine-tenths of the employees cannot
read English. yet in the examination
| have made 1 could not find a sign II
the Yiddish or Italian tongues, which
most of the employees spoke, pointing
out fire exits