Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Those four words may ring a bell. They changed the life of workers forever. This fire happened in New York City on March 25, 1911 and killed 146 garment workers. These workers either died in the fire or jumped to their death. 146 workers. The number is staggering. The company owned by Max Blanck and Isaac Harris employed 600 workers, mostly young immigrant women from Germany, Italy, and Eastern Europe. The fire began on the eighth floor by a lit match or possible sewing machines. To this day, no one is entirely sure. The ninth floor had only two doors that lead outside. One stairwell was already filled with smoke and flames by the time the garment workers realized what was happening. The only fire escape quickly collapsed.

Sixty women jumped out of windows and died. Others opened the elevators and plunged to their death. Those who didn't try to escape died by the fire and seven 'survivors' died at the hospital.

The owners were put on trial but later acquitted. Not with out paying $75 per deceased victim. Does this make up for the 146 deaths? In my opinion absolutely not. The American Society of Safety Engineers was founded soon thereafter. Is that all humans are worth? Am I worth merely 75$?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire