Burning Celluloid Causes Nine Deaths in London

Burning Celluloid Causes Nine Deaths in London

前不久结束时间晚7月23 a fire caused by the ignition of celluloid broke out in the upper floor of a five-story warehouse building in Moor Lane, London, E. C., and spreading with lightning rapidity prevented the escape of nine of the work girls, all of whom were either killed or fatally injured. The story of the fire was graphically told in the City Coroner’s Court on July 20 and following days, when Dr. H. Waldo and a jury inquired into the c_____cumstances of the loss of life. From the evidence the manager and other employes of Mes-rs. Angus Thomas, the top part of the building rented by the firm, was used for the manufacture of Christmas cards and for use in connection with the same was on the premises 1,500 pounds of German celluloid. Thirty-seven perrons—33 of them young girls—were employed on the top floor and were just finishing work for the day when a youth who was fastening up a parcel of celluloid with sealing wax heated at a gas ring in the front room allowed some burning wax to fall upon the parcel. Instantly the parcel ignited, and before another assistant could remove it, burst into flames. He had to drop the burning parcel, and at once the waste celluloid on the floor, and more thousands of celluloid cards close by, caught fire. On the cry of "Fire," the manager, who was in the room at rear, rushed in and assisted in getting the work people out. This occupied only a few moments, but the flames had advanced so rapidly in this short time that he was unable to return to the back room to assist the girls there. He found on inquiry that they hade gone to the roof, and concluded that they were safe. Unfortunately, however, the flames had followed them through the trap door and skylight and had driven them to a corner of the roof, where no means of escape had been _____rovided. A plank thrust across from an adjacent building, six feet or more away, enabled one or two to escape; three threw themselves down the light well between the two buildings— two receiving fatal injuries, and one, fortunately, escaping with severe injuries, thanks to wire net_____ng spread above the glass roof of ground floor—seven others died on the roof from suffocation or burns.

The call was received by the fire brigade at 6:17, and in three minutes firemen were on the scene. Hearing that there were girls on the roof two or three of the firemen reached the top of the nearby buildings, and endeavored to get a, them, but a wall of flame rising high above the roof made it impossible to cross the plank stretched from roof to roof, and they could only extinguish the fire, and remove the dead bodies from the top floor and roof. The "stop," so far as the actual fire was concerned, was a good one, the lower part of the building being saved. To prevent the loss of life was an utter impossibility. Mr. Marshall, manager of the works, said he personally did not regard celluloid as dangerous where care was exercised. A bucket was the only fire extinguishing appliance on the premises. He thought wet blankets would be the best thing, but they could not have wet blanket all over the place. He was satisfied with the exits, and thought the girls could have escaped had they not gone in the wrong direction There were no fire drills, as in work such a thing would be simply a comic opera. Several government inspectors had visited the works from time to time but only one suggestion was made, and that was that turpentine should not be used, which instruction had been followed. Major Cooper-Key, Chief Inspector of Explosives to the Home Office, said that celluloid was highly inflammable, and the matter of statutory regulations as to its storage and manufacture had often received consideration. It had been decided, however, that there was no real urgency in view of the comparative infrequency of accidents. The feeling in the department was that it was impracticable to introduce legislation. W. Surrey, District Surveyor, was of opinion that the exits were inadequate in view of the nature of the business. Mr. E. Flint, surveyor. thought they were sufficient. A. Angus Thomas, giving evidence on behalf of the proprietors of the business carried on in the building, said he had never made himself acqua_____nted with the special dangers of celluloid. He agreed that it was not advisable to have naked lights in a celluloid factory, and did not now think it advisable to use sealing wax, though it has been used for many years. He had never given special instructions as to means of escape, as he left the management to Mr. Marshall. The one fire bucket on the premises was what the men used to wash in. Brigade and Salvage Corps evidence was given as to the dangerous character of celluloid, and the extreme difficulty of extinguishing a celluloid fire.