The Washington times., 1911-03-27

sistants are today examining fifty
persons who had knowledge of con-
ditions in the burned building. These
include the proprietors of the fac
tories on the lower floors: Joseph c.
Asch, owner Of the structure, who ar
rived from Florida late yesterday, and
a number Of the survivors of the
horror.
That 1t was the habit of many of
the workers to smoke cigarettes and
pipes, despite the infammabIe ma
terial they handled, has already been
established by the fire marshal. The
rule against smoking, which was con-
spicuously displayed, according to
Fire Marshal Beers. was a dead let
ter in the Triangle factory, and he
says that the cause of the fire may
nave been lighted match or cigar
smoker
1t is unlikely, however. that the real
, cause will ever be positively known.
The proprietors OF the factory say they
mink 1t came from a neaied jammed
pulley, while other survivors say an ex-
plosion took place just as the fire broke
out.
Charities At Work.
While preparations for fixing the re-
sponsibility for the horror went on
apaCe today. the various charitable or
SdHiLdllOlS anu CIVIL DOlleS started out
, to care for the destitute dependents OF
the victims. and to bury the dead.
Mayor William J. Gaynor head a sub
scnption list. TO be distributed through
the Red Cross committee OF the New
York Charity Organization Society. The
various newspapers. aHo. prepared to
raise funds. as did the Ladies' Waist
and Dressmakers Union, with which a
number of the dead were affiliated.
This latter organization also prepared
TO bury the unidentified dead
A large lot has been secured in the
plot of the Workman's Circle, a Jewish
sick and death benefit organization, In
Mt. SnaiS to bury those unidentified and
others whose friends are unable to pay
the undertaken. The union has ordered
that all members refrain from working
tomorrow. when il is planned To hold
most OF the funerals, and 10 participate
| in monster funeral procession. Other
labor orga nizatiOns are expected to ioin
and the whole is to be made unit ed
protest against the lax laws which
made the horror possible.
Majority Identified.
OF the l42 bodies that had been taken
| to the norge yesterday. when it was
| decided all of the dead had been reCov-
cred, all but forty-five had been identI'
| fed today. All through the night the
old covered OnarlteS pier udu DeSI
besieged by persons whose loved ones
were missing, but most of the remain
| ing 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 to the skin, until they
were permitted to enter.
With daylight the line began to gro"
gain and by 9 o'clock there were more
! than a thousand people waiting to get
inside The police and nurses on duty
! permitted the people to enter a few at
| a time, in order that the usual confu-
sion might be prevented.
Work of Identification.
All of the bodies had been placed in
| roughly painted pine boxes, and. where
II was possible, the head had been ele-
waited so that recognition might be
facilitated AS quickly as identifica-
ton was made the lids we're clamped
on the coffins. and they We're 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 a hundred women 5