davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
SMOKING IN TRIANGLE BUILD
ING SINCE FIRE..

II might be mentioned in connec-
ton with the Triangle building to-
day that. though so many lives were
lost from the careless smoking of
s,.ne one in the shirtwaist factory
on March -, 1911, in the same build
ing several times since the disaster
persons have been fined as much as
so at a time for disobeying the Fire
Department order against smoking.
The terrible loss of life from this
cause seems 10 have made little i'm
preston on some Of these people.
when the fatal Triangle fire oc-
CURED i'm this building the employees
not only had no fire drills. hut they
we're 50 placed at work that they
blocked their -; cgress from the
floors. In most of the large fac
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
ADMITTED BY EXPERTS.

Experts now admit that spon-
taneous combustion does take place,
and fire investigators have too often
witnessed its depredations to doubt
its existence. Fires from this cause
could be readily prevented by simply
having metal receptacles, with lids.
in which such waste materials could
be deposited after use. And yet i'm
hundreds Of machine shops and i'm
other places in this city highly com
bustble waste is left to lie about in
odd corners. When fires occur in
these places no one seems to know
the cause.
If carelessness is the cause Of more
than go per cent of our fires, cleanli-
ness might he called the remedy. If
our great factories and other places
of industry could be induced to keep
their floors, counters, machinery and
store and work rooms clear, half the
battle against fire would he won.
1t is the untidy habit that begets
the conditions which make fires
This particularly applies to fires
which occur in tenements. Half Of
our fires occur in tenements, and in
nearly every instance it is found that
these fires are caused by careless
ness Steam heating plants. furnaces,
stoves and stovepipes. mostly in tene-
ments. caused 500 fires last year, and
cost the city monetary loss esti-
mated at S9O1J1.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
CHIMNEY FIRES AND DISPOSAL
OF HOT ASHES.

Chimney fires. mostly in dwellings
and tenements. caused a loss of ST.
1jS. with a total Of 103 fires. Even
such a small item as careless disposal
Of hot ashes caused loss Of SO, 10,
with a total Of eighty three fires. The
habit seems almost universal OF
placing hot ashes in wooden recep-
tacles, or piling them up against
wooden partitions in cellars People
who do these careless things do not
seem 10 realize that mixed in with
nearly all hot ashes are particles Of
coal which have not been fully con-
sumed. The warmth of the ashes
raises this coal TO the kinding point,
and the ashes often burst into flames.
which. of course. readily set fire TO
any wood near by.
In large commercial plants one Of
the most fruitful sources of fires is
the spark from machinery, caused by
friction from belts or otherwise.
Motors are left without guards and
power bands. and belts are allowed
10 run in such a manner that sparks
are often thrown off. The simplest
precautions of safety are disregardcd
in this respect II would be the
easiest thing IN the world 10 incase
motors i'm wire netting. and so to
protect pulley bands and power
belts as 10 prevent giving of sparks
Failure 20 take these simple precau-
lions caused last year loss of Sjll,
OJ1.
The whole situation might bc
summed up in one word -"ncgli
gcucc." win the exception, of course.
of incendiary fires. and those that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22

glass in them, and this caused the
fire 10 leap from one floor to the
other Curiously enough. though the
fire started on the eighth floor, the
principal fatalities occurred on the
ninth. The floors were Uttered with
scraps and cuttings. and no attempt
was made to clean them up and place
them in metal-lined receptacles, as is
done in the same building to-day,
which is now equipped with auto
matte sprinklers. The concerns oc
cupying the building also have fire
drills, using as means Of exit a capa-
cious fire escape in the rear Of the
building. and also interior fire towers
the doors of which open outward
All waste and rubbish is swept regu-
larry from the floors and placed in
metal-lined boxes, so that even
should fire start within the boxes
from spontaneous combustion it can
not spread.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
The LARGEST FiRE>ESCAPE IN NEWYOPk
THIS FACTORY CAN BE EFPTIE OF It's
2OOO EN- pLOYEES IN 21lNUTES =

mists complain of the high cost ~
living" What nation can afford to
buy for cash S5OoOOo000 worth o.
smoke year?
SEQ many elements enter into tho
question of FIRE prevention. and the
subject is So large that il would take
volumes 90 cover IT, II has only been
attempted here to give an outline Of
tho Importance Of the subject The
Triangle factory fire emphasizes one
other extremely important item: the
loss of life. which averages about
1000 persons a year. In ,hc last ten
years i'm this country 1t is estimated
that 2OOpO persons have lost their
lives by fire. and about 10000 work.
ors and other persons have been in
jUrod.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
FIRE PREVENTION A HOBBY
WITH SOME FIRMS.

The Triangle fire has. however, so
focused public attention upon the
subject of fire prevention in factories
that many large firms, on their own
initiative. have made fire prevention
almost hobby. There are some
factories in the city, employing more
than one thousand women workers,
which are as safe from fire danger
as il is possible 10 make them.
Vile these particular firms deserve
:he highest commendation. there are
others who have been remedy re-
luctant TO meet the Fire Department
half way in its efforts to reduce the
fire danger. With these latter firms
II is pity that some such system
could not he introduced as that
which prevails in France where per
sons who have fires are hold per
sonally responsible for all losses con
ncctcd with such fires. In France
the law of "ncighbor's risk holds
any person liable who can be proved
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
NO BUILDING is ABSOLUTELY
FlREPROOF.

The Triangle fire demonstrated
forcibly the fact that no building is
absolutely fireproof. for it is i'm
possible 20 make the contents non
flammable However, with proper
building construction and with the
use of fire retarding materials, such
as wire' glass, doors covered with
blocked tin. concrete partitions, and
similar fire stops. the progress of fire
may be arrested sufficiently long to
save life and property, provided aux
iliary fire appliances are up TO stand
ard also.
1t is building construction that has
placed European cities so far ahead
of us in the matter OF fire losses.
For instance, greater New York has
300 fires per 100000 inhabitants,
while London, for the same popula-
ton. has but 81: Paris, a; Berlin,
%; Vienna. 30. and II. Petersburg.
-. our fire loss in this country is
about eight times that of Europe.
The actual cash loss-to say nothing
Of upkeep Of fire departments.
water supply and fire insurance pre-
miums-is about 100000 for every
day OF the year, or $4,000 for every
hour OF the day. We spend every
year In this country about SJ00.OOO.-
O0O as fire tax. or Sl2JUOO OOO more
cath year than the total cost of the
Panama Canal. And yet our ccono-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22

tories throughout New York city
Fire Department inspectors now in
sist upon ample floor space in the
aisles. Piles of goods or boxes on
floors must be so arranged that they
do not block easy access to exits.
As the terrible Iroquois fire in Chi
cago on December -. 1903, in which
six hundred persons persisted, re-
suited i'm the safeguarding Of the
aires throughout the country. so has
the Triangle waist factory fire
brought about 6 great reformation in
rendering factories in New York City
more secure than they were before
the fire. OF course. there is no doubt
that even at tire present tie many
fire hazards still exist in factories.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
Commissioner Adamson, in Arranging for
Commemoration of Triangle Fire, Calls
Attention to Fire Prevention Re-
forms Effected Since That
Disaster and Also to What
Must BE Done.

known as Spontaneous combustion"
"a cause Of fire which accounts for a
loss during 1913 Of S132.SI3. The
number of fires attributed TO this
cause last year was 202. This mys-
FERROUS sort Of fire arises in oily
waste. used in wiping machinery,
lamps. etc. The waste. after use, is
carelessly thrown aside into some
cupboard or closet, or left in some
corner of the room. perhaps near a
warm radiator or stove.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN
LOFT AND WAREHOUSE.

Numbers Of our factories in New
York city are located in old build
ings. formerly tenements. but which
have been converted into factories.
owing to various defects ia our
building code these buildings gTadu-
ally enter the loft and ware
house" class. and dangerous fire con-
ditions have arisen without any dis
tinct violation of particular laws. I'm
many of these old converted build
ings some of the worst fire dangers
exist. 1t is on the monthly physical
inspections 10y the uniformed force
that the Fire Department hopes tO
clear up a number Of RISKY condl-
tions. \ large number Of buildings
now occupied as lofts and factories
were put up before the present build
ing laws came into operation, and in
these also dangerous conditions pre-
vail.
OF course. in all matters of fire
prevention. building construction is
# supreme importance. The best
form of building for fire prevention
purposes is the type Of mill building
developed in New England states;
where the floor beams are massive
and the floors. where wooden, are of
great ENTHUSIASTICALLY four inches.
There are no vertical openings be-.
tween the floors for the spread OF
fire from one floor to another, and
these buildings are also equipped with
automatic sprinklers and other de-
vices for eyfinplliShinp fire
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU ES-
TABlISHED

one If the first tangible results Of
the Triangle fire was the drafting
and passage of the law establishing
The Fire Prevention Bureau. Some
months elapsed between the passag &c
of the law and the allotment of funds
for the operation of the bureau. and
when the latter came into existence
the appropriation set aside for it was
wholly inadequate 10 its extensive
opera ton and the staff assigned in
sufficient for its proper organization.
Though the Tenement House De
partmcnt had under its supervision
100000 less buildings than the Fire
was allowed only one-ffth of the
number Of inspectors with which to
cover the vast territory of greater
New York. with its 100000 or more
buildings coming under the Fire De
partment supervision. Naturally.
this led TO much congestion of orders
and delay in their service, while fire
hazards i'm many places in the city
were not reduced. The Fire Depart
ment was enabled at that time to in
spect and remedy only such condi-
tions as required immediate atten-
ton, such as theatres and moving
picture shows. public schools and fac
tories, where the hazard was acute
and conditions VIGOROUSLY dangerous.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
QUESTIONS THAT DEEPEN THE
MYSTERY.

Was Wexelsen mistaken in his car
riers, and did they at last rebel and
kill the man and his wife, or make
them captive? These are the ques-
tons that make their disappearance
a deep and tragic mystery. Where
in the depths Of the forest was tn
last fateful chapter in the romance
Of this young couple enacted? And
II WeXelsen and his New York wife
are not dead. where in the remote
recesses Of the jungle are they held?
\ postscript 10 the girls letter
from Victoria Falls read:
Il have been telling Jan just where
we shall live-up on Morningside
Heights. overlooking Central Park.
The trees will remind him of tn
forest"
Does the girl. somewhere in the
forest. still dream of New York
apartments
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
Mystery Of New
York Girls ate
Continued from third page.

ton. These are the real plumos.
too. and you'll sec how poor IN COM
parison are those you buy n the New
York shops.
"Wcll. tho next letter YOU get from
mo will be written i'm Bcira. II won't
be long. for III wait to- tell YOU the
news in New York I'll simply let
YOU know when to expect us, FOR we
may have To let one steamer go. SO
that Jan may wind up his business
with the government and | may dis
pose Of our household goods.
This letter was brought down to.
the coast by two blacks detached
from the expedition 10 carry photo
graphs and report from Wexelsen
10 tho Portuguese officials. II was
mailed in Beira. and was delivered
here i'm May, 1910 Since then not
another word has come from either
Mrs. Wexelsen or her husband, and
the Portuguese government has been
silent on their fate.
Wexelsen had planned 10 return 20
Beira by easy marches, and along a
different route from that by which
he had come up country. I'm her let
ter from Victoria Falls Mrs Wexel-
sen made no mention of any trouble
with the blacks. but her husband in
another communication stated that
several Of them had been unruly and
resentful under discipline. He stated.
however that he felt they would
cause him no more worry, as the
majority Of the carriers had re-
NAMED loyal, refusing 10 be led into
dissension or mutiny.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22

might he said TO he directly due to
lightning If oily waste were placed
in receptaclcs there would be no
Spontaneous combustion and If
motors were kept from sparkling. We
would have no fires from this source.
Chimney fires arc certainly avuidable
by the simple process of sweeping out
llues i'm time.
The too numerous fires caused by
smoking are certainly prcycntablc,
simply by the enforcement of the
statutory regulations in this respect
Speaking Of legal restrictions, Il
might be mentioned that most OF
those laws for fire prevention have
been placed upon the statutes since
the Triangle fire. Thus. out Of this
great disaster much good has come.
OF course. many of the laws passed
have been experimental in character,
drawn with amateurish hand and
without scientific knowledge. How
ever. time and moro efficiency in
drafting future fire prevention laws
will rectify these conditions.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
By ROBERT ADAMSON, Fire Com.

missioner.
INVESTIGATION Immediately fol-
lowing the Triangle fire brought
out the fact that careless habits,
both i'm factories and in homes, were
the main causes of most of our fires.
A match or cigarette heedlessly
thrown among some waste clippings
on the Triangle floor, as has been
said, was the probable cause Of the
terrible disaster. out of that
thoughtlcss action has grown the law
against smoking in factories which
the Fire Department is so strenu-
ously endcavoring to enforce.
Despite all the efforts Of the de-
partment. however there is vast
amount of public disregard Of simple
precautions against fire. as is shown
by an analysis Of the reports of
fires for the year just closed. For
instance. glancing down the list of
the principal causes of fires, it APP
pears that cigars, cigarettes and
. their careless handling caused no
less than 1919 fires last year,
with an estimated loss or S3O6,33J.
The careless handling Of matches
caused q property loss in greater
New York of S131 SIS. the total num-
Der OF such fires being 1.115. While
on the subject of matches and their
careless handling. it might be men
toned that children playing with
matches caused 5SS fires last year.
with loss Of So 245, which must be
added % the match damage, making
a total from this cause Of S164, 133.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22

to have been negligent in the matter
of fire. Even if the fire extend 10 al
whole block, tho Individual in whose
premises the fire starts and who can
he proved to have been negligent is
held responsible for all damages. As
a consequence Of this law, and owing
also to the French building code and
the strict fire insurance regulations.
the per capita loss from fire in Paris
is only l3 cents. whereas here in
New York our average fire tax per
head of population is about 50 -.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
100000 INSPECTIONS MADE IN
ONE MONTH.

The new regulation of the depart
mcnt, however, calling for inspec-
tions by the uniformed force has
greatly overcome the difficulties out
lined above. During last month, for
instance, there were more than 1O1,-
600 inspections made 10y the Fire De
partment. and next month these
places Will again. be visited and
others added to the list. Many con-
ditions throughout the city have been
remedied. and the general public is
beginning TO wake up to the dan
gers from fire which prevail. \
campaign of education has been
started by the Fire Department
which includes wide distribution of
literature. such as mo smoking"
signs and various "don'ts" for fire
prevention Enforcement of the
laws against smoking in factories
and other regulations are having a
salutary effect. Lecture centres are
also being established, and the pub
III SNIoolo VIII soon nave Il course OF
fire prevention studies. In carrying
out fire prevention laws and regula-
lions large number of important
factors enter into consideration. In
the first place, there is the reduction
Of the fire hazard by the elimination
Of perhaps 40 per cent Of our fires
that is, carelessness. This can he
done most effectively by education
and the constant vigilance of in
spectors who pay minute attention
to the cleaning up Of waste. stopping
OF smoking and the overcoming Of
public inertia and ignorance in the
matter Of simple. ordinary, common
sense methods Of preventing fires.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22

is endeaNorlnG to commemorate the
Triangle waist disaster.
In tho Triangle fire there was no
fire drill whatever: the fire escape
was inadequate, and led down INTO a
blind court making a literal fire
trap. The workers were unac-
quaintcd with the exits. one of
which was undoubtedly locked.
There were only two stairways in
this building. though the building
code required three. and the doors
leading upon this stairway opened
inward. only ono stairway led To
the roof. and fcw Of the workers
were aware of its existence. The
windows Of the building had no wire
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
the BONFIRE A FRUITFUL
SOURCE OF FIRES.

Another fruitful source of careless
and entirely avoidable fires was the
bonfire, and fires from brushwood
igniting fences. These fires num-
bered last year 1,0jS. and cost
greater New York $1,000. Thus,
out Of total of 12,95S fires for the
year 1913 We have $500. or more
than an entire third. caused by
culpsble negligence.
Taking the other main causes of
Tires. such as careless handling of
gas lights and illuminants, stoves,
furnace and steam pipes, the mis-
use Of bonZine, the number Of fires in
chimneys from failure 10 clean fues,
and such items. it appears that
"Reminiscences and lack of care
cover practically the entire list, with
the exception. perhaps, OF those fires
which were deliberately set for the
purpose of arson. or through pyro-
mania Fortunately, many persons
are beginning 10 think fire before
hand and 10 heed the thousands Of
warnings which have been sent out
ny the Fire Department. This is
shown in The fact that we have had
~ this city 2.G7S fires less in 1913
han there were in 1912. with an esti-
mated monetary saving OF Sl.G0l, 5S3.
1853 FIRES DURING THE YEAR
1918.
bespltc thc decrease in the number
VI iires, however there are still large
numbers u careless fires. There is
10 reason whatever why New York
mould have 1888 fires in one year.
o. was thc record for 1913 The
'Stiinates Of monetary loss here
gwen DO not include tho economic
'oaA or the Joss II employment from
"''s and the consequent Joss of bust
n'ss' nor do they include deaths and
injury by fires. II all these clements
r'fe included in the calculations
80" York would be- astoundcd 1T the
total Ere loss.
'h' u the prevalent 8nd pee liar
Q"N"'s :" fires last year-and one
r'to might ALTO be prevented by
''"p'r forcthought Was what ~
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-09-17
LONG PRAIRIE NEXT
Sank Centre People Will Send Big
Delegation to Todd Coupnty Fair
Saturday.

In appreciation of the splendid del
egation sent to the Stearns County
fair by the citizens of Long Prairie
Wednesday, Sank Centre will recip-
rocate Saturday afternoon of this
week. Long Prairie sent down fly
seven automobiles filled with boosters
for this section Of the country. It is
hoped that Sank Centre will be able to
at least duplicate this number.
It is planned to leave corner Third
and Main street, Sank Centre prompt
~ at 1880 p. m. The committee in
in charge Of the run is Mayor John
McGibbon and L. w. Gingery. Those
who are contemplating making the
trip should list their cars with the
committee at once.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-09-17
ROAD SHOW TONIGHT
"The Cowboy Girl" Will Be Presented
At Caughren Theatre This Eve
ning-Coming Attractions.

Manager DuBeau has booked "The
Cowboy Girl" a thrilling Western
drama, for the attraction at the
Caughren Theatre this Thursday eve
ming. The show comes very highly
recommended.
Besides the drama proper, several
very interesting specialties will be in
troduced. The prices for this evening
will be Is and so cents.
The company carries a complete
band and orchestra and the show has
made a distinct hit wherever it has
been presented.
Friday evening of next week. Sept.
25th, ''"The Rejuvination of Aunt
Mary the American comedy made
famous by May Robson, will be the
attraction. The company playing this
splendid comedy have been scoring
big successes in various parts of the
Northwest this fall. It will be a show
well worth, witnessing.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-09-17
LOCAL Schools
fine Showing
WINS THIRD PRIZE IN COMPETE
TION WITH OTHER SCHOOLS
AT STATE FAIR.
FIRST in MANUAL TRAINING
LED ALL SCHOOLS IN CONSOLE
DATED SECTION.-WILL TRY
AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

For several years the high schools,
known as the Putnam schools, have
exhibited at the State Fair.
The Sank Centre schools were re-
presented this year for the first time.
It was generally conceded by close OBJ
servers that the local school would
win first prize, but after the totals
were all in Cokato was first with
mark Of ga, Alexandria second with
607.84 and Sank Centre third with
6O7.73.
Sank Centre won firsts on manual
training, canning, short course work,
weaving, basketry and map drawing,
second on writing and every prize in
the selection of seeds.
The display from the agricultural
department lost the local schools first
prize over all competitors. Supt How
ard, in charge of this division, said
that the local schools made a remark
able showing for the first year.
In the Consolidated School section
Sank Centre won first prize and twice
as many prizes as any school Compel
ing.
Later the Herald will publish the
individual prize winners in this de-
partment.
Naturally Supt. Aygarn feels elated
over the splendid showing made. Sank
Centre folks realize that they have a
splendid school and the Herald joins
with the community in extending con-
CALCULATIONS on the success attained.
The prize money won at the state
fair amounts to trifle less than $140.
The experience gained at the recent
state fair will encourage the pupils
and teachers for even greater success
next year.