The “Triangle Shirtwaist Fire,” which occurred on March 25, 1911, in New York City, is a tragic event remembered as one of America’s most sorrowful incidents. The fire took the lives of mostly female workers and brought attention to the terrible working conditions found in industrialization-era sweatshops. It claimed the lives of 146 individuals.
During that time period, sweatshops were notorious for their intolerable conditions such as inadequate pay, excessive working hours, and unhygienic surroundings. It was unacceptable for anyone to endure such situations. Sweatshops primarily utilized inexpensive labor to produce different clothing items. In general, these factories were cramped and lacked proper ventilation.
The workers in these sweatshops had minimal to nonexistent breaks and worked for approximately 10-12 hours daily, seven days a week. These locations were frequently unsanitary and lacked adequate plumbing facilities. Additionally, if an individual sustained injuries while working, there was no provision for sterilizing or dressing their wounds. Nevertheless, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory distinguished itself by occupying a substantial nine-floor area in the Asch Building. Despite its extensive space, it felt congested due to the presence of a sizable workforce, materials, and machinery.
Every inch of available space was utilized to accommodate machinery, materials, or additional workers. Sadie Frowne, an employee at a garment factory in New York City, remarked, “The machines operate at a rapid pace all day because the faster you work, the more money you earn. Sometimes, in my haste, I accidentally get my finger caught and the needle pierces through it. However, it happens so quickly that the pain is not severe. I simply wrap the finger with a piece of cotton and continue working.” This mentality was shared by the majority of sweatshop workers who despised their jobs and endured long hours. Despite the meager earnings, they continued to work in order to sustain their income.
Most sweatshops employed immigrant men, children, and women, with a particular focus on women at the Triangle shirtwaist factory due to their ease of persuasion. Within the factory, the number of women greatly outnumbered men at a ratio of 6:1. This marked the onset of the industrial era and a new chapter for women in the labor force. Having jobs during this period granted women a sense of autonomy and liberation as they ventured out of their homes to engage in paid work.
The owners of Triangle Shirtwaist Factory were Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, wealthy businessmen who exploited hardworking women and immigrants to amass their fortune. Despite their wealth being esteemed among their affluent peers in the community, Mr. Blanck and Mr. Harris, along with other sweatshop owners, were seen as money-driven and heartless individuals by the less fortunate residents of New York. Among those who worked for them, they exhibited no mercy or even a semblance of personality. New York Fire Marshal William L. also attested to this perspective.
According to the investigation and testimony taken for ten days after the fire, it was determined that the fire started on the eighth floor of the Greene street side. It originated under an enclosed cutting table where waste material from lawn fabric was stored. The workers would cut large quantities of lawn fabric, resulting in a significant amount of waste that held a commercial value of seven cents per pound. The fire likely began due to the careless use of a match by one of the cutters. As the workers were preparing to leave for home, they were eager to have a smoke soon after finishing their work. (Source: Famous Trials)
The fire in the Asch Building was caused when a match was accidentally dropped into a box filled with fabric waste from shirtwaist production. This incident had a significant impact on various individuals, particularly Italian and Jewish immigrants who were left unemployed and living in poverty. These individuals had immigrated to the United States with hopes of improving their lives and providing stable incomes for their families. The fire not only led to joblessness for many but also tragically claimed the lives of 146 out of the 600 factory workers. It is worth noting that while not all victims were women, some were still young teenagers.
The majority of casualties occurred on the ninth floor, where sewing machines were operated by women. The fire started on the eighth floor, giving little time for panic-stricken employees (mostly women) on the ninth floor to react. With only one fire escape in the building, those on higher floors hurried towards it but found it overcrowded. Some individuals tried to flee through the Washington Place exit, but found the doors locked.
In the factory, there was chaos as individuals frantically ran around with no idea where to find safety. Some workers were faced with a difficult choice – either risk death in the raging fire or jump from windows several stories high. The tragic aftermath of this incident affected not only the trapped victims inside the burning structure but also those who felt compelled to leap from it.
The event had an impact on a wide range of victims, spanning various genders, ethnicities, and age groups. Among the shop’s employees, women constituted the majority and suffered the highest number of fatalities. The ages of those who lost their lives varied greatly; the youngest victim was 11-year-old Mary Goldstein, while Mrs. Panno Providenza, at 48 years old, was the oldest. Despite women experiencing more casualties than men, Isreal Rosen was the youngest male victim and Jacob Selzer was the oldest (Source: Famous Trials).
146 individuals tragically lost their lives due to working conditions resembling modern slavery. The repercussions of these deaths went beyond the victims themselves, affecting their loved ones such as spouses, children, and parents. This included four members of the Bernstein family. It is unclear if this encompassed the entire family, but the consequences for those who remained must have been unimaginably devastating in terms of both tragedy and emotional distress.
According to Fire Marshal William L. Beers, the fire was determined to have been caused by a match being carelessly thrown into a pile of scrap material under a fabric cutting machine. The theory was supported by substantial evidence. A statement made earlier mentioned that workers in such factories were eager to smoke as soon as they finished their work. (Source: Famous Trials) However, the main responsibility lies with the building owners, Mr. Blanck and Mr. Harris, due to the unsafe working conditions present. Despite the building being claimed as “fireproof” by the owners, there were no other fire safety measures in place.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory did not have sprinkler systems, only one fire escape, and did not practice fire drills. The building codes at the time were less strict than they are now, which allowed them to avoid having proper fire safety measures. New York state laws required numerous fire codes and regulations for buildings of that size. Multiple reports have revealed that the Asch building violated many of these codes. For instance, as mentioned in the New York Labor Laws Section 6 Article 80, “All doors leading to or inside such a factory should be designed to open outwardly, if possible, and should not be locked, bolted, or secured during working hours.” (Famous Trials)
According to the law, the owners were in direct violation because the door of Washington Place was locked, preventing workers from escaping while the building was on fire. While technically, the only violation was the locked doors according to the Building Codes of that time, the building specifications exceeded most of the codes. Another person who may share responsibility for the lack of fire safety is the building inspector who approved the building for final inspection.
Previously, the building inspector held authority over specific codes and regulations. This tragic incident had a significant impact on both New York residents and the entire industrial nation. The individuals who lost family members were especially affected, as they had to reconstruct their lives following such a destructive event. Moreover, even those who observed the building ablaze and people leaping from it underwent intense emotional responses.
The fire news rapidly disseminated nationwide, prompting citizens to pose numerous questions about the cause. Concurrently, other Americans contemplated their own employment situations and the potential impact such an event might have on them. Sweatshops emerged as a novel means of providing employment opportunities for the less privileged within our industrialized nation. Upon hearing the news, individuals employed in factories throughout the country began to question the adequacy of their own fire safety measures and building regulations.
The Triangle Fire tragedy served as a wakeup call for Americans, leading to reflection and a newfound understanding. In my view, this devastating incident could have been avoided had the company owners placed importance on their employees’ safety rather than solely pursuing profits. It is evident that they displayed utter disregard for their workforce.
If the owners had demonstrated care, they would have treated their workers (referred to as “slaves”) differently. If only they had consistently put into practice a fire evacuation plan, the amount of harm inflicted upon people could have been significantly decreased or even completely avoided. Despite claims that the building was resistant to fires, there were enough flammable materials present to disprove this assertion. Following the removal of wreckage and identification of most victims, a thorough inspection of the structure occurred.
The investigation into the tragedy began shortly after it occurred and lasted for eight months. Evidence was collected during this time. The trial, which took place in New York with a jury, focused on the two owners who were accused of seven charges of first-degree murder. On December 5th, 1911, the trial started with six jurors determining their fate. Despite facing multiple indictments, the trial solely concentrated on one charge: the first-degree manslaughter of Margaret Schwartz. After twenty-three days since being indicted and following presentations of conclusive evidence from prosecution and eyewitnesses as well as counterarguments from defense, the jury reached a verdict.
All six jurors were chosen from New York by the judge and they all declared Mr. Isaac Harris and Mark Blanck innocent, which had a significant effect on the community and evoked different emotions. As per the judge’s orders, the fire survivors had to wait outside the courtroom throughout the trial. When the verdict was ultimately announced, a sizable crowd had assembled outside.
Despite some individuals expressing support for these two men, their acquittal left many people perplexed. However, the failure of the justice system was widely viewed as a betrayal to both the city of New York and the 146 lives lost in this tragic event.
Multiple civil cases were filed against the owners of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in the following years. After three years, the two men reached a settlement and agreed to pay each individual $75 as compensation for the lives lost in the fire. The occurrence of this tragic event was undesired by everyone, but it led to some positive outcomes as well. One year before the Triangle fire, an organization named Joint Board of Sanitary Control had been formed. They conducted their own investigation into the fire and collected evidence independently.
Thanks to the Joint Boards and other city committees, several labor safety laws were put into effect. These regulations included regular inspections of fire escapes, thorough examination of existing and new structures, as well as the obligatory installation of automatic sprinkler systems. The Triangle Fire in 1911 was a notable event, highlighting the possibility of a similar tragedy happening in a factory or office building today.
In our society, recent trends indicate that anything is possible. However, if a similar incident were to happen now, I don’t think the number of casualties would be as high as in the Asch building fire. In today’s context, the responsible business would probably face severe consequences unlike Mr. Blanck and Mr. Harris who were acquitted.
Both the Triangle Fire in 1911 and the Rhode Island nightclub fire share some similarities. Nightclubs, like sweatshops, tend to be overcrowded and lack sufficient fire exits to accommodate the large number of people. Just as a stray match caused the sweatshop fire, a stray match in a nightclub could also trigger a devastating incident. Furthermore, in an overcrowded nightclub, the number of smokers often surpasses that of non-smokers, increasing the risk of an accidental fire and resulting in a tragic event.
Bibliography
- Famous Trials. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Trial 1911. (website). http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/triangle/trianglefire.html
- The Triangle Factory Fire By: Cornell University ILR School (website). http://www.irl.cornell.edu/trianglefire/U.S. Fire Administration/National
- Fire Data Center. Nightclub Fires in 2000. (PDF File). http://www.emergency-management.net/pdf/FemaResearchNightclubFires2000.pdf
