Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-23
At Least Fifty Girls and
Women Perish at Bing-
hampton, N. Y.
SOME ROAST ON ESCAPE
Employees Think Alarm for Drill
and Discover Mistake
When It's Too Late.

Binghampton, " Y, July 23.-The
exact number OF persons who perished
in the fire Of the Binghampton Cloth
ing company yesterday may never be
known. The list of employees is in the
ruins. Only half dozen Of the
bodies recovered have been identified
A careful estimate FD.ces the num-
Der of those j.. the building at the
time the fire started at Ill. OF these
only SO are known 10 have been saved.
Six OF the dead have been identified,
IS bodies charred beyond recognition
are at the nlorgue, seven injured are
in hospitals, and Al slightly injured
are at their homes. Eleven are re-
ported by relatives as missing and &c
others are unaccounted for.
Mrs. Ada Prentils, who suffered ter.
Tible burns in the head. died today
Mrs. Mary Benny Is not expected to
recover
City officials estimate the death toll
at 80 and admit il may reach 60.
Crowds watched men at work in the
debris under direction of Mayor r.
wing. Charred bis Of human flesh
were picked up here and there
Shortly before noon a body was re-
covered charrcd beyond recognition.
AS many OF the bodies are unrecog-
rlzable, a public funeral will be con-
Quoted by the city and the unknown
will be buried In a plot upon whicA
a shaft will be erected.
- PNUFfETY Loss sz0OOoO.
The loss by fire and water to the
buildings and stock of five concerns
is estimated at 100000, largely Gov
cred by insurance.
The postoffice was badly damaged,
but the mails were saved. The loss to
the Binghampton Clothing company,
of which X. b. Freeman is president,
estimated at $4,000, is covered by
insurance but does not include build
ings which were rented
The heavy loss of life is believed
largely due to the fact that employees,
believing one of the frequent fire drills
was being held, were slow in leaving
;he building Even when it became
known the building was on fire, many
returned TO the dressing rooms on an
upper floor for clothing and valuables.
The flames spread with lightning ra-
pidity, and the intensity OF the heat
prevented the firemen from getting
within range OF the building until res
cue was impossible. Women and girls.
too weak TO go further. dropped eX-
hcEsted on the single fire escape in
tho rear of the building and literally
roasted TO death, portions Of their
todiCs dropping to the street. Others
jumped and were killed.
A half dozen girls rushed into an
elevator which was standing on the
fourth floor. A moment later all
dropped dead. Freeman estimates 120
employees we're in the building VIXEN
the fire started. Eighty per cent OF
the girls employed were Americans.
MISUNDERSTOOD ALARM.
1T is not the money loss Of our bust
ness that overcomes me- he said, to-
day. but is the thought that those
girls. some OF whom had been with
us for years, perished because they
believed the alarm was for a fire
drill. several of which were held re-
Gently They disliked these drilE,
which forced them 10 appear in tbs
streets in their working clothes. Many
were proud spirited and did not like
this The drills we're a bother. So,
when the alarm was sounded most or
them took their time. some to don
coats, others to get their purses and
other belongings. But for this fact
believe nearly all would have been
saved
The building was a four-story brick
structure. 4Ox130 built is years ago
for a cigar factory. The interior of
the building was OF wood, with two
s;airways from the top floor. A fund
for the survivors has been started.
SULZER BLAMES MURPHY.
Albany. y. Y. July Ex-Governor
Sulzer, after characterizing the Bing
hampton fire as a terrible disaster, de
clared in a statement that the people
OF the state will hold Mr.. Murphy OF
Tammany hall responsible. The state
labor department is tied up so il can
rot execute laws on statute books tc
prevent these tragedies" says the
statement. The fact is Murphy viii
not permit his senate 10 confirm the
nomination OF John Mitchell or James
Lynch for state labor commissioner
Throws Herself Before Car.
Springfield, Ill, July 23.-Miss Lels