Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-23


BINGHAMToN, N. Y, July s3.-
The exact number of persons who
perished in the fire in the factory of
the Binghamton Clothing Company,
yesterday may never be known. Tho
list of employees is in the ruins On
ly half dozen of the bodies reeov-
cred have been identified
A careful estimate today places the
number of those in the building at
the time of the fire, at Ill OF these
only SO are known to have been saved.
Six dead have been identified; fifteen
bodies, oharred beyond recognition,
are at the morgue; seven injured
are in the hospitals; several slight
ly injured, are safe at their homes.
Eleven have been reported by rela-
tives as missing and 26 others are un-
accounted for.
Mrs. Ida Prentiss, who suffered ter
rible burns about the head, died to-
day and Mrs. Mary Benny, another
of the injured. Is not expected to re-
cover.
Admit Total May BE Fifty-eight.
City officials estimate the death toll
at fifty, but admit it may reach fif-
.ty-eght. Physicians expressed the
belief that the bodies of several Of
those lost in the center of the build
ing would never be found.
Crowds gathered about the scene
of the disaster today and silently
watched the men at Work in the de.
bris under the direction of May X
Irving. Charred bits of human fesn
We're picked up here and there, and
shortly before noon a body was re-
/ covered, burned beyond recognition.
District Attorney Frederick J.
Meagher announced today that a
thorough investigation would be
made as to the cause of the disaster
and to determine the responsibility, II
any, for the loss of life.
City to Observe Funeral Day.
Mayor Irving will issue a proclama.
ton calling upon the citizens of Bing-
hamton for general observance of
a day to be set apart for the funeral
of the victims. As many of the bodies
are unrecognizable a public funeral
will be conducted by the city and the
unknown dead will be buried in q
plot upon which a shaft will ba
erected.
Frank A. Ash, of Binghamton. an
inspector for the State labor depart
ment. said today that the fire-escapes
on the building were of a type ap-
proved by the State regulations.
The injured include: Esther Ras-
kin. Mrs. May Leighton, Ruth Crotty,
Edna Crotty, Mrs. Mary Bennett,
Charles Contesse, Mrs Ida Hough-
falling, Jared orr Mrs. Ida Prentice,
Mrs. Margaret Quick.
List of Employees Is In Buried Safe.
The list of the 134 employees of the
company who were on the pay-rolls
Saturday, some of whom were on
vacation, is in the safe under the
ruins. making the task of compiling
the roster of dead difficult one.
The loss by fire and water to the
buildings and stock of five concerns
is estimated at more than 5000 900,
largely covered by insurance.
The postoffice, built about twenty
years ago, was badly damaged, but
the mails We're saved A temporary
office has been established in a near
by garage.
The loss of the Binghamton Cloth
ing Company, of which Reed B. Free
man is president. is estimated at
about $4,000, all covered by insur-
ance. This does not include the builds
ing, which was rented.
The heavy loss of life is believed to
have been largely due to the fact that
the employees believing that one of
the frequent fire drills was being
held. were slow in leaving the build :
ing. Even when it became known
that the building was on fire, many
returned to the dressing-room on the
upper floor for clothing and valuables.
Flames Spread Rapidly.
} The flames spread with lightning-
like rapidity and the intensity of the
} heat prevented the firemen from get
ting within fighting range of the
building until rescue was impossible.
Women and girls, too weak to so
further, dropped exhausted on the
single fire-escape in the rear of the
building and literally roasted to death.
portions of the bodies dropping into
the street. Others jumped and were
killed.
Half dozen of the panic-stricken
girls rushed into the elevator, which
was standing on the fourth floor. A
moment later all dropped to their
. death.
} Only the efficiency of the Bingham
ton fire department prevented the
spread of the flames to business