Rose Freedman Research Paper

Triangle, a novel written by David Von Drehle, is about the working conditions that caused “the deadliest workplace disaster in New York history [for ninety years to come]” (Drehle 3). It occurred in the early 1930’s, and about the events that led to protests for better conditions so that the incident that happened on March 25, 1911, in the Triangle Waist building, would not be replicated. Due to the inadequate working conditions, some buildings experienced disasters because “[The] workplace safety was scarcely regulated, and workers’ compensation was considered newfangled or even socialist” (Drehle 3). Most who lost their lives that unfaithful day at the Triangle building, were taken to the pier, “the makeshift morgue at the end of the pier

The two texts, “The Great Chicago Fire” by Julia Ann Moore, and the “fanny Boggs Lester” letter by Fanny Lester, both share the same theme. The authors argue that incredible devastation can be caused from trying to come back from a huge fire incident.

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was one of the largest disasters in American history. Practically overnight the great city of Chicago was destroyed. Before the fire there was a large drought causing everything to be dry and flammable, then a fire broke out in the O’Leary’s barn and spread throughout the city. Many attempts were made to put out the fire but there were too many errors and problems in the beginning. After the fire many people were left homeless and had to help build their city again (Murphy, 39)

There are many examples of struggle and despair during the fire, but there is one that I found very compelling. This excerpt from a letter written by a businessman from Chicago in 1871 brought into account the amount of people who came back and tried to save their precious belongings instead of focusing on getting out of town. The man in this example was able to sneak away with his life but faced some very close to death moments.

Triangle: The Fire That Changed America by David Von Drehle gives readers a look into one of the most significant tragedies to take place in the United States. Before writing this book, Von Drehle was an American journalist working with The Denver Post, Miami Herald, Washington Post, and Time. Von Drehle is a very accomplished writer as he has won several awards those which recognize his excellence in young journalism, among these are, the Livingston award and the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award. Triangle was written with amazing descriptions that transport you to the day in 1911 where the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire took place. The book gives its audience a chance to experience what not only that horrific day was like, but what most days were like for factory workers. Von Drehle believes that “the fire was a crucial moment in American history that forced fundamental reforms from the political machinery of New York and the whole nation.” (Von Drehle 3)

This tragic fire demonstrated how the fire inspections and precautions were noticeably lacking safety for these workers even though “a little more than five months before the tragedy Firemen Edward F. O’Conner made a routine inspection and said the Asch Building was ‘good’ and the building was ‘fireproof’”(28). The fire finally died down with over one hundred dead bodies piled along the streets. Sunday morning “thousands of people began to form into a slowly moving parade around the city blocks”(89). The people were walking in honor of these workers and would go around trying to identify the bodies and confiscate any items the bodies my have possessed for reminiscences. On the other hand, the departments felt immediate quilt for not stepping in to fix the Asch building before, because the departments knew of the horrible safety and health precautions the Asch building had but nobody emphasized the problems. “But who was to blame?” (113). Chief Croker was quick to blame

The Independence of Eddie Rose starts in a house on Indian reservation. The very first things we get see is the destructive house hold that Eddie Rose, his mother Katherine Rose, and little sister Theia live in. It is early in the morning and Katherine has just finished yelling and kicking out her boyfriend Lenny Sharb. After which Eddie is left alone with his mother where they get into a bit of an argument and Katherine tries to kiss Eddie. Katherine upset that Eddie did not want her goes to her room. Aunt Thelma comes over then we see Eddie packing a sack of food. Thelma told Eddie that he was lucky that he was getting to go to school, explained to him that she and Katherine never had that chance. At that

Just four months before the Triangle Factory fire, a four- story factory fire in Newark occurred on November 25, 1910. This time, 25 factory workers died, six of the workers burned to death, and 19 jumped to their deaths. After this fire, New York City Fire Chief Croker warned: "This city may have a fire as deadly

Some disasters are so impactful, that they forever change the course of history. On March 25, 1911, one such event took place. The infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Fire occurred that day, and left one hundred and forty-six people dead in its wake. While many at the time thought the story would soon pass, and with it all the potential bad publicity, the story of the fire spread quickly, and outraged many people. As a result, the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire ended up changing many

The triangle Shirtwaist fire was a very sad event, but it helped the world in many ways. Even though many girls died in this fire, but this tragedy had a silver lining. The fire was yes very sad but this caused a law to be formed, this was called the workers compensation law. This caused factories or working spaces to have better safety rules.These girls may have died a gory and very depressing deaths but as it is said “Everything happens for a reason” and it may be horrid but out of it came a great law to protect all

On the afternoon of March 25, 1911, a fire broke out in the 10-floor Asch Building, a block east of Manhattan's Washington Square. This is where 500 mostly young immigrant girls were producing shirts for the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. Within minutes, it spread to consume the building's upper three stories. Firemen at the scene were unable to rescue those trapped inside: their ladders weren't tall enough. Exits were locked, and the narrow fire escapes were inadequate. Panicked, many jumped from the windows to their deaths. People on the street watched in horror. The flames were under control in less than a half hour, but 146 people perished, 123 of them women. It was the worst disaster in the city's history.

On October 15, 1910 the factory has a mandatory fire inspection and they pass. A month later, a fire in Newark kills twenty-five workers. This stimulates fire prevention efforts in buildings but again, this warning is ignored. January 15, 1911 is the last time prior to the fire that garbage is taken from the factory. On March 16, another report warning of improper safety standards in New York buildings is published. However, like previous warnings, it is again ignored. Nine days later, at 4:45 PM, just before workers would be released, a fire breaks out on the eighth floor. This fire will take the lives of a 146 unfortunate victims. Most of these victims are those of young woman. Six minutes later, the New York Fire Department (NYFD) arrives on site. By this time, the fire is spreading up to the ninth and tenth floors, which also belong to the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. Those on the eighth floor quickly head down and those on the tenth floor flee to the roof. However, most workers who were on the ninth floor are stranded, unable to move up or down. By 4:47 PM, the last of the bodies from the ninth floor land on the sidewalk, falling from the ninth floor ledge. It is not until 5:05 PM, that the fire is finally taken under control and ten minutes later is described as “all over.” (Stein. Triangle Fire) NYFD fighters head to all the top floors of the building finding many severely burned bodies. Mobs of

Triangle-Shirtwaist Factory Fire: This is an industrial disaster where 146 women who worked in the sweatshops factory died because of the fire, inhaling too much smokes, or jump to their death. Owners were not found guilty since they didn’t violate any laws, which resulted in families of the decrease to be awarded $75 per victims. The incident resulted an improvement of the factory safety

She had come alone from Russia to New York two years earlier and had worked in several shops as a stitcher, saving money to bring her sisters to America. Just before the moment she was notified that there was a fire, she was teaching dance lessons to a fellow worker. The flames were coming up from the cutting room on the floor. Within the next 15 minutes, nearly 30 percent of all the Triangle Shirtwaist workers were

The greatest lesson learned from this tragedy was the need for planned fire drills and accessible fire escapes. If the employers would have made it mandatory that all employees become familiar with the buildings layout, practice fire drills and know their closest fire escape, it would have aided the employees in the hour of despair. The biggest cause for death in this fire was a result of poor pre-fire planning. The building may be fire proof, but the people and contents inside are not.