Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-07-23
Only Foryone Of the 25 Employees in the Building Known
to Have Escaped-Total Loss Of Lite Will Not Be
Known Until Tangled Mass Of Brick and Steel Can Be
Removed-Women and Girls Literally Roasted on Fire
Escapes-Slow To Answer Alarm Believing Sifna Call
to Fire Drill-Fie Laws Fully Observed, Declares
Company Officials

The flames spread with lightning like
rapidity. and the intensity Of the heat
prevented fremen from getting within
lighting range Of the building, making
rescue impossible.
Literally Roasted 70 Dsath.
Women and girls. too weak to go
further. dropped exhausted on the
single flre escape Of the building and
literally roasted to death. portions Of
the bodies dropping into the streets.
Others jumped and were killed.
Half dozen Of the panic stricken
girls rushed into the elevator standing
on the fourth floor. A minute later all
dropped to their death.
Only the efficacy Of the city fire de-
partment prevented the spread Of the
flames to business blocks lining Water
street between Court and Henry street
Volunteer firemen. employed in the
shops along the line Of the Erie rail-
road. who were In the city for their
annual tournament, aided the local
firemen. In holiday clothes they as
sisted in running lines of hose to the
tops Of buildings that were threat
ened.
Freeman Makes 8tatsmsnt.
Reed b. Freeman, president Of the
company. estimates that there were
about 126 employees in the building
when tho nrs started. Eighty per
cent OF the girls employed were Amer
leans
It's not the money loss nor the bus
mess that overcomes me- he said to-
day. "but It 10 the thought Of those
girls. some Of whom have been with
us for years
They perished because they be-
lieved the alarm was for fire drill,
several Of which had been held recent
ly. They disliked these drills which
forced them to appear in the streets in
their working clothes. Many Of them
were proud spirited and didn't like
this.
so when the alarm sounded most Of
them took their time-some to don
their coats, others to get their purses
and other belongings.
But for this fact, believe nearly al,
would have been saved. In the last
fire drill We had the entire building
was emptied in twenty seconds"
Fire Laws Wsre Observed.
According to the officials Of the
CAOIAAu8 COHpdUy Al1 ING IlE0 laws
have been observed. Fire drills have
been held at regular intervals, and
the regulation that lint be swept from
the floors least once day had been
needed. It 10 the theory Of President
Freeman that a lighted cigaret thrown
into heap Of rubbish. shortly after
the lunch hour. was the cause of the
disaster.
Fire Chief Hoag, as he left the ruins
early this morning, declared that in his
opinion the fire escape was adequate.
Its simply withered from the heat"
he said.
The building was a four story brick
structure. forty-four feet wide by 100
feet long. and was built eighteen years
ago as q cigar factory. The fire escape
was at the rear. There were two
stairways from the top floor. one to
Center street ana the other to Wall
street at tho front. The interior Of the
building was Of wood.
The offices and stock room were To-
Gated on the first floor, but most Of
the operatives were working on the
third and fourth floors.
The fire started in the center of the
frst floor near the stairway. The doors
and windows were open and created .
draft which contributed to the rapid
spread Of the flames.
A fund for the survivors has been
started.