Factory Fire in Pittsburgh
The recent fire in Pittsburgh, Pa., on October 35th, in which thirteen persons were killed and eight were injured, started, it was stated in reports, in a pile of straw in the rear of the feed store of James Brown & Company on the first floor of the building. The two upper floors were occupied by a paper box factory. When the fire was discovered the box factory manager, William C. Kimbel, at once went through his establishment and told the girls employed there to leave the building quietly. The flames gained rapid headway amid soon escape by means of the stairways and fire escape was cut off. Some girls went to the coat room to get their iiats and a number of bodies were found there by the firemen. County F'ire Marshal Pfarr stated he believed the fire was caused by a careless smoker and that the fire started near an elevator shaft, which was enclosed by wood and which served as an unobstructed flue for the flames. The only fire escape, he said, was at the rear of the building and tiie pulley would not work because of rust. At the instance of Coroner Jamison four arrests were made on charges of criminal negligence. The building is owned by the James Brown estate.
The recent fire in Pittsburgh, Pa., on October 35th, in which thirteen persons were killed and eight were injured, started, it was stated in reports, in a pile of straw in the rear of the feed store of James Brown & Company on the first floor of the building. The two upper floors were occupied by a paper box factory. When the fire was discovered the box factory manager, William C. Kimbel, at once went through his establishment and told the girls employed there to leave the building quietly. The flames gained rapid headway amid soon escape by means of the stairways and fire escape was cut off. Some girls went to the coat room to get their iiats and a number of bodies were found there by the firemen. County F'ire Marshal Pfarr stated he believed the fire was caused by a careless smoker and that the fire started near an elevator shaft, which was enclosed by wood and which served as an unobstructed flue for the flames. The only fire escape, he said, was at the rear of the building and tiie pulley would not work because of rust. At the instance of Coroner Jamison four arrests were made on charges of criminal negligence. The building is owned by the James Brown estate.
If you are a current subscriber,login hereto access this content.
If you would like to become a subscriber, please visit ushere.
