Fire Laws Again Violated at Triangle Factory

Fire Laws Again Violated at Triangle Factory

A special inspection of factory and loft buildings in the city, ordered by Fire Commissioner Johnson following the Binghamton fire, resulted last week in the service of subpoenas for alleged violations of the fire prevention law in the Asch building, 23 Washington place, where 147 employes of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company lost their lives during a fire in March, 1911. The first person to get a subpoena in the Asch building last week was the elevator boy. lie was smoking a cigarette, in violation of red printed placards. There was evidence that a cigarette caused the Triangle fire. In the loft of Meyers. Crown & Wallach two doors leading to a fire escape were found fastened with snap locks. Henry Wallach was served with a subpoena. There was evidence that many victims of the Triangle fire met their death because they were barred from escape by a locked door. Another door leading to a fire escape was found locked in the loft of Levy & Rosenthal, on the "fatal ninth floor” of the Triangle fire. Albert Levy, of the firm, was served with a subpoena, as was his father, who was found smoking a cigar.

Fire Commissioner Johnson is notifying owners and lessees of factories and lofts to hold fire drills monthly or be prepared to pay the penalty of $500 fine or six months in jail and a civil penalty of $50. Four hundred men, women and children employed by concerns in the Richardson building, Newark, who go through fire drills regularly, marched in orderly fashion into the street within two minutes one day last week when lire caused a slight loss. Fifteen hundred employes in 80 rag shops went on strike last Thursday, demanding better sanitary conditions and improved facilities for escape in case of fire.