New-York tribune., 1911-12-23
TELLS OF PANIC At FIRE
Isaac Harris, Of Triangle Fac
tory, Testifies in Own Behalf.
LED GIRLS TO THE ROOF
Says He Frequently Used Wash
ington Place Door-Triai Is
Adjourned Over Christmas.

| Isaac Harris. one OF the partners III '"e
/ Triangle shirtwaist factory. TOOK the s'"h'
in his own behalf toward the close OIL yes
terdav's session lie finished his story on
/ tho direct. and was being cross-eNaihihe'
bv Assistant District Attorney Bost"'cA'
| when Judee Grain wished the jurors
! Merry christmas and adjourned court to
| Tuesday.
Harris was calm almost throughout his
testimony. At first he kept his eyes direct
~ fixed on those of his counsel, Max
! Steuer or on a bit of wall over the jury
box But in time he became accustomed
to his surroundings. and permitted his eyes
IN look around the court His partner and
! co-defendant. Max Blanck, watched MIN
intently as he testified His wife, who sat
in the front row of spectators seemed
pleased with him.
To the surprise Of the prosecution Harris
did not testify that the Washington Place
door of his factory on the ninth floor was
open on the day of the fire, when liS OF MS
employees lost their lives His testimony
on this point was inferential He said ne
used both the Washington Place stairs ana
the Greene street stairs IN gong lroih
floor 10 floor He could not recall II he
had used the Washington Place door on the
fatal Saturday.
Where were you when the fire started?
asked his counsel
"In nv office. on the tenth floor. l sa"
fire in the windows. l told the elevator
man to rush the girls out Then somepouy
yelled that there was fire i'm the packing
room in the back Of the tenth floor. said:
Girls. let's come on the roof" | went INTO
the Greene street hallway Ihe sfiiohe
was very thick. I saw flames coming from
window that we would have TO pass on
the way To the roof | was afraid' Out
said: May as we'll die trying to get OUT
as stav here so | started. 4 little girl
named Sarah said to me: Save me!
grabbed her. | got TO the roof. ] CLIMBED
the wall there. It's ten feet hlgh. Iheh
we began to take the girls.
Have YOU had any other fires Desides
the last one?" asked Judge Grain.
"Yes five" answered Harris. only two
others were big enough 10 collect insurance
on one was i'm April. 1902, and we got
about $4,000 The other was In November,
the same year. and the damage was about
SO no The others were about three years
ago. In one | found a cigar butt in the
basket of goods near cutter, and DIS
charged him"
The only theory advanced for the fire OF
March q is that a cutter had been smok-
ing and threw away a lighted match or
cigar. The fire started under cutter
table.
In answer TO questions of Mr.. Bostwick
the witness said watchmen we're stationed
at the Greene street door to search the
girls because several had been caught
stealing. Further questions along the same
line we're objected TO by Mr. Steuer
This testimony is only received, said
Judge Grain. Ito see If for protection OF
their property the defendants caused the
Washington Place exit to he locked
several witnesses testified that they
found the Washington Place door open
one of these was Nathan Workman VINO
said he used To slip in at the eighth moor.
'NVhy slip in? what do you mean?
"NVeu. ] used to go TO see my lady friend
and / didn't want the boss TO catch me
"Oh. that's it," said Steuer relieved.
Ida Okan. who worked on the ninth
floor. said she often used the Washington
place door. even when going home This
surprised Mr. Bostwick, ii was the first
testimony of the sort offered during the
trial.
.Did YOU see any one else use that door?"
he asked.
Yes, forewomen.'
Mention one Of their names?'
Il don't remember
The defence will close after putting
Banck on the stand.