Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Podcast

The 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire was a major workplace disaster that led to the deaths of around 146 people. Survivors of the fire, such as Dora Maesler and Max Hotchfield, shared their experiences and became advocates for improved workplace conditions. The fire was caused by unsafe conditions, including locked doors, overcrowding, and lack of fire safety measures. The tragedy sparked nationwide efforts to reform safety laws and improve workplace conditions. The incident also highlighted the importance of collective bargaining and workers' rights. Today, workplace safety standards and regulations are more comprehensive and strictly enforced as a result of the lessons learned from the fire. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire remains a symbol of the fight for workers' rights and the consequences of neglecting workplace safety. 🎵 Good morning, my name is Rae Wagner, and today we're going to be talking about the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. The fire first occurred at the Triangle Waist Company in New York, and was one of the largest workplace disasters of the Industrial Revolution, resulting in around 146 casualties. The tragic event ignited a spark across the nation to improve workplace conditions and to reform safety laws for industrial workers. Today, we're going to look at the stories of several individuals who were survivors of the fire and how they led a worker's strike against the unsafe conditions and how the union shaped laws today. They didn't even know there was a fire, they were playing craps downstairs, it was cold yet in the hall there. So what I did is I, when they were really screaming and blaming, so I held them up and I pushed everybody back, and I raised my, with my foot I broke the window, you know, there was a window in their door. And that was the time we came out. And by the time we, they only made one trip because everybody, maybe a hundred of them, wanted to get in. So they were scared, they were, I was on the floor, I was black and blue. You said something before about their tearing your clothes off. Well they, they wanted to, you see, I had a better chance to get out. You were the first one. I was the first one at the door, now I don't know where I got that strength to hold on to that door. They couldn't put, they tore off the clothes and they couldn't, and when I, when I finally got downstairs, you know, that was, they were jumping already, you know. That was an excerpt from an interview with Dora Maesler, conducted by Sigmund Auerwitz, which discussed how she was a protester in the worker strike, and how her experience with the fire led her to serve as a witness in the trial investigating the company and workplace conditions. Maesler said that they used to be arrested three times a day, every day they were picketing, as she fought alongside other workers to increase pay and amend horrible conditions. She also talked about how she managed to get inside the elevator, but the cables broke from too many people being inside, so it crashed and she thinks she was carried outside from the basement. She later mentions her time as a witness in the trial, where the company is acquitted, and bears no responsibility for the circumstances that started the fire. I want to go back and save my sister. He said you better go down if you want to save your life. But I went down, of course I couldn't, I went down on the seventh floor. And on the seventh floor I stopped, I couldn't go back because the flames were horrible, you know, I practiced, I couldn't pass anymore. But I stopped on the seventh floor, about three girls or five, most of them were girls, and I didn't see my sister. But then the firemen came up and they told me to walk down, and when I came down I saw a quite a number of people jumping from the lift. Was your sister one of those who jumped? No, my sister, my sister was going to death, and she was so badly burned that we couldn't recognize her. That was Max Hotchfield, also interviewed by Sigmund Auerwitz, who was a survivor of the fire who lost his sister. Hotchfield details his experience going downstairs and realizing there is a fire before trying to go back and find his sister. But firefighters told him he needed to get out of the building, but he went back the next day to try and find her. And after a week of searching, her boyfriend recognized her body. Hotchfield later served as a witness in the trial and tells how the only questions they asked him were, How long were you in this country? And what is your name? And that they never investigated what caused the fire. Do you remember the strikes, the early strikes around that time when you were working for the garment shops? No. Listen, I forgot to tell you, they thought I got money, you know, from them. Who? They sent us away. A lot of people said, well, you must have got a lot of money because you're saved. I said, no. They sent us away on a vacation, two weeks. Who paid for it? They did. The company paid for it? The company must have paid for it because they sent us away. We were about twelve girls. Twelve girls. We had a heck of a good time there. Where'd you go? Oh, who remembers? Someplace. I don't remember. What did the Red Cross have to do with this? The Red Cross sent us. That's where we were. Another interviewee named Pauline Pepe detailed her time working at the factory and how she escaped the fires. When asked if she had ever received money for her troubles, she explained how the Red Cross sent her and some others on a two-week vacation as reparations. She also talked about how she believes the fire was started by someone smoking a cigarette in the factory and throwing it on the ground where it caught some fabric and set the building aflame. Now, there are other interviews from women who survived the fire who noted how all of the doors were locked so there was no way to get past the eighth floor where the fire was started. There were many factors inside that made the fire that much more deadly, including the doors being illegally locked, doors opening inward, overcrowded space with fabric scraps on the floor, a single flimsy fire escape, no sprinklers, and no fire safety training. Firefighters also had ladders that were not tall enough to reach the upper levels, and nets used to catch people jumping were not strong enough and broke upon impact. The factory owners, Isaac Harris and Max Blank, resisted unionization and ignored pleas for improved working conditions, despite a strike in 1909. In the aftermath of the fire, the Triangle for Waste Factory Fire spurred a movement for improved workplace safety. The tragedy led to increased public awareness of workplace safety issues and inspiring progressive movement activists to advocate for new safety laws. Demonstration and activism efforts led to the establishment of the Factory Investigating Commission and the passage of the Sullivan-Hoey Fire Prevention Law in New York. The incident also influenced the creation of safety organizations such as the American Society of Safety Professionals and paved the way for national safety and health laws, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The Triangle for Waste Factory Fire was the day with the largest loss of life in New York City before 9-11. Today, workplace safety standards, fire codes, and regulations are more comprehensive and strictly enforced, owing in part to the lessons learned from the Triangle for Waste Factory Fire. The tragic event underscored the importance of collective bargaining and workers' rights, principles that continue to influence labor movements globally. It also increased consumer awareness regarding the ethical sourcing of products, as many consumers now prioritize purchasing from companies that adhere to fair labor practices and provide safe working conditions for their employees. The Triangle for Waste Factory Fire remains a symbol of the fight for workers' rights and the tragic consequences of neglecting workplace safety. Efforts to remember and commemorate the victims persist through educational programs, memorials, and advocacy groups. I also wanted to shout out the sources for lending me their knowledge, especially all the sources with the oral history interviews for letting me tell their story so many years later. I also thank you to Dr. Harry for the class. It's been a really fun class and I learned a lot this semester. Thank you so much for listening.