The Detroit times., 1911-03-27
Loss OF 142 Lives
R0UsEs 0FF|CIALs
FROM LETHARGY
Burning of Triangle shirtwaist Rao-
tory Leads To Amazing Discovery
That Not Less Than 80 Other
Buildings Are Fire Traps.
District Attorney Whitman Says He
Will Place Blame for Criminal !.
Carelessness.

NEW YORK. March 27.-Facfne
the fact that there are not less than
100 lofty buildings IN Manhattan alone
which are veritable fire-traps. and
that horror exceeding that OF Sat-
urday afternoon which cost 142 lives,
nine-tenths OF them girls. when the
plant OF the Triangle Waist Co. was
destroyed Is possible az any time. I'M
mediate plans TO remedy this situa-
ton were set on foot today. At the
same time the district attorneys and
coroners office started an inquiry 10
place the blame for Saturdays holo-
caust. IL seemed certain, however.
that the fault was not alone necli-
gence OF individuals but laxity In the
laws and that IL will be necessary to
appeal to the legislature for action.
District Attorney Whitman said
that he intended to have the grand
jury make a sweeping investsgafion
which Will be entirely independent or
that or the coroner. He intends that
the blame shall be squarely placed
and II criminal negligence is proven
the persons responsible win be pun
ished. He. today, assigned Assistant
District Attorneys Bostwick, Manley
and Rubin to conduct the various sec
tions Of the inquiry.
He intimated he Is already in DOS
session OF information that indicated
the inspection OF the office and fac
tory buildings Of the city have been
criminally lax. The provisions OF the
law demanding stand-pipes. three sep
arate stairways. sprinklers. automatic
fire alarms, etc.. have not been com
piled with in more than one-third OF
the big buildings of the city.
Whitman Is already convinced that
had there been an automatic fire alarm
In the building in which the Triangle
company's plant Is located, fifteen
minutes would have been saved By
the firemen In reaching the scene and
that time would have enabled them
to get up on to the upper floors and
led many Of those who later lost their
lives to safety by means of the roof
and adjoining structures.
While preparations for fixing the
responsibility for the horror went on
a pace today, the various charitable
organizations and civic bodies, start
ed out to care for the destitute de-
pendants OF the victims and to bury
the dead. Mayor Gaynor headed q
Subscription list to be distributed
through the Red Cross committee Of
the New York charity organization
society. The various newspapers also
prepared to raise funds, as did the
Ladies' Waist and Dressmakers union,
with which number OF the dead
| ofH1 IaN fwo
ton also prepared to bury the un-
identified dead.
A large lot has been secured In the
plot OF the Workman's Circle, 9
Jewish sick and death benefit organi.
zation in Mount Sinai to bury these
unidentified and others whose friends
are unable to pay the undertaken.
The union has ordered that all
members refrain from working tomor-
row, when IL Is planned TO hold most
OF the funerals, and to participate In
monster funeral procession. Other
labor organizations are ordered to
join, and the whole Is to be made q
united protest against the lax laws
which made the horror possible.
OF the LAP bodies that had been TAX
en- TO the morgue up to noon yester-
day when IL was decided all Of the
dead had been recovered, all but So
had been identified this morning.
All through the night the charities
pier had been besieged by persons
whose loved ones were missing, but
most OF the remaining bodies are 90
terribly charred that Identification
seems impossible. A heavy rain that
began to fall soon after dark last
night. drove the mere curiosity-seek-
ers away, but those who were honest
ly seeking relatives and friends stood
In line. although in many instances,
wet to the skin. until,they were per
mitted to enter.
With daylight the line began to
grow again and before o'clock there
were more than a thousand people
waiting to get inside. The police ana
nurses on duty permitted the people
to enter a few at a time, In order that
the usual confusion might be pre-
vented.
I, All OF the bodies had been placed
In roughly painted pine boxes and,
where IL was possible. the head bad
been elevated so that recognition
might be facilitated. As quickly as
Identification was made. the lids were
lclamped ON the coffins and they were
lplaced AT the rear Of. the pier to await
transfer by undertakers TO the sorrow
ing homes.
over at the Mercer-st police station
the police have half hundred
women's hats and furs. as Wen as
Iother articles OF wearing apparel ana
lyaluables. arranged around the moor
~ the reserve squad room These be
iIonged TO the dead and We're being
held for the relatives to idenuity ana
claim, There are also In the captains
90 q number or cay envelopes and
nieces OF jewelry picked up IN the
street after the victims jumped.
There were fourteen injured victims
of the hre still In st. vincents, the /.
New York and Bellevue hospitals IN
day. OF these Il was said five sf least
are so terribly hurt that they cannot