Marking a tragedy

[kambriel]

100 years ago today, on March 25, 1911 in New York City was the horrific Triangle Shirtwaist Fire:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire

Managers kept the doors to the sewing rooms locked during working hours, so many of the young women (mostly Jewish and Italian immigrants*) couldn't escape ~ leading to a number of them finding no better option than to leap out of 8th, 9th, and 10th floor windows onto the sidewalks below. I remember watching a documentary on it some years ago, and how some thought the other dead ladies bodies would somehow "cushion" their fall, but it didn't really work that way... Others crowded on to a flimsy fire escape which ended up weakening in the heat, ultimately collapsing and bringing with it those who'd sought their hopeful escape. There are other incidents as well, but honestly, I find it hard emotionally to go through them all ~ read the link above to get the full story.

I think today I'm going to remember the spirits of these young ladies by taking a few hours off away from all things sewing/fabric related, go outside and breathe in some fresh air.

A list of names for all whom fell victim to the tragic blaze at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/triangle/trianglevictims2.html

*My great grandfather who emigrated from Sicily was a tailor in NYC in that era, so this strikes very close to heart.

~ Kambriel


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Comments

[nohwhere-man.livejournal.com]

Just been reading contemporaneous NYTimes articles about the fire (linked off the wikipedia page). I knew about it from high school history class, but they really fill in the picture.
miss_adventure- not too many more because the fire escape fell off the building under the load.

The one/only positive thing that came out of the fire & aftermath is much better safety codes and enforcement.

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

Had the doors been unchained/unlocked, I'd like to hope more of the workers could have escaped to the rooftop along with the owners since they went their for refuge (and survived).

Here's hoping those safety codes will continue to be enforced, and that we can always find lessons to learn from the more tragic chapters from our collective past.