The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-24
Of the Many That Are Being
Taken Out of Ruins at
Binghamton
THIRTY EMPLOYEES
REPORTED MISSING
Jewelry the Only Aid to
Recognize Some of the
Remains

Binghamton, N. y, July 24.-State
and local authorities to-day began an
investigation of the circumstances SUI
rounding the overall factory fire of
Tuesday, in which at least fifty persons,
mostly women and girls, perished.
Workmen to-day continued their search
OF the ruins, and thus far only three of
the rs bodies recovered have been iden-
titled. The others were burned beyond
possibility of recognition and will be
buried in plot set aside by the city
for unidentified dead. A public funeral
is planned TO be held Sunday afternoon
at four o'clock.
One Of the charred bodies is believed
be that Of Nellie Connor, the forewoman
who sacrificed her life in an effort to
save those in her charge. A diamond
ring and diamond earrings worn by Miss
Connor were found.
The body OF Mrs. Mary Pryor, wife of
Thomas Pryor. was identified by means
of an insurance key bearing her name.
John Conroy of Wilkes Barre, Pa,
brother, aided in the identification.
Rings and other iewelry found near
the bodies are expected to aid in fur
ther Identification. 1t is still impos-
sible to accurately estimate the nam
Der of dead. At least fifty, probably
more are believed TO have persisted in
the flames A partial list compiled by
District Attorney Meagher contains the
names of seven identified dead, thirty
reported missing and twenty seven sur
yiyors, some of whom were injured. At
least III persons are said to have been
in the building when the fire broke out.
Names of Dead and Missing
The identified dead are: Cassie NJ Full
mer, Mary f. Sullivan, Mrs Ida Prem
tiss Mrs. Alvin White, Mrs. Mary Pryor,
Nellie Connor. John Schermerhorn.
Reported missing; Ruth Button, Mar
garet Diamond Martha Burdiek, Lena
Kennedy. Lou Shove, Catherine Grove,
Bessie Ray, Louise Hartman, Mary Cree
gan, Ida Golden. Anna Katz, Eva
sInlia Mary . Lizzie Ryley,
Mary Polesia, Sidney Dimmick, Mrs.
Emma Reed and daughter, Mrs. Hattie
Freeman, Mollie Gleason, Miss Childs,
Celia Schneider, Nellie , Mary Smith,
Allie Sadonais. Sarah Foran, Mrs. Mel
win Clark. John Shoemaker.
Mrs Ida Prentiss, widow died at
the city hospital yesterday. The condi
tion of Mrs. Mary Kenny, Ruth and
Edna Crotty and Mrs May Layton is
said to be serious, Miss Esther Raskin
Mrs. Margaret Quick, Mrs. Ida Hough
taling and Charles Conterse are expect
ed to recover from their injuries.
Last night representatives of the state
labor department, the state fire marshal
and tire state factory investigating com
mission arrived in Binghamton prepared
to aid in probing the disaster.
Deputy State Fire Marshal Roesch
said that the fire marshals department
"has been greatly hampered by the aver
sion of people to take part in fire drills
and more than all hy the failure OF the
legislature to appropriate sufficient mon
ey to increase the force of this depart
ment and carry out its orders"
Bernard l.. Shientage, an attorney,
and James r. Whiskeman. an engineer,
the state factory inyesti
eating commission, conferred last night
with District Attorney Meagher. Miss
Sidney Kohlsaat of New York spent the
day investigating the circumstances sur
the fire. She is secretary of
the National Consumers league and also
the committee of safety of
New York.
From what | know of the affair"
said Miss kohlsaat. II cannot say that
any law was violated in the construc-
ton of the building, but it did not con
form to what the law ought TO be nor
to what the committee of safety wants. /
Tha law should require enclosed stairs, |
iireproof partitions and fire escapes sep |
arate from the building so persons can /
pass with safety. | understand that |
the fire escape on the rear wall of the |
overall factory passed close in front of |
windows from which the flames poured I
so hot that it was impossible to pass /
them alive"
While the officials are seeking TO place f
the responsibility for the loss of life /
and property, Binghamton citizens are |
aiding in comforting the stricken and I
and relieving the suffering /
Mayor Irving has appointed citizens
committee to receive and disburse to the I
funds that are being contribut
ID.
A public funeral probably will be held /
for the unidentified victims in which 1
the clergy of various denominations will +
participate. and it is planned to erect
1 monument to record the names OF
those who perished,
Many of the survivors called on Reed
B. Freeman, president of the Bingham
ton Clothing Co., at his home on Pine
street yesterday to extend their sym
1athy
81 don't know how stand in a bust
hess way" said Mr.. Freeman. Maybe
is all gone But I would give all there
vas if ! could bring back one of the
yirls to life"