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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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windows. People were caught on the fire escape, couldn't get up or down, and were just burned to death, roasted on the escape. That was before we'd heard of fire-proof windows. Professor Woolson pointed out to me, “Those should have been fire-proof windows and should have been closed. No open windows should ever be on the course of a fire escape and should be of wire meshed glass which is fire-proof.” The fire escape isn't any good anyhow, as a matter of fact. It's a very unreliable method of escape, as every hotel fire we've had recently shows. It's not a reliable method.

The principal way of entrance into that building had been by the elevators. There were a battery of elevators to his high floor - I've forgotten whether it was the 12th or the 13th. The principal entrance or exit had always been by elevators when people came or left. The result was that when the panic broke out, which it immediately did as the fire spread so rapidly, they rushed to the elevators, which was a natural thing to do. There were two elevators and practically everybody who got out got out via the elevators. But an elevator could only hold so many. It went down and one of the elevators broke down after one or two trips. There were a great many people in the factory. It was very crowded. I've forgotten the number on the floors but the newspaper of the day, March 11, 1911, will show that it





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