Subsequent News Articles – Triangle Shirtwaist Fire – 1911-12
American Federationist, May 1911. p 356-361.
In the slaughter of
more than 140 clothing factory operatives in the Washington Place fire in New
York on March 25, the opponents of unionism among the clothing manufacturers of
that city reached the climax of the long course of inhumanity and criminality
against which the only agency successful in putting any effective impediment
has been the trade union. Slow murder through underpay, overcrowding, bad
ventilation,and slave-driving gave way in that awful event to the swift methods
of murder characteristic of Chicago packing-house butchery. As the bodies of
the poor girls fell with the patter of hailstones on the sidewalk from the
height of ten stories, or reeled over in the one narrow and overcrowded
stairway or in the fire-trap workrooms, the last convincing point in evidence
was reached of the lawlessness, the unrestrained avarice,the merciless
disregard of human life which for more than a decade has marked the
concentration of clothing manufacture under the control of employers directing
the work of hundreds or thousands of employes, who were meantime taking
advantage of every means possible to reduce wages and deprive their employes of
the protection of the law or the trade union.
The girls employed
by the Triangle Waist Company really Isaac Harris and Max Blanck were of the
class of non-unionists which time and again we have warned the country are
being brought to America to take the places of wage-workers either born here or
established here for a sufficient period to know their rights as employes and
to be aware of the weekly wage requisite to maintain themselves atsomething like
American standards. These poor "greenhorns" were packed at their
machines like close-herded cattle, while at work they were locked in like
penitentiary prisoners, they had never been exercised in the fire drill, they
toiled amid heaps of highly inflammable materials, they had as outlets in case
of fire one impracticable fire-escape and one stairway so small that two
persons could hardly move in it abreast all conditions clearly violating the
factory laws. Hear the ultra-conservative New York Times on these points:
"They were mostly girls of from sixteen to twenty-three years of
age." Most of them could barely speak English." "Two thousand
employes were on the payroll," crowded in upon four floors, the seventh,
eighth, ninth, and tenth. A heading in the Times of Monday, 27th, read;
"Locked in factory, the survivors say, when fire started that cost 141
lives." The Times also quoted Mr. H.F.J. Porter, the industrial engineer
to whose statements regarding factory conditions we have heretofore referred.
After printing a letter written by Mr. Porter last June to the Triangle Waist
Company, in which he offered to introduce a fire-drill among its employes, to
which the companynever replied, the Times continued:
"Mr. Porter was
very empathetic in talking of the fire last night.
"It is a wonder that these things are not happening in the city everyday.
There are only two or three factories in the city where fire drills are in use,
and in some of them where I have installed the system myself the owners have
discontinued it.
" One instance
I recall in point where the system has been discontinued despite the fact that
the Treasurer of the company, through whose active co-operation it was
originally installed, was himself burned to death with several members ofhis
family in his country residence, and notwithstanding that the present President
of the company while at the opera, nearly lost his children and servants in a
fire which recently swept through his apartments and burned off the two upper
floors of a building which was and still is advertised as the most fireproof
and expensively equipped structure of its character in the city.
"The neglect of
factory owners of the safety of their employes is absolutely criminal. One man
whom I advised to install a fire drill replied to me: Let em burn up. They're a
lot of cattle, anyway.'
"Although
against the law of many States, it is not infrequent that factorydoors used by
the employes are kept locked during working hours. In one such case,of the 400
girls locked in on the fifth floor of an underwear factory, some leaped into
nets held by firemen and others were taken down on the fire ladders; many were
more or less injured, all nervously shocked.
As to fire-escapes
and stairways, the following is from one of the articles in the Times on the
fire:
"This is just
the calamity I have been predicating,' said Chief Croker. There were no outside
escapes on this building. I have been advocating and agitating that more
fire-escapes be put on factory buildings similar to this. The large loss of
life is due to this neglect.'
He said that there
was only one fire-escape from the building. An old-time perpendicular affair,
he said, leading to the courtyard in the center of the block of buildings,
which would only allow of one person's escape at a time. When he examined his
escape, he found on the upper floors that it had become very loose, and it was
a dangerous matter to escape by that route.
"A repetition
of this disaster is likely to happen at any time in similar buildings,' he
said. He advocated balcony fire escapes with a wide iron staircase. The
staircases in the building, the Chief said, were of the ordinary three feet six
inches wide type. . . . The lesson of the fire is that a building is just as
fireproof as the stuff within it fireproof walls, fireproof floors, and
fireproof stairways then rooms packed with flimsy cloth and trimmings and run
by electric dynamos about which waste and oil were allowed to accumulate.
The last point
mentioned by Fire Chief gives probable contradiction to the suggestion, snapped
at by the clothing manufacturers and their defenders, that the fire was started
from a lighted cigarette.
The most significant
fact to trade unionists that Fire Chief Croker made in the interview, as quoted
by the Times, was:
"He spoke bitterly
of the way in which the Manufacturers' Association has called a meeting in Wall
Street to make measures against his proposal for enforcing better methods of
protection for employes in case of fire."
In an editorial, the
Times said:
"Crowded workrooms in such a condition that a slight outbreak of fire can
convert them into furnaces within a few minutes should not be tolerated in this
city. No new laws are needed. Enforcement of existing laws is imperative."
Why are not existing
laws enforced? There is but one reason: Clothing manufacturers either bribe
crooked office-holders or take advantage of inadequate inspection.
The New York Times
(March 30) had the following as a recommendation of the Commissionon the
Congestion of Population, with comment thereon:
"That 500 cubic
feet of air space be provided for every employe of any factory instead of 250
cubic feet of air space as at present, and not less than 600 cubicfeet of air
space for every employee when employed between the hours of 6 in the evening and
6 in the morning, under the provisions of the present labor law."
"It was
predicted that a report about to be made would show that the employes of the
flame swept factory in Washington Place were working with only 125 cubic feetof
air space."
It might be thought
that the Triangle Company should have learned a bitter lesson from the fire
which killed so many of its employes, and that in all its future acts relative
to its workshop it would proceed in a chastened and law-abiding manner. But,
instead, its very first steps to resume work were characterized by its habitual
brazen lawlessness and indifference to human life. On these points we again
quote from the Times (April 1) as being in this respect sufficiently cautious
authority, surely with no working class prejudices:
"The Triangle
Waist Company attempted to open for business in a new location, yesterday, and
this time it found Building Department Inspectors quickly upon its trail.
Instead of being allowed to put operatives to work it was confronted witha
violation notice from the Building Bureau, setting forth that the new place is
non-fireproof, and that the tiers of sewing machines have been so arranged by
the company that access to the fire-escapes is cut off.
"The company's
new factory is at 5,7, and 9 University Place, and it occupies the entire top
floor of a six-story building owned by the Sailor's Snug HarborC orporation.
The violation notice was directed to this corporation and was made after
complaint had been filed against the Triangle Company from sources not made
known.
"The Triangle
management has arranged twenty-one machines to a row, there being four rows on
the floor with aisle space sufficient for two girls to sit back between each
line. The girls when seated would have no space in which to move about or to
leave their places without all getting up together.
"There is one
small passenger and one freight elevator in the building, while the staircase
is dark and narrow and built with many steep and sharp turns."
At a mass meeting at
the Metropolitan Opera House, Sunday evening, April 2, Dr. Moskowitz reported
that in 1,200 factories, the facts as to which had been verified by his board,
these conditions were found:
Factories without
fire-escapes 14; factories with defectively placed ladders, 63; with no other
exits than fire escapes; 491; with doors opening in 1,173; with doorslocked
during the day, 23; with halls less than 36 inches wide, 60; with
stairwaysdark, 58; with defective steps, treads, and handrails, 51; with
obstructed fire-escapes,78; having fire drills, 1.
As to New York
factory conditions with regard to fire, here is the evidence given by Dr. Henry
Moskowitz:
"The Joint
Board of Sanitary Control in the cloak, suit and skirt industry has laid bare a
condition of affairs in New York that is positively terrifying. The boards was
created as the result of the cloakmakers' strike of last summer. It consists of
William J. Schieffelin, Chairman; Lillian D. Wald of the Settlement and myself,
as the three representatives of the general public; Dr. George M. Priceand
Benjamin Schlessinger for the unions, and Max Meyer and S. L. Silver for the
manufacturers. The board is empowered to make investigation of all cloak and
suitfactories in the city.
"We have eight
inspectors and have investigated 1,243 factories. The official report has been
made out and will soon be submitted. But the horrible disaster of yesterday
induces us to tell in advance some of the conditions we have found, inthe hope
they will be remedied. We have sent a list of seventy-three factories
absolutely inadequate in fire protection to Mayor Gaynor and the heads of the
Building, Fire and Police Departments. We have informed the unions that the
employes in some of these shops work under conditions that threaten life in
case of fire."
Observe Dr.
Moskowitz's reliance upon the trade unions. Every union in the clothing trade
is continually doing what it can to combat the state of things in New York
factories consequent upon the negligence or cupidity of employers with respect
to fire or other dangers to employes. In January last, the Women's Trade Union
League asked that a list of questions be printed in the New York newspapers
relating to the very abuses which existed in the Triangle workrooms
overcrowding of work places, windows barred down, doors locked, doors opening
inward, inadequate fire-escapes, insufficient staircase exits, etc.
We think that the
manufacturers would have done well to employ their time in trying, with the
unions, to reform the infamous working conditions in the New York clothing
trade, of whatever branch, instead of regarding the union shop as a
stumbling-block it is, indeed, to such concerns as the Triangle Waist Company
the only persistent and effective stumbling-block in the way of their
inordinate pursuit of wealth, even with the wealth stained with human blood;
aye soaked in it. A stumbling-block the trade union certainly is, also, to the
tyrannical institution in full play in the National Clothiers' Association, the
black list employers' labor bureau, designed to bar from employment the members
of a trade union.
While writing this
article comes the news of two more frightful mine disasters,occurring almost
simultaneously. In all, 200 men dead from explosion and fire. In the Banner
mine near Littleton, Ala., the lives of 123 defenseless convicts and 5 free men
were on Saturday, April 8, snuffed out in a few minutes. In the Pancoast
colliery near Scranton, Pa. 74 miners were on the day before burned to death.
Were these dreadful occurrences accidents? Vice President John Mitchell, of the
American Federation of Labor, expressing his sorrow at hearing of them, said;
"It seems to me that both disasters could have been averted. The laws for
the protection ofthe workingman are not fully enforced until such disasters
occur." Dr. Chas.P. Neill, United States Commissioner of Labor, speaking
of the necessity for legal compensation for death or injury by accidents, said:
"This is the
only country in the world where an appeal for help has to be made following an
industrial disaster. All countries where there is industrial advancement such
as we enjoy have the necessary machinery to provide for the victims without an
appeal to charity. The fund of $30,000 raised for the relatives of the recent
factory fire in New York, while it does credit to the charitable inclination of
the citizens of New York, is an indictment of the maladjustment of our social
system."
In these two
accidents we have repeated the story of employing class criminology in the
mining industry. Three years ago 125 miners were sent down into the earth to
their death at Marianna, Pa.; two years ago, 300 at Cherry Hill, Ill.; last
year, 185 at Palos, Ala. Suppose that the law required at least three high
company officials were to be down in the mine where work was going on, would
the mines not quickly be made safer than they are? Suppose that three such
officials President,Vice-President, General Manager were to be killed with the
miners on the occurrence of these so called accidents, how long would it be
until there was a comprehensive law, with the damages for the officials'
widows? Yet our country is a democracy!
We take occasion, in
the light of the facts we have cited, and others to follow,to say emphatically
that we will not dilly-dally with employers bent on forever putting trade
unionism in the crucible and refining from it every element the least
objectionable to them while themselves trying to ignore their own questionable
practices, ranging from simply those unfair on downward through every step to
the worst practices avaricious, felonious, barbarous, murderous as exposed in
recent events, whether in famine strikes like those of Chicago or in wholesale
murder like that in New York. Some of their spokesmen would argue the union
shop out of existence as detrimental to industrial peace. This when, the fact
is that when clothing manufacturers get their employes completely at their
mercy in the "open shop" they force them to submit to every manner of
neglect, indignity, and slave driving, and then on occasions burn them alive.
While we are at the
task we may as well recite some irrefragable testimony, of recent development,
to show that it is the employing class that today in America is on trial before
the world for theft, disloyalty, and inhumanity that a considerable part of it
has degenerates to a stage of many phased crookedness in comparison with which
union labor stands upright and honorable, despite all the sinister agencies
hired to blacken its reputation.
Too long, in dealing
with the trade unions, has there been an assumption by employers, wholly
unfounded, that their class represents law and order, responsibility, and high
standing, the distinction of individual merit and the authority of
superiorclass integrity. Too often what they really stand for is no more than a
colossal and unblushing gall, unscrupulous and insatiable greed.
We want to assure
trade unionists and their sympathizers that taking into consideration that no
human institution can be perfect the trade union representatives when facing
employers have no good reason to be ashamed of their class or their cause. The
trade union is right if not all right to the last dot and particle, as near
right as many other human institution, and doing a hundred fold the good of
most others. One source of our weakness is that too often we forget that the
employers who dread and hate our unions never falter in finding them in the
wrong, whether the testimony against them to be false or true, and also that we
hesitate to hitback when employers and their paid agents are blackening our
leaders or depreciating our organization. What here follows regarding employers
is but a sketch of a mass of truths than can be produced. Let union men take
full cue from it all, and prepare themselves in their own occupations for the
occasions when the Harrises and Blancks are indulging in virtuous self-praise,
coupled with denunciations of the trade unionthat seeks to protect their
employers from discrimination or exploitation, fraud or fire.
If one of the
Triangle girls was caught filching a ten-cent bit of shirt-waist material,s he
would have been liable to arrest and sentence to a term in prison.
The Ladies' Garment Worker, September, 1911. p. 6
Parents and friends
of the 145 victims who were in the Triangle fire, says the New York
"Call," and of the scores of workers who saved their lives but were
maimed and injured, have written, telephoned and appeared in person at the
office of the Ladies' Waist and Dress Makers' Union, in the last two days,
calling upon the union to see to it that Harris & Blanck, the owners of the
Triangle shop, be brought to trial.
The parents and
friends of the victims also called upon the union officials to demand and
account from the Red Cross as to the manner in which $100,000 collected for the
benefit of the families of the fire victims, has been disposed of, if it had
been disposed of.
As a result of these
numerous calls the Executive Board of the Ladies' Waist Maker's Union stirred
up the committee of three which has been appointed some time ago to look into
the Triangle case, to immediate, vigorous activity.
The committee, which
consists of Sam Spivack, A. Silver, and Sam Gusman, met last night at 151
Clinton street to decide upon plans to co-operate with the parents and friends
of the fire victims, and to determine upon ways and means of improving
conditions in the shops where the lives of workers are daily exposed to the fire
panics.
Several of the
parents and friends of the Triangle victims, who called at the office of the
Ladies' Waist Makers' Union, said that they will either get up a petition or
will write personal letters to District Attorney Whitman calling upon him to
bring Harris and Blanck to trial.
Dr. George M. Price,
M. D., the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Joint Board of Sanitary
Control in the Cloak and Suit Industry of New York, has written to the
"Call" suggesting a way in which the Board might co-operate with the
Waistmakers' Union.
Americans need big
shocks, says Dr. Price.
Because several meeting have been held, because a "safety committee"
has been appointed, because the papers devoted a few pages to factory fire
damages, it is not to be expected that the 30,000 shops in the city should have
suddenly become improved, that new fire escapes should have been put in where
needed, and that workers should have become interested in protecting their
lives from fires instead of devoting their whole time to the most important
question of election of business delegates?
Dr. Price continues:
"To compel the owners of the loft buildings to make radical improvements
in their buildings, to spend huge sums for the protection of the lives and
limbs of their tenants; to make lessees of shops institute fire drills, buy
fire extinguishing apparatus and make other provisions for safety; to rouse the
workers themselves to the necessity of taking care of their own lives and
health, something more than newspaper talk, than creation of safety committees
or State commissions are necessary.
Workers Must Depend
Upon Selves.
The salvation of the working class depends upon the workingmen themselves. This
is true not only in economics, but also in sanitation. As long as the workingmen
themselves are so negligent of their lives and health as to leave their
protection out of their legislative demands, as long as the laboring class is
indifferent to the most cardinal principles of safety and sanitation, and as
long as the enforcement of labor laws in the hands of politicians and outside
of the co-operation of working unions, so long will there be unsafe factories
and unhealthy shops.
After the Triangle
fire hundreds of complaints were sent to the Women's Trade Union League, but
these complaints were hardly investigated, as the T.U.L. had no proper force
for their investigation, nor any means for enforcing better conditions.
The "Safety
Committee" consists of some prominent men and women in the city. This
committee has just completed an investigation of 400 factory buildings, and is
preparing the report on conditions found.
There is also a
special committee appointed by the Governor, the commission consisting of four
lay members and seven Senators and Assemblyman, with the purpose of investigating
factory conditions as to their relation to safety and health.
The Legislature also
passed the "Hoye bill" which has been approved by the Mayor and is
not as yet signed by the Governor. This bill provides for the creation of a new
"fire-prevention bureau" in the Fire Department with a chief and
several hundreds of inspectors whose duty it will be to inspect buildings, make
recommendations as to their improvements for fire prevention and to order such
improvements.
More Than
Legislation Needed
But, as I said before, no amount of legislation, no increase in the agencies
for investigation and enforcements, and not matter how many hundreds of
inspectors are appointed, conditions in factories and shops will always remain
dangerous until workingmen themselves will awake to the importance of the
problem of safety and health and will enter these into their daily program and
make them as important demands in their economic and political platforms.
Of all the trade or
labor unions, the Cloak Makers' Union seems to be the most progressive in
sanitary matters and they alone of all the unions have taken a firm and radical
stand on the question. The leaders, as well as the rank and file of the Cloak
Makers' Union are in perfect accord with the Board of Sanitary Control and not
only support it, but also call out their men whenever and wherever we show them
that conditions as to safety and sanitation are such as to endanger life and
health. In our last inspection we have discovered eighteen shops conducted in filthy
cellars and shall soon present them to the unions for their actions.
What the Cloak
Makers' Unions are doing the others may also do, and there is no reason why
there should not be co-operation between the Waist Makers' Union and our board
which is at all times willing to assist, make investigations and otherwise help
out unions in sanitary matters. I believe the time will come when every labor
union will have on its executive committee expert sanitarians to take charge of
sanitary matters as there are other members to take charge of financial and
organization matters.
The Ladies Garment Worker, October 1911. p 22.
The victory nearly
two years ago of the Ladies' Waistmakers, Local 25, of New York, has, it
appears, not been as complete a success as was generally believed at that time;
at any rate not a lasting success. One of the main reasons for the
disappointment is that the agreements originally signed with the union were of
an individual rather than collective character.
It will be
remembered that a large number of individual employers conceded the union
demands and signed agreements for one year. Other waist manufacturers, of which
the Triangle Waist Co. was one, refused to recognize the Union at the time the
strike was officially declared off. At the end of the year the Union was not in
position to compel the manufacturers to renew their agreements.
Naturally the
employers have since taken advantage of these circumstances and have reverted
to the oppressive conditions of former times. Matters have come to such a pass
that employees avoid shop meetings for fear of being discharged.
The Triangle
holocaust of March 25, in which 144 young lives were lost through criminally
closed doors, revealed the horrible conditions under which the employees,
mostly girls, produced riches for the manufacturers. It is to prevent the
recurrence of similar burnt offerings and to secure better safeguards and more
lasting union conditions in the future that the General Executive Board has
given sanction to an agitation for a general strike.
The co-operation of
the Ladies' Garment Cutters, Local No. 10, the moral support of a powerful
International Union and the memory of the victims of the Triangle fire will
impart to the union forces a strength which they did not possess years ago.
The Outlook, April 15, 1911. p 817.
On Friday evening,
March 24, two young sisters walked down the stairways from the ninth floor
where they were employed and joined the horde of workers that nightly surges
homeward into New York's East Side. Since eight o'clock they had been bending over shirt-waists of silk and
lace, tensely guiding the valuable fabrics through their swift machines, with
hundreds of power driven machines whirring madly about them; and now the two
were very weary, and were filled with that despondency which comes after a day
of exhausting routine, when the next day, and the next week, and the next year,
hold promise of nothing better than just this same monotonous strain.
They were moodily
silent when they sat down to supper in the three-room tenement apartment where
they boarded. At last their landlady (who told me of that evening's talk,
indelibly stamped upon her mind) inquired if they were feeling unwell.
"Oh, I wish we
could quit the shop!" burst out Becky, the younger sister, aged eighteen.
"That place is going to kill us some day."
It's worse than it
was before the strike, a year ago," bitterly said Gussie, the older.
"The boss squeezes us at every point, and drives us to the limit. He
carries us up in elevators of mornings, so we won't lose a second in getting
started; but at night, when we're tired and the boss has got all out of us he
wants for the day, he makes us walk down. At eight o'clock he shuts the doors,
so that if you come even a minute late you can't get in till noon, and so lose
half a day; he does that to make sure that every person gets there on time or
ahead of time. He fines us for every little thing; he always holds back a
week's wages to be sure that he can be able to collect for damages he says we
do, and to keep us from leaving; and every evening he searches our pocketbooks
and bags to see that we don't carry any goods or trimmings away. Oh, you would
think you are in Russia again!"
That's all true; but
what worries me more is a fire," said Becky, with a shiver. "Since
that factory in Newark where so many girls where burnt up there's not a day
when I don't wonder what would happen if a fire started in our shop."
"But you could
get out, couldn't you?" asked the landlady.
"Some of us
might," grimly said Gussie, who had been through last year's strike, and
still felt the bitterness of that long struggle. "What chance would we have?
Between me and the doors there are solid rows on rows of machines. Think of all
of us hundreds of girls trying to get across those machines to the doors. You
see what chance we have!"
"Girls, you
must leave that place!" cried the landlady. "You must find new
jobs!"
"How am I going
to find a new job?" demanded Gussie. "If I take a day off to hunt a
job, the boss will fire me. I might be out of work for weeks, and I can't
afford that. Besides, if I found a new job, it wouldn't be any better. All the
bosses drive you the same way, and our shop is as safe as any, and safer than
some. No, we've got to keep on working, no matter what the danger. It's work or
starve. That's all there is to it."
The next morning the
two sisters joined their six hundred fellow-workers at the close-packed, swift
machines. All day they bent over endless shirt-waists. Evening came; a few more
minutes and they would have been dismissed, when there was a sudden frantic cry
of "Fire!" - and what happened next all the country knows, for it was
in the Triangle Shirt-Waist Factory that Becky and Gussie Kappelman worked. The
fire flashed through the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors of the great building
like a train of powder; girls were driven to leap wildly, their clothes afire,
from the lofty windows; and in a few brief moments after the first cry one
hundred and forty-three workers, the vast majority young girls, were charred
bodies heaped up behind doors they had vainly tried to beat down, or were
unrecognizable pulp upon the street far below.
And as for Gussie
and Becky, who had gone to work that fatal day knowing their danger, as all the
workers knew it, but helpless in their necessity what of them? Gussie was one
of those who met a horrible death. Becky, in some way unknown to herself, was
carried down an elevator, and to-day lies in a hospital, an arm and a leg
broken and her head badly bruised. Frequently the young girl calls for her
older sister, but her condition is too precarious for her to stand the shock of
the awful truth, and the nurses have told her that Gussie is injured in another
hospital. And so Becky lies in the white cot waiting until her wounds and
Gussie's shall have healed and they can again be together.
Conservatives,
liberals, radicals of all shades and intensity, are agreed in denouncing the
criminal indifference that is shown to the murderous conditions in which men,
women, girls and mere children are compelled to earn their bread. The Triangle
disaster has revealed an appalling state of affairs that exists though the
factory district of New York City, and that presumably exists in varying
degrees of badness in other cities. From the standpoint of safety of the
workers everything was wrong. And yet it is hard to single out one person or
institution and say that there belongs the blame. The proprietors of the
Triangle Company were violating no law, and were but following the instincts
and practices common among manufacturers in their trade. The inspection of
Building Department has been inadequate and loose, and ugly stories of
"graft" have been set afloat. The ultimate blame must be traced back
to the inadequate building laws, and thence to an indifference or unawakened
public that allowed such laws to be passed and to continue in existence. The
huge modern factory buildings of New York City are what is called
"fireproof;" such construction is safest to the builder and secures
him a lower rate of insurance than would non-fireproof construction. The
building in which the Triangle fire took place is as sound as ever; outwardly,
it bears a few signs of fire, and doubtless the comparatively trivial property
loss was covered by insurance. The great impulse that brought the present New
York laws into existence was the safety of the dollar and the best profit upon
it. The safety of the hundreds of thousands of workers, their possible terrible
deaths, the widespreading tragedies that death would bring upon the workers'
families and loved ones such things were given hardly a thought against the
mightier dollar.
The tragedies that
such tragedies bring upon loved ones! Two days after the fire I was in an East
Side Street that was a street of funerals. It was crowded with sobbing men and
women; children wept with their parents; even little babies must have felt the
bitter sorrow, for they clung tightly to their shawled mothers in an agony of
terror. Among the poverty-stricken funeral cort ges was a hearse containing a
rough pine box, and behind the hearse was carried a Jewish wedding canopy, all
of black and here I learned the story of another Becky and her Jacob.
Becky Kessler was
out on strike for sixteen weeks last year against the Triangle Company, and was
among the most valiant of those who struggled for safer and fairer conditions.
She picketed about the shop morning and night, in cold and rain; she suffered
outrageous treatment from the police; she was three times arrested. When the
strike of forty thousand shirt-waist makers was settled, the Triangle was one
of the few big shops that did not sign the union agreement, though in order to
get its workers back it made a verbal promise to maintain union conditions
which promise, by the way, it very quickly forgot. Becky did not want to
return, but she was penniless, she was half starved, she owed her kind landlady
for four month's lodging, she had an old father in Russia dependent upon her
wages; and so, after her sixteen weeks' fight, she was driven by terrible
necessity into her old position, and upon terms and conditions dictated by the
company.
The Triangle firm
had two systems of payment, piece-work and a fixed weekly wage, and it imposed
upon each employee whichever method of payment is preferred. Becky was a swift
and clever worker; in the busy season, working at the piece-rate work scale,
she could make from eighteen to twenty dollars a week. The Triangle Company,
seeing how quick she was, with sharp business sense, changed her from
piece-work to a weekly wage, and managed to get the same amount of work out of
her for half the money. In the case of slow workers the reverse of this process
was practiced they were not given a regular weekly wage, but were put upon
piece-work. But, though working at half her real value, Becky kept on. Out of
her week's earnings she kept one dollar with which to cover her car-fares,
breakfasts, and lunches, and the rest she divided between her debts and her
father.
Her great sustaining
hope was that she was soon to be married. Her life with Jacob would be one of
poverty, to be sure, but she would be free from the grind of the shop. Toward
the end of winter, Jacob begged her to give up her work and take a rest before
their marriage, which was drawing very near; she needed a rest, he insisted,
for she was sadly worn from hunger and exposure when she had gone back to the
shop, and the strain of her hard, tense work had given her no chance to
recover. But she refused. She must work up to the very day of the marriage, for
she must come to him with all her debts paid and with some money laid aside for
her father. Besides, the marriage was now but a few weeks off. So she worked
on, joyously checking off the days till the wedding day. And the end of this
love's young dream was what I saw in that East Side street of funerals an
incinerated bride-to-be in a pine box, a black marriage canopy, and in the next
procession a bowed, white-faced young man with streaming eyes.
How many love-dreams
were blasted by that Triangle fire, God only knows. But here is a matter of
cold statistics: On one floor of the Triangle shop, where they had fallen from
charred fingers, where found fourteen engagement rings.
The dangers that
lurk in the factory, waiting their chance, do not menace to the worker alone;
they strike blows, often irreparable, upon the worker's relatives. There was
little Rebecca, who came from Russia two years ago at the age of sixteen. Too
slight to operate a machine, she at first sewed on buttons, and later cut out
the fabric underneath lace insertion, for which she was paid $6 a week. Shortly
after her arrival here her father and mother died, back in Russia, leaving a
boy of eight, who was taken into a neighbor's family, and a girl of thirteen.
This sister Rebecca determined to send for, and she denied herself food, denied
herself clothing, held tight to every penny, till at last she had scraped
together enough to make the first payment on little Minnie's steerage ticket,
which she bought on the installment plan.
Three month ago
Minnie arrived, her only baggage the clothing upon her back. Of course Minnie
had to go to work at once, but her sister-mother, Rebecca, dared not to stop
work even for a day to help Minnie hunt a place. So Minnie looked for herself,
and in a little shop on Grand Street she found a boss sufficiently
disinterested to take on a little greenhorn like herself at nothing per week.
Rebecca, with two mouths to feed on her six dollars, and with the regular
installments on Minnie's ticket to pay, had even less for herself than ever.
She became very thin and weak; often she wished to stay away, but she dared not
do so, not only because she could not afford the loss of a day's pay, but more
because she feared her absence would lose her her job. The company could not
stand for having one of its machines idle for a day, and thus earning nothing
for them. Once she fainted at her work. She was taken to a dressing-room, was
revived, and instead of being sent home to rest, was sent directly back to her
work.
She clung
desperately to her strength and her job; she had to, for Minnie's sake. On
Friday night before the fire she came home very ill with the grip. Her landlady
urged her to stay at home for at least a day. But Rebecca would not consent to
this; she said she would lose her job if she did so. All night she tossed about
in fever, but the next morning she dressed herself and went weakly back to the
shop.
Well Rebecca lost
her job, anyhow. She was among those who sought safety by the great building's
single fire-escape that gave way, and who were found dead at its foot.
And behind there is
left the little Minnie, penniless, unskilled, uneducated the foothold Rebecca
was trying to aid her win not yet secured no helpful relatives in Russia, not a
friend or a relative in America and even the price of her ticket to this
country not yet entirely paid for. "If that factory had been built safe,
Rebecca would have seen that Minnie got a chance," Minnie's kind-hearted
but poverty-stricken landlady wailed to me. "But what is going to become
of her now?"
Yes, what is going
to become of her? I had to echo in dismay, knowing the dangers and temptations
with which New York surrounds the ignorant, penniless unprotected girl. What is
going to become of her? Perhaps the fate that heartless factory conditions
inflicted on Rebecca is, after all, a kinder fate than that which these same
factory conditions are holding in reserve for little Minnie.
Yes, the danger to the worker is not
limited to the worker; it reaches out and strikes down at the very ends of the
world. Esther was the main support of her old parents in Rumania, though her
brother Abraham, who was also in New York, contributed all he could. She was a
very skilled waist-trimmer, and when she went to work for the Triangle Company
after the strike she received $12 a week. Her excellent work was noticed, and
she was soon offered a place over five newly arrived Italian girls, to
supervise and instruct them. This offer was presented to her in the light of a
promotion, and Esther so regarded it and gladly accepted. Under Esther's
instruction, the eager Italian girls made rapid progress and soon were able to
do almost as good work as Esther herself; moreover they were willing to do it
for $6 and $7 a week, which to their non-Americanized standard seemed a
tremendous sum. Thereupon Esther was told by the company that they could no
longer pay her old wages; she would have to accept a cut or go.
Esther already
perceived that, under promise of being promoted, she had been used to train
girls who would underbid her; but she was in debt after the long strike; she
must send money to her parents, she dared not be out of work, so there was nothing
for her but to accept the reduction.
She stayed on,
lowering her own standard of living to the very minimum in order that her
parents might suffer as little as possible from the cut in her wages.
Esther was paid
every two weeks, and Saturday, March 25, her pay was due. On Friday evening she
wrote a letter to her parents saying that she and her brother were together
sending $25 for the Easter holidays; Saturday evening, after she had been paid,
there would be nothing to do but buy the draft, inclose it, and mail the
precious letter.
Esther was paid, as
was the custom, before her Saturday's work was quite done, but she never came
home with her wages. She was among the scores who were trapped by insufficient
exists, and who were crisped and blackened by the flames; her money was lost in
the vain, wild rush for life. To pay for her funeral her brother used all his
money pawned all his belongings, including his overcoat, save the clothes in
which he stood borrowed from all sides. And up in the tenement room which
Esther shared with three other girls, in the top of her little trunk, was found
the unsealed letter that was to carry her Easter present to her far-distant
parents a present that now was never to be sent.
"Won't it ever
be safe for us to earn our bread!" the agonized mother of one of the
victims cried out to me. And sobbingly she told me of a generation-long
struggle against the dangers and oppressions of the worker. As a girl, and even
after her marriage, she had been a shirt-waist maker; she had seen the dangers
from fire, from disease, from overwork, from underemployment, and she had
joined every effort to secure some betterment of conditions. Her husband was a
cloak-maker, and he, too, during all his working life had thrown himself into
every struggle for improvement. They had tried to save, in order that their
children might have an education and not be forced into factories; but the cost
of living rose faster than wages, and they had been able to lay nothing aside.
Last summer came the cloak-makers' strike, and for long weeks the husband did
not earn a penny. Debts piled up; their credit became exhausted; the mother
would have gone back to her trade, but she was nursing a new-born baby. In this
stress of circumstances they were forced to let their eldest child go to work
Rosie, then barely fourteen.
Rosie found a place
in the Triangle factory. After the fire she did not come home. The parents
searched distractedly among the burned and mangled bodies collected from, in,
and about the building. Upon an unrecognizable heap of remains that had been
gathered from the Belgian blocks that paved the street they found a tarnished
locket, and in the locket were their own pictures. That was how they knew their
child.
"For twenty
years we have struggled for better conditions!" the mother burst out to me
in her black bitterness of soul. "For twenty years! And what have we won?
A death like Rosie's! They have made their shops better and safer for their
machines and their goods, but for us workers O my God! how long will we have to
stand it? How long?"
And that mother who
had fought the long fight, and now at the end of it all sat in her dark
tenement kitchen, with a new life in her arms, mourning her mangled dead that
mother's anguished voice sounded in my ears as the outcry of the millions of
workers: "How long must we stand this how long? Will it never be safe for
us to earn our bread?
Written for the American Federationist, July 1911, pp. 544-547.
Within a few hours
of the Triangle Waist Company fire in New York on March 25 last - while the
searchers were still raking the ruins for the charred remains of the murdered
victims, while the wails of the mourning relatives and friends were mingling
with the cries of the newsboys calling "specials" throughout the
shocked and distraught East Side, while the morgue was filled with
grief-stricken people frantically, and in some cases vainly, seeking for lost
ones amid an atmosphere surcharged with grief, horror and resentment - the
Executive Board of Ladies' Waist and Dress Makers; Union, Local No. 25, met in
special session to consider a situation such as no other union had had to face
in the history of New York.
It was known that
although the disaster had occurred in a non-union shop - the most notorious in
the trade and the starting point of the great strike of waistmakers in the
winter of 1909-10, a number of union members had been employed there, just how
many not being definitely known at that time, for only as a last resort would a
union girl seek employment in the Triangle shop, and then she would frequently
fail to report herself as a member-at-large (as the union members in non-union
shops were designated) in the hope that she might not remain long there but
succeed in getting work elsewhere. Later, record was obtained of forty union
members having been employed in the ill-fated shop. But whether there had been
any union members involved in the disaster or not, the union would have acted
as the one organization representing the workers in the trade and the one with
the sole right to represent them. It was a working-class calamity and as such
it was the duty of a working-class organization which sought the advancement
and improvement of all the waistmakers through the trade union movement to go
to the aid of its brothers and sisters, regardless of what other people,
however sincere and well intentioned, might seek to do.
It was in that
spirit and with that motive that the Executive Board of the union held its
special session on that Sunday morning. At the meeting were present also as
representatives of the Women's Trade Union League Mary Dreier, Rose
Schneiderman and Helen Marot, the President, Vice-President and Secretary,
respectively.
The action of the
meeting resolved itself into three distinct phases - relief, protest and
prosecution. A relief committee was appointed and authorized to issue an appeal
for funds and to organize a system of relief distribution; another was
appointed to arrange a funeral protest demonstration, and finally, the union's
attorney was instructed to take immediate steps looking toward the criminal
prosecution of Harris and Blanck, the proprietors of the Triangle shop, who
have since been indicted by the Grand Jury and declared culpable by the coroner's
jury which investigated the disaster. The protest demonstration, held on
Wednesday, April 5, was the most remarkable of its kind ever held by any body
of workers in this country at any time.
This article
proposes to deal with the relief work done through the union, for, so far as I
am aware, this was the first time that a trade union in the United States not
only collected money for relief but also organized its own relief work and
directly administered the funds collected. For this reason, the work
accomplished has a special value, since it demonstrates what a union of workers
can do along these lines when it approaches the task confidently and
energetically.
The union relief
committee consisted of M. Winchevsky, Financial Secretary of the union, B.
Zuckerman, Miss M. Weinstein, A. Silver and William Mailly. As will be related
later, this committee was afterward merged into a larger and more comprehensive
committee. But the appeal for funds was immediately drawn up and was in the
offices of all the day had begun. That this appeal did not receive prominence
in all the papers, nor even publication in some, next morning was due to the
fact that Mayor Gaynor had officially called for donations to the American Red
Cross Fund and this was "featured" in the conservative press.
Simultaneous with
the issuance of the appeal for funds by the union, there went out from the
Women's Trade Union League headquarters a corps of women commissioned to visit
the homes of the victims - to investigate conditions and report to the Union
Relief Committee. It was the diligent, efficient work of these volunteers that
enabled the union on Monday to give temporary relief wherever this was reported
to be necessary - and there were few cases where this necessity did not exist,
for the wages of those affected had been seldom more than sufficient to sustain
them from week to week, while the current week's wages had in many cases been
consumed with the victims.
Contributions to the
fund began to arrive early on Monday morning. These were recorded as soon as
received and a receipt for each amount handed either direct to the giver mailed
before the day was out. Daily acknowledgements were issued to the press. A
complete itemized statement of all receipts and expenditures is to be made.
On Monday, however
the Jewish daily Forward also opened a fund. In order to avoid possible
conflict or waste in the administration of the two funds, a Joint Relief
Committee was formed on March 29, and composed as follows: Ladies' Waist and
Dress Makers' Union, M. Winchevsky and William Mailly; United Hebrew Trades, B.
Weinstein and J. Goldstein; Workmen's Circle (Arbeiter Ring), B. Weintraub and
J. Bernstein; Women's Trade Union League, Helen Marot and Elizabeth Dutcher;
Jewish Daily Forward, Abraham Cahan, whose place was afterward taken by M.
Gillis. Abe Baroff, general organizer of the waistmaker's union, acted with the
committee throughout its entire activity. It may be noted that with the
exception of the Women's Trade Union League all the organizations represented
on the committee were Jewish and from the East Side. No attempt was made to
enlist other unions in the relief work, since it was felt that the situation
was one that peculiarly affected the East Side, which has its own particular
environment and psychology.
The Joint Relief
Committee organized with the following officers; Chairman, B. Weinstein; Vice
Chairman, B. Weintraub; Secretary, William Mailly, Treasurer, Morris Hillquit.
These served until the close. The work of investigation and of recording and
distributing relief was under the immediate charge of Miss Elizabeth Dutcher.
The committee began
by defining its policy of action in the following motion: That they moneys
collected by each of the bodies represented on the Joint Relief Committee be
turned over to that committee and distributed through the Treasurer under its
supervision in the name of Ladies' Waist and Dress Makers' Union.
At the very
beginning it became apparent that some understanding must be arrived at with
Red Cross Emergency Fund if there was not to be waste and duplication in the
distributing funds. It was taken for granted that the Red Cross fund would be
much the larger of the two, since the general public would respond more
directly and readily to its appeal, and its operations would therefore be more
extensive than those of the union committee could possibly be.
A conference between
representatives of the union committee and Dr. Edward T. Devine, director of
the Red Cross, resulted quickly in an arrangement being reached whereby lines
of jurisdiction were definitely established. Under this arrangement all cases
in which union members were directly involved or there were waistmakers
surviving in any family affected by the disaster were first referred to the
union committee, with the privilege of referring back to the Red Cross in the
event that the union committee did not, for any reason, care to act upon the
case. An interchange of reports upon cases and other details of co-operation
were also agreed upon. Throughout the entire work of the relief this agreement
was adhered to strictly each side. The offices of the two funds were in
constant touch with each other and joint consultations were daily occurrences.
In addition to this, representatives of the union committee were upon
invitation, present and active all meetings of the conference, composed of
officials of various settlement and charitable organizations, whose special
duty it was to pass upon all cases coming before the Red Cross fund. Through
these means there was the fullest measure of co-operation without the slightest
of conflict, each party receiving the benefit of the information and experience
of the other, with a consequently enhanced efficiency of administration of the
two funds.
At its first session
of the Join Relief Committee appointed a sub-committee on relief, empowered to
meet between sessions of the joint committee. The actions of this sub-committee
were in turn submitted to the joint committee for its approval or otherwise.
Sometimes the joint committee itself heard the reports and acted directly upon
the cases, according to the convenience of the members. The joint committee,
however, had final jurisdiction in all cases.
The system of
inquiry and investigation was necessarily a thorough one. While the committee,
as much as possible, avoided any tendency at "red tape," and other
methods that might prove embarrassing or annoying to those most affected, yet a
certain amount of time of precaution had to be taken, so that the money
appropriated in each case should be placed in the most responsible and
deserving hands. The one thought always kept uppermost, however, was relief,
and that as prompt and complete as circumstances would admit.
In the work of
investigation, not less than two or three visits in each case were made. Th
greatest difficulty was in finding the nearest relatives of the victims, and
when found to discover which were the most responsible. A number of the dead
girls left not a single relative in this country, their families usually being
in Russia or Italy. As many of the families could speak but little English, the
relief workers (those who investigated details after the first general reports
were made) found it useful to have a smattering of either Italian or Jewish or
both.
A card system was used for recording
the reports of these visitors. For each case a separate card was made out in
the name of the killed or injured person; it covered principally the following
details; name; address; family, if any, with name, age, residence in the city
and country of each member; injury sustained; loss due to the fire (value of
clothing lost, etc.); resources (insurance, fraternal societies, etc.); church
connections, if any (this in order to provide for proper funeral or religious
service); whether members of any union; nearest relatives; family's estimate of
needs; visitor's recommendations, and, finally action taken by the committee.
First, temporary
relief, as before stated, was given. This took the form either of cash in
amounts varying from $% upward or payment of funeral expenses, or both. The
cash payments were extended weekly when deemed necessary, pending actions for
permanent relief. Besides paying expenses of several funerals contracted for
privately, the Joint Relief Committee buried directly 21 victims, 14 of these
being Jews and 7 Italians. By special arrangement with the Workmen's Circle
(Arbeiter Ring), the Jewish working class and death benefit society, the Jewish
burials were made in the Mount Zion Cemetery in the society's plot.
What might also be
called temporary relief were the sums given to the families that desired to
observe the Easter or Passover religious holidays. In nearly all cases, both in
the Jewish and Italian families, there was membership in the orthodox Hebrew
and Catholic churches, and the coming of Easter and Passover meant in each case
an increased expense in the household so that the season could be properly
observed with due regard to orthodox requirements.
Cases for permanent
relief finally resolved themselves into four distinct classes; First, where
families were deprived of all support; second, where dependent relatives were
left in Europe; third where partial support had been lost; fourth, where people
injured had been helped until well.
The amount given in
each case varied according to the circumstances, i.e., the number, age,
capacity, and general living conditions of the family, amount of wages lost,
financial condition of victim at time of disaster, etc. An attempt was made to
maintain at least the previous standard of living, however poor it may have
been.
It is not my purpose
to give here in detail the particulars of the cases, even though space
permitted. This is intended to be a recital of methods merely. Suffice it to
say at this time that the circumstances in almost every case coming before the
committee were nothing short of a revelation to us, accustomed though we were
to working-class conditions. Not one of the committee but acknowledged surprise
at the poverty, deprivation and struggles which were so vividly disclosed to
us. And along with this were revealed records of devotion, self-denial and
fortitude on the part of working girls which we felt certain were only an
intimation of the nobility of soul and integrity of character that had inspired
their lives.
The one startling
fact of all was the large number of girls who had been the main, and oftentimes
the sole, support of families in Russia or Italy. These girls had come to this
country, either alone or to relatives (though in most instances they had lived
alone or shared a room with a girl shopmate of the same race), for the purpose
of working to send back money to their fathers and mothers and younger sisters
and brother in their native land. And this money, when it was not used to
relieve immediate necessities there, was stored up until enough was saved to
bring over the whole family, or at least some other member able to work and
send still more money back, until eventually the entire family should emigrate
to the United States. Only in cases where extreme old age or physical
disability would prevent entrance here under the immigration laws did the
parents remain behind.
But in no case were
these allowed to suffer if the girls could help it. And these girls assumed
this responsibility uncomplainingly and even joyfully, not as a task or burden,
but as a labor of love freely and gladly undertaken. How some of them send the
amounts they did and maintained themselves was a problem which only they and
the thousands of other girls who are now doing likewise could solve.
The amounts sent
home varied, but were not less than $5 monthly. This in roubles means much more
in Russia than here. The chief problem confronting the relief committee lay in
providing for these dependent families abroad. In each case a lump sum was
allotted sufficient to equal the amount usually sent each month to cover a
certain period of years, according to knowledge of the family circumstances.
Arrangements for remitting these apparitions every month were made through
different mediums. Wherever practicable, families were assisted, in whole or in
part, to immigrate here, when assurance was had they would be cared for and
there would be no violation of the immigration laws.
A number of young
girls left without homes or responsible relatives were placed in the Clara de
Hirsch Home for Girls, an excellent trade school, where they will remain until
they have learned enough English and are deemed capable to make their own
living. In other cases, girls who suffered injuries or shock were sent to the
country through the Solomon Loeb Convalescent Home, to stay there until well,
and on their return to receive a weekly stipend, through the union office until
they should obtain work.
Although the Joint
Relief Committee, at the time its report of all receipts and expenditures is
made, will have practically completed its work, yet the actual operations of
the fund will extend over a number of years. These operations - the remittance
of moneys abroad, the distribution of weekly pensions, the supervision and care
of the girls and children placed in institutions of various kinds, the securing
of work and proper living arrangements for others when recuperated from their
injuries, and the care of numerous other details will be conducted through an
Executive Committee of three members, consisting of Elizabeth Dutcher, of the
Women's Trade Union League, Abe Baroff, General Organizer of the union local,
and Morris Hillquit, acting as trustees of the funds remaining in the hands of
the Joint Relief Committee. The Women's Trade Union League will be the centre
of operations and thoroughly there is no question.
The total amount to
be administered by the Joint Relief Committee, it was estimated would reach
between $16,000 and $20,000 (contributions continued to come in after the funds
were declared closed); and as most of the work done was voluntary and only
moderate salaries were paid when necessary the total expense of administration
will be comparatively small amount (under $200). It was believed that with the
aid of the Red Cross Emergency Fund, which was adequately covered, the
provision made in the various cases for relief would be sufficient to enable
the afflicted ones to tide over, to some extent at least, the critical and
unforeseen situation which had been so cruelly thrust upon them.
On March 25, 1911, a
fire occurred in the shirtwaist factory of Harris & Blanck, at Washington
Place and Greene Street. One hundred and forty six girls and men were killed in
the fire, and many others were injured. Some of these were members of the
Waistmakers? Union, some of them had been members, and all were workers in a
trade that the Ladies? Waist and Dressmakers? Union was especially organized to
protect and represent. This was the factory where the shirtwaist strike of 1909
broke out, the strikers being out five months. While the strike was lost and
the factory was not under the control of the Union at the time of the fire, the
whole matter deeply concerned the Union, and it was natural that they should
take steps at once in relief of the distress involved.
The fire occurred
Saturday afternoon about five o?clock; and Sunday morning a corps of Women?s
Trade Union League members was visiting the families of the sufferers in the
name of the Ladies? Waist and Dressmakers? Union, Local No. 25. They reported
the families where immediate relief was needed, and the Union at once began to
give out emergent relief.
At the same time the
Red Cross Emergency Relief Committee, which is an organization especially
constituted to respond to emergent distress of great magnitude, opened
headquarters in the Metropolitan Building, 1 Madison Avenue, New York City, and
also started visiting. Moreover, the North America Civic League for Immigrants
began to visit, and it was felt that some scheme of co-operation between the
different organization should be arranged.
Contributions of
money were rapidly pouring in on the Union, and on March 29th a
meeting was held at Clinton Hall, 151 Clinton Street, to organize the Joint
Relief Committee, the following organizations being represented:
The committee
organized by selecting the following officers:
The following were
additional members:
Cahan, M.
Gillis, M. Winchevsky, A. Baroff, Helen Marot, E. Dutcher.
At this meeting it
was decided that all the moneys collected by each of the bodies represented on
this committee should be turned over and to the Joint Relief Committee, as
constituted, and distributed through the Committee?s treasurer, under its
continued supervision, in the name of the Waist Makers? Union.
A sub-committee was
chosen to pass upon all applications for relief and these were Mr. B.
Weinstein, United Hebrew Trades; Mr. J. Weintraub, Workmen?s Circle; William
Mally, of the Ladies? Waist and Dressmaker?s Union No. 25, Miss Elizabeth
Dutcher of the Women?s Trade Union League, and Abraham Baroff, of the Ladies?
Waist & Dressmakers Union No. 25. Mr. William Mailly and Miss Elizabeth
Dutcher were put in charge of the actual work.
A scheme of
co-operation with the Red Cross Relief Committee was arranged whereby the Union
took charge of all cases where the victim had been or was a Union member, or
where there was an International Ladies? Garment Union member in the family. In
a very few cases of injured survivors, where the Union had already started to
give relief, this relief was continued.
The Red Cross
Emergency Relief Committee and the Joint Relief Committee remained in active
and friendly co-operation through the whole period of relief giving. Mr.
William Mailly and Miss Elizabeth Dutcher were regular members of the Red Cross
case committee and helped to pass on all their cases, and Dr. Edward T. Devine,
the head of the Red Cross Emergency Relief Committee, attended one of the Joint
Relief Committee sessions and helped pass on its cases. Moreover, the Red Cross
Emergency Relief Committee took the responsibility of several of the Joint
Relief Committee?s European cases, as will be seen in the detailed report.
The actual giving of
relief was not on the basis of any idea of compensation for death and injury,
but on the basis of immediate needs. There was no effort made in any case to
put a family in a better financial position than it was before the fire. A very
great effort was made not only to equalize the financial loss, but through the
special medical treatment, convalescent care, etc., to put the family or the
supervisor in as good condition as before the fire, as far as physical
conditions went.
At the date of this
report, four cases are still under the actual care of the committee, They are
all cases of minor for whom a trusted fund has been assigned, and who are
either alone in New York, or, in one instance, where there is no proper
guardianship.
The cases of distress divide
themselves naturally into four classes:
In the first,
second, and third instances there were numerous cases where free burial was
necessary. This was done in most instances through he Workmen?s Circle, though
in a few instances, especially Italian cases, regular undertakers were employed
and afterwards reimbursed. Tombstones were erected either through the Workmen?s
Circle, as before mentioned, or the family made and approved contract, and were
reimbursed for the same. A memorial monument for the unidentified dead was
erected through the Workmen?s Circle in the Mt. Zion Cemetery where they were
buried.
As Passover followed
shortly after the disaster, special Passover benefits were given in Jewish
families; and for the Roman Catholic victims a requiem mass was held in the
Church of Mary, Help of Christians, on East 12th Street.
The relief was given
at very little expense of administration, though a regular office was
maintained for four months, at Clinton Hall, and occasional stenographic help
was required to date (July, 1912). There was no rent to pay, and several of the
visitors were volunteers. Among those who gave their services to the Joint
Relief Committee were: Mrs. Bertha H. Mailly, Miss Elizabeth Dutcher, Mrs. Mary
Beard, Miss Violet Pike, Mrs. F.H. Leitner, Miss Minna Perlstein, Mrs. Sarah
Ostrow, Miss Fannie Zinsher, Miss Anna Griffiths, and Mrs. Morris DeYoung.
Mr. Robert W. Bruere
gave expert advice about methods in keeping the records of the work done by the
committee.
Special mention
should be made of the helpfulness of Miss Cecile Silverquiet. Miss Silverquiet,
a graduate trained nurse, freely gave her time for many weeks to the committee,
and was invaluable in suggesting special attentions for convalescent cases,
taking girls to the country, etc., etc.
It soon became
evident, however, that regular workers would have to b engaged to carry on the
work; and Mr. Isidore Phillips and Mr. Morris DeYoung, of the Socialist Party
and Miss Helen M. Hall, of the Women?s Trade Union League, were engaged as
visitors, and Miss Rose Wiener as stenographer. During the first three weeks,
some of these workers were on duty seven days in the week, and evenings as well
as during the day. The committee were perhaps exceptionally fortunate in
obtaining the services of such sympathetic visitors, who thoroughly understood
the affiliations of the families in distress and sought their information in a
spirit of fraternity.
Mention has already
been made of the invaluable cooperation given throughout the whole period by
the Red Cross Relief Committee. Very early in the work, the North America Civic
League for Immigrants were good enough to furnish the Committee with their
complete list of the names and addresses of the victims, and also with a short
summary of the circumstances attending each case.
The Italian Consul
was most helpful throughout, especially in giving reports on Italian
dependents, and arranging for the payment of benefits in Italy.
Before going on to
the details of the relief given in each case, something should be said of the
general character of the victims. Of sixty-two girls and women whose cases were
handled by the Joint Relief Committee, fifteen girls gave practically all their
salary toward the support, and nineteen were the whole or main
support of families living in America. In twenty-one instances, sums ranging
from $55 to $20 per month had been sent regularly to families living abroad,
and in twenty-one instances also the girls were either alone in New York or two
sisters were alone and lived and worked together.
It was interesting
to note that in the families concerned the chief reliance for support was on
the women members of the family. They seemed to find work more easily and keep-
it more steadily than the men.
In the case of the
European dependents, the Committee verified the amounts sent in all cases by
money order receipt. In case there was a brother or sister in New York City,
the money was sent in a lump sum; one of our visitors and a member of the
family going together to the Post Office and obtaining the money order. In one
cases, the money was sent through the Workmen?s Circle. In several instances,
the Red Cross Committee furnished the money through the American Consul in the
nearest city.
The amounts given in
each case were determined by the Joint Relief Committee which held regular
meetings before the Committee and discussed, and an apportionment made.
For obvious reasons
we do not give the name of the family. In each instance, we refer to the case
by its number and by the initials of the victims.
1.D.A. surviving shirtwaist maker,
19 years old, union members, lived in New York boards. Lost clothing in fire;
suffered from nervous shock; $25.00 given for clothes; $5.00 for room rent,
total $30.00. Sent to German Home for two weeks? recreation. $30.00
2. K.A., 21 years old, surviving
shirtwaist maker, formerly union member, suffering from shock; only: boards.
Family live in Millville, N.J. Williamsburg Bureau of Charities gave $25.00;
union $20.00 for general needs, new clothing and trip to family in Millville,
total from both organization $45.00. $25.00
3. A. A., dead, 16 years old, earned
$6.00 a week. Father, sister, and brother union members. Four wage-earners in
the family; only member not wage-earner is 15 years old and goes to school.
Family need death benefit only; $160.00 paid. $160.00
4. M. B., 19 years old, dead, former
union member, lived with brother?s family at this address: brother also a
waistmaker. M. did not contribute toward brother?s support, but sent money to
Russia. $100.00 sent to Russian relative. $100.00
5. G. B. 22 years old, earned 12 to
15 dollars a week, was a union member, killed. Father has prosperous candy
store; brother, machinist, earns $18.00 a week; T. Milliner, earns $9.00 a
week, no other children in family. Family ask for tombstone only; $100.00 paid
as death benefit. $100.00
6. J.C., 35 years old, dead, union
member, earned $12.00 a week. Leaves husband, arm slightly injured, and three
children all under school age. Paid $101.00 funeral expenses. $34.00 emergent
relief; $400.00 to start Mr. C. In small grocery business (this under the
advice of the wife?s relatives.)Total $535.00
7. A.C., 25 years old, dead, union
member, lived with sister M. 19, and E, 16, who earned 5.00 and $4.00
respectively. A main support ; two brothers, one very prosperous who did not
live with the girls, and one married, did not contribute to the support of any
of the girls. Tried to persuade E. Younger sister, to go into Clara de Hirsch
Home; refused. $250.00 were given girls, who were all satisfied. Total, $250.00
8. A.C., 35 years old, dead, earned
$14.00 a week, was a union member and supported her husband, R, 40 years old,
barber, who does not work and is said to be rheumatic, also contributed to the
support of her daughter C., 17 years old, who earned $7.00 a week, and T., 16
years old, who went to school, also as an old father.
Family anxious to have large relief
in order to keep T., 16 years old at high school, but $250.00 was given for
funeral expenses and temporary relief only, as mother left diamond earrings and
other jewelry which were recovered. $200.00 given old father. Total, $450.00
9. C.D. 18 years old, dead, earned
$7.00 a week; in this country eight months only, union member, lived with aunt,
Mrs. S. at address named, did not contribute to support of aunt, sent about
twenty rubles a month to her home. Funeral expenses paid by the Donowitz Mutual
Aid Society; $180.00 sent to mother in Russia. Total, $180.00
10. D.E. years old, dead, earning
$9.00 a week, union member, lived with her married brother, sent money to
father in Kordonoff, Minsker Gub, Russia. Sent $180.00 to father in Russia;
$30.00 through brother, $150.00 by direct Post Office order. Total, $180.00
11. C.E., 17 years old, waistmaker
earning $6.00 a week; killed; sister B. 20 years old, petticoat maker earning
$8.00 a week. B. Suffering from nervous shock. Funeral expenses paid, $39.00;
B. sent to Solomon & Betty Loeb Convalescent Home and given $116.00 for
current expenses until she has recovered. Total, $155.00
12. Y.F. 18 years old, an examiner,
earning $12.00, died. Surviving family: father, who is able-bodied, but does
not work with mother; F. 19, waistmaker, Sarah, 16 waistmaker, Sadie, 12, Dora,
7, and Annie, 4. Emergent relief was given: Red Cross, $15.00, union, $25.00,
$15.00, April 11th, $210.00 and $140.00 given, total of union relief
$390.00. Total, $390.00
13. R.F., 18 years old, dead, union
member, boarded with uncle, sent regular remittances to father and mother in
Byalestock, Grodner Gub., Russia. Paid funeral expenses amounting to $53.00,
and gave case of European dependents to Red Cross Committee who investigated
Russian situation through American Consul and found that the father earned a
little money through teaching Hebrew, has seven children ranging from 22 years
old to seven, none of whom earn much. R. sent 30 roubles a month in support to
the family; Red Cross Committee gave 1,00 roubles to family in Russia. Total
$35.00 plus 1,000 roubles.
14. S.F., 17 years old, badly
injured, earned $6.00 to $7.00 a week, lived with father, I., shoemaker, earns
$7.00 a week; brother L., 27, painter. Out of work, S., 14, at school, M., 10,
at school and F., 19, also waistmaker, $10.00 a week. Relief given $250.00 of
which $30.00 was given as emergent relief, and the rest paid in weekly
installments of $10.00 each. S. sent to Solomon & Betty Loeb, Convalescent
Home on August 1st, has now completely recovered. Total, $250.00
15. R.F., 20 years old, dead, union
member earned $10.00 a week. Surviving family, father, mother, two sisters, who
are waistmakers, and a working brother. Family living in a prosperous way, but
in debt. Family given $43.00 emergent relief and $260.00 as R.?s wages for six
months. Total, $303.00
16. F.F., 20 years old, earned
$14.00, suffering from shock only, union member. Given $50.00 to buy new
clothing, clothing having been burned, and also for room to rent. Sent to
Solomon & Betty Loeb Convalescent Home for three weeks. Total, $50.00
17. M.F. union member, died. Lived
with uncle at above address, no dependents here, case referred to Red Cross for
dependents in Palestine; Red Cross reported July 7th, parents in
Palestine sent $750.00. Total, plus $750.00
18. M.G., 21 years old, non-union,
earned $7.00 to $8.00 a week, boarded with married sister, no dependents in this
country, lost clothes, furs, $14.00 in money and bracelet, suffers the shock.
Sent $5.00 a month to father, P.G., in Palestine. Statement of loss
corroborated union member, $30.00 paid as compensation for clothes. Total,
$30.00
19. D.G., 18 years old, dead, earned
$10.00 a week, eight months in this country, union member, lived with brother,
A, also waistmaker, union member, married, with brother sent money to very
needy dependents in Russia. Brother anxious for lump sum to send himself, to
Russia; also, $25.00 for tombstone. $300.00 paid brother in April, receipt
taken. Total, $300.00
20. S.G., earning $14.00 a week,
suffering from shock only, lived with sister, 17 years old, earning $7.00 a
week, and father, G. Says she lost money in fire, but cannot prove it. S. went
to work again a few days after the fire, so she was given only $5.00 relief.
Total, $5.00
21. C.G., 19 years old, in this
country 9 months, earned $8.00 a week, union member, killed. Lived with married
sister, to whom she owed $50.00 on ticket to this country, and also had sent
one remittance to mother in Russia. Burial and tombstone by union. Repayment of
$50.00 for ticket to F.L., sister, and $100.00 sent to family in Russian city.
Total, $150.00
22. Y.G., 30 years old, earned
$10.00 a week, boarded, union member, killed, Two brothers, S. and J., married,
silk weavers, Paterson, NJ Y., a union member, sent money to family in
Byalistok. Brother in Paterson wish money to be given in lump sum so that
family in Russia can come to this country, if they think best. $300.00 paid to
family in Russia through Arbeiter Ring. Total, $300.00
23. L. and M.G. L.G., 22 years old,
earned $14.00 a week, and M.G., 17 years old, earned $12.00 a week, union
members, killed. Lived with mother a widow, brother, a clockmaker, 26 years
old, unmarried, no dependents except aged mother. $335.00 given. In October,
1911, unmarried son, J., married and refused to support mother any longer, she
being at the time and sickly condition. She moved to the home of her son, L.,
and became very ill. $100.00 additional relief was given, and on her death
$150.00 was given by the Red Cross Fund through the union for funeral expenses
and monument. Union relief, $435.00 plus Red Cross relief, $150.00. Total,
$585.00
24. R. and P.G. P. G. 19 years old,
earned $12.00 badly injured; R., 17 years old, earned $7.00 a week, killed.
Lived with mother, 50 years old, widow, brother, M. cloakmaker, $15.00 a week.
S., 22 years old, waistmaker, $9.00 a week, J., 20, suspender maker, earns
$13.00 a week, R, 11, and A., 8, go to school. Home is very comfortable, but
all wage earners have irregular work and P. Remained an invalid for one year.
Family has received $618.00. Total, $618.00
25. E.G., 20 years old, earned
$12.00 a week, killed, boarded, Father, step-mother, and two step-brothers in
Baranowitch. Russia, sent regular remittance to them; also assisted by brother,
I., 17 years old, who earned $7.00 a week, when working. Two brothers in
Minneapolis willing to look after I. Paid I., $105.00 for funeral expenses,
$30.00 for monument for E. and transportation for himself to brothers in
Minneapolis.
Referred case of Russian dependents
to Red Cross, who on July 27th, reported that they had sent D.N.,
her father, 400 roubles. Total, $135.00 plus 400 roubles
26. E.H., 21 years old, earned
$22.00 a week, union member killed. Lived with father, peddler, earns very
little, mother, M., also in Triangle disaster, escaped, earns $5.00 a week; L.,
19, earns $5.00 a week, R., 13, and J., 8. E. was the main support of the
family, whose income does not average $15.00 a week. $35.00 given in emergent
relief and $50.00 given in lump sum by Committee to father who will start a
small business. Total, $535.00
27. C. and D.H. D.H., 20 years old,
5 years in this country, earning $12.00 a week, and sister, C.H., 17 years old,
one year in this country, earned $8.00 a week, both uninjured except for
hysteria; no dependents. Clothing ruined, anxious to visit uncle in
Philadelphia, $30.00 given to C. for clothing and transportation to
Philadelphia. On return, May 25, D. Called with doctor?s certificate, stating
that she was still unfit to work; gave $50.00 for extended vacation. Total,
$80.00
28. I.J., 19 years old, earning
$15.00 a week, killed. Lived with father, who is waist contractor with his own
shop, mother, one brother and one sister working in father?s shop; and one
brother and sister at school. I. was a union member. This family did not need
any assistance and, at first, stated that they needed none. Later, asked for aid;
given $150.00 as death benefit. Total, $150.00
29. A.K., 18 years old, earned $7.00
a week, in this country one year, killed, lived with sister, Y., and brother,
S. $5.00 emergent relief was given to sister, Y, and case of Russian dependents
was transferred to Red Cross because union membership could not be established.
Red Cross gave $100.00 to Y. and sent $411.94 to Russian dependents. Total, $5
plus $511.94
30. B.K. 19 years old, earned $11.00
a week, union member, in this country, two years, lived with father, A., ill
and out of work, mother, and seven brothers and sisters, all under school age.
B. Killed saving G.?s life, G. Suffering from shock. G. Sent to Solomon and
Betty Loeb Convalescent Home. Emergent relief, $18.00 given, and $600.00 in
lump sum. Mother, M.K., who is a good business woman, anxious to start small
business. Total, $618.00
31. M.K., 22 years old, earned
$12.00 a week, G., 18 years old, earned $10.00 a week, R., 17 years old, earned
$8.00 a week, all in Triangle disaster; M., slightly injured, others well, but
clothing ruined. Live with father, mother, and three children under school age.
No real need; R., went back to work at once, G., looking for work; $50.00 paid
to compensate for clothing. Total, $50.00
32. T.K., 18 years old, earned
$10.oo a week, one year in New York City, union member, killed, no dependents
here, but $40.00 paid to H.K. for funeral. $200.00 sent to dependent mother,
A.H., in Russia, total $240.00. Family satisfied. Total, $240.00
33. J.K., man, 24 years old, operator
$18.00, newly married, union member, killed. Before he was married, he
undoubtedly supported father, J.K., N.Y. City. Said J.K., father, has a soda
water stand, and an adult son, H., who should work. No other children. No proof
that deceased supported father?s family after marriage. $450.00 insurance from
the Independent Order, Sons of Jacob, Philadelphia, Pa., will be paid in three
months to widow. Question of wife, B?s marriage. Cannot remarry unless she gets
a release from bother-in-law, H., and he will not give her a release unless
satisfied in regard to his own claims. Matter adjusted by paying the wife,
B.K., $170.00 for support until insurance money is paid and paying father, J.,
$100.00. Total, $270.00
37. P.L., 18 years old, dead, earned
$10.00 a week, boarded with married sister, two unmarried sisters,
wage-earners, living at other addresses. Buried and tombstone erected by union.
Receipts to Russia average $5.00 a month. Matter of Russian dependents referred
to Red Cross Committee, who reported on June 27th that they have
given family in Russia 600 roubles. Total plus 600 roubles
38. M.M., 20 years old, married four
months, union member, earned $12.00 a week, lived with husband, J.C., and
supported same, dead. Also sent money to old parents, A.M. and T.S. at Striano,
Italy. M. family was represented by a brother E.M. ; says that M. helped
brother through art school. C., who has not worked since married, anxious union
should pay florist?s bill of $45.00, also $100.00 for earrings which he bought
for M. on the installment plan and which were lost in the fire; union unwilling
to do this. Willing to pay $114.00, undertaker?s bill. And having ascertained,
with the help of the Italian Consul, that M. had really been sending
remittances to needy parents in Italy, sent $200.00, through Italian consul, to
aforesaid A.M. and T.S., Striano, Italy, total relief $314.00. Total, $314.00
39. Y.M., 19 years old, earned
$10.00 a week, union member, killed, lived with sister, L., also a waistmaker,
and a brother, A. sent with brother and sister, regularly, money to mother,
through C.E., Russia. Buried and tombstone erected by union. Red Cross reported
June 26th that they had forwarded 620 roubles to mother in Witka.
Total,
plus 620 roubles.
40. D. M., 18 years old, surviving
waistmakers, earned $10.00 a week; union member, lives with married brother, no
dependents; lost clothing in the fire, given $25.00 out of work benefit. Total,
$25.00
41. A. M., 19 years old, earned
$8.00 a week as examiner, union member, badly injured, in St. Vincent?s
Hospital for a month and finally died; lived with old father, A. fur sewer,
earns $12.00 a week when working, and mother, janitress, brother, N., 15 years
old, does not work, and two brothers under school age. Was main support of
family when she lived with. Total, $419.00
42. A.R. and R.G. A. R., 22 years
old, earned $10.00, fell from fire escape and was injured; boarded with R.G.,
20 years old, earned $12.00 a week, suffering from hysteria, only; lives with
A.?s aunt, K.C. Neither girls has any dependents. Temporary relief given by Red
Cross and Red Cross sent girls to Solomon & Betty Loeb Convalescent Home;
on return from Convalescent Home A. given $75.00; R. , $50.00. Total, $125.00
43. V.S., 21 years old, killed,
union member, examiner, earned $12.00 a week, lived with father, 46 years old,
plasterer, delicate mother, sister, J., neckwear maker, earned $6.00;, L. 16, a
trimmer, earned $4.00 a week; and five brothers and sisters under school age.
Funeral expenses were paid by the synagogue. Emergent relief in the case of
$22.50; lump sum given in three different payments, $500.00. Total, $522.50
44. R. M., 22 years old, dead,
earned from $110.00 to $12.00 a week, lived with rheumatic father in room back
of small tailor shop, with little sister, M., 14 years old. Step-mother
divorced and step-sister lived near by; two brother, H., painter, earns $5.00 a
week and S., a baker, out of work, did not live home. Father hardly a proper
guardian for M.R. was the homemaker, as well as the support of the family.
$22.50 paid for new clothing for M.,
$10.00 for immediate relief, and $200.00 paid to Clara de Hirsch Home for
entrance fee for M; $77.50 reserved for M. when she comes out of the Clara de
Hirsch Home; and $150.00 paid to father in lump sum.Total, $460.00
Note ? M. refused to stay in Clara
de Hirsch Home; is now boarding and supporting herself. Money supplied as
needed.
45. A. N., 17 years old,
button-hole, sewer, earned $12.00 a week, union member, very capable girl,
killed. Father S, 28 years old, upholsterer, gets odd jobs only. Mother, 45
years old, M, 21 years old, earns $5.00 a week; B., 16 years old, tendency
towards tuberculosis, cannot work in factory, goes to high school; two children
at school. Board of Health says B. is not tubercular, but is delicate. $35.00
given for funeral expenses, $65.00 emergent relief, $500 paid in lump sum.
Total, $600.00
46. R. O., 19 years old, earned
$10.00 a week, union member, killed. Father tailor, earns $8.00 to $10.00 a
week; mother G., rheumatic, accustomed to go to Sharon Springs every Spring for
rheumatism; G., 20 years old, driver at Macy?s; I., 17 years old, three under
school ages, another brother, P., an actor, does not live home. Jewish Burial
Society, Adas Israel, buried R. $280.00 relief given family. Total, $280.00
47. I.P., 18 years old, killed,
union member, earned $17.00 a week, boarded; brother J., earned $7.00 a week,
only member of the family in this country; buried by the union, and tombstone
also erected by the same organization. Matter of Russian dependents referred to
Red Cross, July 27, 1911: Red Cross reports that family in Russia are very
needy and I. contributed regularly. They have sent their father 600 roubles.
Total, plus 600 roubles
48. A. P., 17 years old, union member,
earned $12.00 a week, killed, lived with step-mother, who is janitress, and a
half brother, a young chemist, C.A. earning $9.00 a week, and three little
half-brothers under school age. Note: That C. is no relation to surviving
step-mother, A. having been his half-sister, is however willing to give $4.00
or $5.00 a week toward the support of Mrs. P. who is unable to continue
janitress work without A.?s help.
Question of pension or lump sum;
family finally decided they wished lump sum; $110.00 given in emergent relief
while family were deciding, $75.00 paid in lump sum. Total, $860.00
49. Y. R., 22 years old, union
member, earned $0.00 a week, killed, lived with married brother, cloakmaker;
buried by union, tombstone erected by union. Only dependent, father, B.C.
Russia: $200.00 sent July 7th to the above address. Money
received.Total, $200.00
50. B. R. orphan, 18 years old,
killed, in this country, earned $7.00 a week, union member, lived with and
supported only remaining member of family, M. R., 14 years old, in this country
four months. M. operated on for adenoids, sent to German Home for Recreation
for Women and Children, for a week. Balance on Steamship ticket here settled,
$11.50; M., entered at Clara de Hirsch Home, $200.00, total paid on case up to
date $277.75 (balance of B.?s funeral expenses paid, $10.00.)$263.25 held for
M. who is now under the care of Miss Dutcher, Women?s Trade Union League. Has
no relative in this country except aunt, Mrs. L.M. is doing well in Clara de
Hirsch Home. Total, $541.00
51. E.R., 22 years old, earned
$12.00 a week, union member, killed, boarded, buried by Arbeiter Ring, Mt.
Sinai Cemetery, tombstone erected by union; no dependents in this city, but
sent regular remittances to mother in Pittsburgh, Pa. Through co-operation of
the Associated Charities found needs of family, and sent money to Mrs. F.R.,
Pittsburgh, Pa. Total, $20.00
52. A. S., 32 years old, killed, am
examiner, earning $9.00 a week, lived with married sister, sent money regularly
to old father, J.S., no dependents in this country; funeral expenses $35.00
paid, $100.00 sent directly to old father in Russia. Total, $135.00
53. G. S., 18 years old, packer,
union member, earned $7.00 a week, killed, father a cutter, works irregularly;
B., 14, and three little brothers under school age. Family very poor, G. main
support. Man anxious to start a tailoring business with F. and S., wishes money
in lump sum. Emergent relief given, $73.00, April 28th, $500.00 lump
sum given. Total, $573.00
54. J.S. orphan, 18 years old, union
waist maker, killed; lived with sister R., 15 years old, who has been in this
country only three 3 months. Nearest relative; cousin, L.W. in Brooklyn. Only
other member of family living, M.K., 12 years old, Grodner Gub, Russia. J.
placed in Clara de Hirsch Home, $200.00 for entrance fee; $53.00 paid L.W.
account of J?s funeral, case of M. K. referred to Red Cross. $97.00 on hand for
R. when she gets out of Home; most capable girl, doing very well. She is now
under the care of Miss Dutcher, Women?s Trade Union League. J. doing well in
Clara de Hirsch Home. Total, $350.00 plus Red Cross
55. R. S., 18 years old, union
member, earned $12.00 a week, killed; lived with aunt and uncle; sent money to
very needy father; no dependents in this country. April 24th,
$200.00 sent directly to Russia. Total, $200.00
56. S.S., 19 years old, not a union
member, earned $10.00 a week, died. Lived with father, a union cloakmaker, work
not steady, a sister, I., 17 years old, union cloakmaker, earned $10.00 a week,
S., 15, does not work, two children under school age. $305.00 given in relief
to this family. Total, $305.00
57. B. S., 30 years old, union
member, killed, sub-contractor, 15.00 to $18.00 a week, with no dependents in
this country, sent money regularly to old mother in Russia. Left an estate of
$100.00 in Public Bank, $312.00 in Jarmulowsky?s Bank, and a note on cousin
M.K. in Brooklyn. Said M.K. has settled funeral expenses. Administration of the
estate in the hands of Legal Aid Society; $150.00 sent, April 18th,
1911, for old mother as per above address, to support her until estate would be
settled. Further details in the hands of the Legal Aid Society. Total, $150.00
58. F.S., 17 years old, earns $7.00
a week, in this country three months, badly injured in fire, refused to go to
the hospital. Under the care of Dr. Lorber, sent to Solomon & Betty Loeb
Convalescent Home for four weeks. On return, developed bad case of erysipelas,
in Bellevue Hospital three months, on advice of social service department of
the Bellevue, removed to Greenwich General Hospital, Greenwich, Conn. Thence to
the German Convalescent Home, Bath Beach, thence boarded with friends on the
East Side, and taken regularly to Bellevue Dispensary for special treatment.
Clothing and special surgical appliances given. Entered for Clara de Hirsch
Home, but refused to go on the ground that she wanted to be working again.
March 1912, working once more in shirtwaist factory, able to walk to go on the
ground that she wanted to be working again. March 1912, working once more in
shirtwaist factory, able to walk without any limp. $100.00 deposited in the
bank against the future. Total, $373.84
59. S.T., 20 years old, union
operator, killed, earned, $12.00 a week, boarded with uncle, U., at address
mentioned. Family wanted money for tombstone only, and dependents in Russia.
$30.00 paid uncle for tombstone, matter of Russian dependents referred to Red
Cross, who reported on June 27th, that S. is said to have sent 200
roubles a year, and was the principal support of his family; 1000 roubles was
granted by the Red Cross for this case. Total, plus 1000 roubles.
60. F.W., 20 years old, union
member, two and one half years in New York, earned $12.00 a week, was killed;
the burial and tombstone furnished by union. F. contributed toward the support
of his sister, Mrs. C. with whom she lived, and also, toward the support of her
widowed mother in Russia. The union contributed toward the moving expenses of
sister, and afterwards received word that the Red Cross proposed to give Mrs.
C. a pension of $5.00 a month for a year. Total, plus $5.00 a mo. for a yr.
61. D.W., union member, one year in
this country, earned $5.50 a week; lived with uncle, Z., a saloon-keeper,
mother, father and five sisters and brothers live in Russia, was killed. Union
paid $53.00 for funeral bill to uncle, Z., as per bill, and turned the matter
of the Russian dependents over to the Red Cross; Red Cross reported on June 27th,
that they had sent the father of D.W., 400 roubles.Total, $53.00 plus 400 roubles
62. C.W., a surviving shirtwaist
maker, 22 years old, earning about $12.00 a week, lived with her family. Father
is an insurance agent, but makes very little; one brother, 24 years old,
cloakmaker, union member, and the six brothers and sisters are under school
age. C. sent to Solomon & Betty Loeb Convalescent Home, $26.00 emergent
relief given, then $220.00 in weekly payment of $10.00 each. Completely
recovered. Total, $246.00
63. R.W., 19 years old, union waist
maker, earned $8.00 to $10.00 per week, lived with her widowed mother and her
brother, D., 20 years old, a clothing cutter, who has also worked on a farm,
and K., 17 years old, also a waist maker earning $8.00 a week; killed, funeral
expenses were about $130.00. R. had saved $400.00 to buy a farm where she and
her fiancé and her family could live; old mother not willing to have fiancé
live with them now, but family are still anxious to have a farm in the country,
and live on it. Old mother, however, determined to spend $400.00 save, on a tombstone
for R. Family much broken up by trouble and very hysterical. Family had $42.00
in emergent relief and $300.00 in lump sum. Total, $342.00
64. S.W., 15 years old, six weeks in
this country, earned $4.00 a week, died; lived with her sister, Y., a cloakmaker,
earning 6.00 to $8.00 a week when working. Y. owed $54.00 balance on S.?s
ticket to J.S. Y., union member, is very hysterical, clothes provided for Y.
and sent for two weeks to Grand View, N.Y. Balance owed on steamship ticket
paid. Balance of ticket, $30.00, emergent relief, $30.00 lump sum, $100.00.
Total, $175.80
The following report
does not include a small amount paid out by Mr. Zuckerman, of the Ladies? Waist
Makers? Union, during the first two days after the disaster. This was paid to
non-union cases, who were in urgent need, and applied to the Union, and
amounted to $215.00, and was almost entirely for burials.
Received.
|
Morris Hillquit, Treasurer Joint Relief Committee for relief |
$15,658.90 |
|
Mr. Zuckerman, Ladies? Waist Makers? Union for relief |
$475.00 |
|
Refund by Clara de Hirsch Home (case 44) |
$202.50 |
|
Red Cross Committee, special for case 23 |
$150.00 |
|
Reserved by the Treasurer for cases 23, 50, and 54 |
$615.25 |
|
Balance cash on hand |
$85.54 |
|
$17,187.19 |
|
Paid Out
|
Card systems and office books |
$4.38 |
|
Rental of typewriter, three months |
$5.00 |
|
Salaries, stamps, money order fees, car fees |
$220.70 |
|
Requiem mass, Catholic victims |
$25.00 |
|
L. Bauman and S. Schwarz, funerals |
$235.90 |
|
Arbeiter Ring, graves and monuments |
$530.00 |
Report of the Joint Relief Committee, Ladies Waist and Dressmakers Union, Local 25 on the Triangle Fire Disaster, January 15, 1913, New York, is part of the ILGWU Permanent Exhibit, Box 1, Cornell University, Kheel Center for Labor Management Documentation and Archives, Ithaca, NY.