Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Victim.
According to the 1910 US Federal Census, Benjamin emigrated to the United States from Russia in 1902, accompanied by his father, Abraham. Four years later they were joined by his mother, Minnie and eight brothers and sisters. In 1911, 19 year old Benny, as he was called, and his eldest sister Gussie were garment workers at the Triangle Waist Company on the 9th floor of the Asch Building in New York City.
The company made women's blouses, known as "waists" or "shirtwaists", and it's workers were mostly recent immigrant German, Italian and European Jewish girls, some as young as 13 years old although older women, men and young boys were also represented. Their working conditions were far from safe. They worked 14 hour shifts among heaps of flammable bolts of fabric, scraps of which piled up on the floor around them; tissue paper patterns hung from racks above their worktables. The workrooms were lit by open flame gas lamps and the cutters, mostly men, were allowed to smoke as they worked. Although many of the workers had joined the fledgling International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, the Triangle Company refused to sign any agreement and was under no obligation to abide by established union safety rules.
On March 25, 1911, around 4:30pm, fire broke out on the 8th floor. Most on that floor and the executives on the 10th floor were able to escape, but workers on the 9th floor, who had not been alerted to the fire, found themselves trapped. Of the four 9th floor exits, the elevator was commandeered by 8th floor workers and then stopped working altogether, one stairwell door was soon blocked by fire and smoke, the other stairwell door had been locked (although denied by the owners in the trial held after, it was a common practice to lock factory workers in to prevent them from stealing) and the only fire escape proved too flimsy and collapsed under the weight of the escaping workers. Many died from being overcome by the smoke and flames quickly filling the building, but 62 of the workers realized there were no other means of escape and jumped from the windows to the pavement 9 stories below. Or worse, they were pushed toward the open windows by the panicked crowd and had no choice. Although the fire department responded quickly, the water from their hoses would not reach the top floors and ladders of the time were unable to reach above the 6th floor. By the time the fire was extinguished, 141 people had lost their lives. In the next few days, 5 more would die from their injuries.
From his documented injuries and cause of death, Bennie was one of those who jumped. His body was reportedly identified on March 26 by his father. He is buried next to Tessie Caplan and Essie Bernstein, fellow Triangle Fire victims.
An article published on March 27, 1911 in the Yiddish language newspaper, Forverts (later The Jewish Daily Forward and currently The Forward) provides a heartbreaking vignette on Benny: "18 year old Benny Kurs (sic)...worked there with his younger sister, who was all of 14 years old. When the tumult erupted, he grabbed his sister and ran with her to the elevator. But the elevator was packed and he cried out wildly begging them to make room at least for his sister and then pushed her inside. She was thus able to be saved, while he was not. In his last minutes of life, facing a frightening death, he was pleased that he had been able to save his beloved younger sister. Benny was the main breadwinner of his entire family."
In the 1913 Report of the Joint Relief Committee, Ladies Waist and Dressmaker's Union #25, I believe Benny is mentioned as Case #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."
The public outrage following the tragedy and subsequent acquittal of the company's owners paved the way for a flood of legislation to improve factory safety standards, led to the founding of The American Society of Safety Engineers and hastened the growth and clout of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. A bystander who witnessed the young girls jumping from the windows was inspired to a life of public service fighting for the rights of factory workers; Frances Perkins went on to become the first woman appointed to a Presidential Cabinet position as Franklin Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was the single worst workplace disaster in New York City until the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.
According to the 1910 US Federal Census, Benjamin emigrated to the United States from Russia in 1902, accompanied by his father, Abraham. Four years later they were joined by his mother, Minnie and eight brothers and sisters. In 1911, 19 year old Benny, as he was called, and his eldest sister Gussie were garment workers at the Triangle Waist Company on the 9th floor of the Asch Building in New York City.
The company made women's blouses, known as "waists" or "shirtwaists", and it's workers were mostly recent immigrant German, Italian and European Jewish girls, some as young as 13 years old although older women, men and young boys were also represented. Their working conditions were far from safe. They worked 14 hour shifts among heaps of flammable bolts of fabric, scraps of which piled up on the floor around them; tissue paper patterns hung from racks above their worktables. The workrooms were lit by open flame gas lamps and the cutters, mostly men, were allowed to smoke as they worked. Although many of the workers had joined the fledgling International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, the Triangle Company refused to sign any agreement and was under no obligation to abide by established union safety rules.
On March 25, 1911, around 4:30pm, fire broke out on the 8th floor. Most on that floor and the executives on the 10th floor were able to escape, but workers on the 9th floor, who had not been alerted to the fire, found themselves trapped. Of the four 9th floor exits, the elevator was commandeered by 8th floor workers and then stopped working altogether, one stairwell door was soon blocked by fire and smoke, the other stairwell door had been locked (although denied by the owners in the trial held after, it was a common practice to lock factory workers in to prevent them from stealing) and the only fire escape proved too flimsy and collapsed under the weight of the escaping workers. Many died from being overcome by the smoke and flames quickly filling the building, but 62 of the workers realized there were no other means of escape and jumped from the windows to the pavement 9 stories below. Or worse, they were pushed toward the open windows by the panicked crowd and had no choice. Although the fire department responded quickly, the water from their hoses would not reach the top floors and ladders of the time were unable to reach above the 6th floor. By the time the fire was extinguished, 141 people had lost their lives. In the next few days, 5 more would die from their injuries.
From his documented injuries and cause of death, Bennie was one of those who jumped. His body was reportedly identified on March 26 by his father. He is buried next to Tessie Caplan and Essie Bernstein, fellow Triangle Fire victims.
An article published on March 27, 1911 in the Yiddish language newspaper, Forverts (later The Jewish Daily Forward and currently The Forward) provides a heartbreaking vignette on Benny: "18 year old Benny Kurs (sic)...worked there with his younger sister, who was all of 14 years old. When the tumult erupted, he grabbed his sister and ran with her to the elevator. But the elevator was packed and he cried out wildly begging them to make room at least for his sister and then pushed her inside. She was thus able to be saved, while he was not. In his last minutes of life, facing a frightening death, he was pleased that he had been able to save his beloved younger sister. Benny was the main breadwinner of his entire family."
In the 1913 Report of the Joint Relief Committee, Ladies Waist and Dressmaker's Union #25, I believe Benny is mentioned as Case #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."
The public outrage following the tragedy and subsequent acquittal of the company's owners paved the way for a flood of legislation to improve factory safety standards, led to the founding of The American Society of Safety Engineers and hastened the growth and clout of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. A bystander who witnessed the young girls jumping from the windows was inspired to a life of public service fighting for the rights of factory workers; Frances Perkins went on to become the first woman appointed to a Presidential Cabinet position as Franklin Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was the single worst workplace disaster in New York City until the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Victim.
According to the 1910 US Federal Census, Benjamin emigrated to the United States from Russia in 1902, accompanied by his father, Abraham. Four years later they were joined by his mother, Minnie and eight brothers and sisters. In 1911, 19 year old Benny, as he was called, and his eldest sister Gussie were garment workers at the Triangle Waist Company on the 9th floor of the Asch Building in New York City.
The company made women's blouses, known as "waists" or "shirtwaists", and it's workers were mostly recent immigrant German, Italian and European Jewish girls, some as young as 13 years old although older women, men and young boys were also represented. Their working conditions were far from safe. They worked 14 hour shifts among heaps of flammable bolts of fabric, scraps of which piled up on the floor around them; tissue paper patterns hung from racks above their worktables. The workrooms were lit by open flame gas lamps and the cutters, mostly men, were allowed to smoke as they worked. Although many of the workers had joined the fledgling International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, the Triangle Company refused to sign any agreement and was under no obligation to abide by established union safety rules.
On March 25, 1911, around 4:30pm, fire broke out on the 8th floor. Most on that floor and the executives on the 10th floor were able to escape, but workers on the 9th floor, who had not been alerted to the fire, found themselves trapped. Of the four 9th floor exits, the elevator was commandeered by 8th floor workers and then stopped working altogether, one stairwell door was soon blocked by fire and smoke, the other stairwell door had been locked (although denied by the owners in the trial held after, it was a common practice to lock factory workers in to prevent them from stealing) and the only fire escape proved too flimsy and collapsed under the weight of the escaping workers. Many died from being overcome by the smoke and flames quickly filling the building, but 62 of the workers realized there were no other means of escape and jumped from the windows to the pavement 9 stories below. Or worse, they were pushed toward the open windows by the panicked crowd and had no choice. Although the fire department responded quickly, the water from their hoses would not reach the top floors and ladders of the time were unable to reach above the 6th floor. By the time the fire was extinguished, 141 people had lost their lives. In the next few days, 5 more would die from their injuries.
From his documented injuries and cause of death, Bennie was one of those who jumped. His body was reportedly identified on March 26 by his father. He is buried next to Tessie Caplan and Essie Bernstein, fellow Triangle Fire victims.
An article published on March 27, 1911 in the Yiddish language newspaper, Forverts (later The Jewish Daily Forward and currently The Forward) provides a heartbreaking vignette on Benny: "18 year old Benny Kurs (sic)...worked there with his younger sister, who was all of 14 years old. When the tumult erupted, he grabbed his sister and ran with her to the elevator. But the elevator was packed and he cried out wildly begging them to make room at least for his sister and then pushed her inside. She was thus able to be saved, while he was not. In his last minutes of life, facing a frightening death, he was pleased that he had been able to save his beloved younger sister. Benny was the main breadwinner of his entire family."
In the 1913 Report of the Joint Relief Committee, Ladies Waist and Dressmaker's Union #25, I believe Benny is mentioned as Case #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."
The public outrage following the tragedy and subsequent acquittal of the company's owners paved the way for a flood of legislation to improve factory safety standards, led to the founding of The American Society of Safety Engineers and hastened the growth and clout of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. A bystander who witnessed the young girls jumping from the windows was inspired to a life of public service fighting for the rights of factory workers; Frances Perkins went on to become the first woman appointed to a Presidential Cabinet position as Franklin Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was the single worst workplace disaster in New York City until the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.
According to the 1910 US Federal Census, Benjamin emigrated to the United States from Russia in 1902, accompanied by his father, Abraham. Four years later they were joined by his mother, Minnie and eight brothers and sisters. In 1911, 19 year old Benny, as he was called, and his eldest sister Gussie were garment workers at the Triangle Waist Company on the 9th floor of the Asch Building in New York City.
The company made women's blouses, known as "waists" or "shirtwaists", and it's workers were mostly recent immigrant German, Italian and European Jewish girls, some as young as 13 years old although older women, men and young boys were also represented. Their working conditions were far from safe. They worked 14 hour shifts among heaps of flammable bolts of fabric, scraps of which piled up on the floor around them; tissue paper patterns hung from racks above their worktables. The workrooms were lit by open flame gas lamps and the cutters, mostly men, were allowed to smoke as they worked. Although many of the workers had joined the fledgling International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, the Triangle Company refused to sign any agreement and was under no obligation to abide by established union safety rules.
On March 25, 1911, around 4:30pm, fire broke out on the 8th floor. Most on that floor and the executives on the 10th floor were able to escape, but workers on the 9th floor, who had not been alerted to the fire, found themselves trapped. Of the four 9th floor exits, the elevator was commandeered by 8th floor workers and then stopped working altogether, one stairwell door was soon blocked by fire and smoke, the other stairwell door had been locked (although denied by the owners in the trial held after, it was a common practice to lock factory workers in to prevent them from stealing) and the only fire escape proved too flimsy and collapsed under the weight of the escaping workers. Many died from being overcome by the smoke and flames quickly filling the building, but 62 of the workers realized there were no other means of escape and jumped from the windows to the pavement 9 stories below. Or worse, they were pushed toward the open windows by the panicked crowd and had no choice. Although the fire department responded quickly, the water from their hoses would not reach the top floors and ladders of the time were unable to reach above the 6th floor. By the time the fire was extinguished, 141 people had lost their lives. In the next few days, 5 more would die from their injuries.
From his documented injuries and cause of death, Bennie was one of those who jumped. His body was reportedly identified on March 26 by his father. He is buried next to Tessie Caplan and Essie Bernstein, fellow Triangle Fire victims.
An article published on March 27, 1911 in the Yiddish language newspaper, Forverts (later The Jewish Daily Forward and currently The Forward) provides a heartbreaking vignette on Benny: "18 year old Benny Kurs (sic)...worked there with his younger sister, who was all of 14 years old. When the tumult erupted, he grabbed his sister and ran with her to the elevator. But the elevator was packed and he cried out wildly begging them to make room at least for his sister and then pushed her inside. She was thus able to be saved, while he was not. In his last minutes of life, facing a frightening death, he was pleased that he had been able to save his beloved younger sister. Benny was the main breadwinner of his entire family."
In the 1913 Report of the Joint Relief Committee, Ladies Waist and Dressmaker's Union #25, I believe Benny is mentioned as Case #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."
The public outrage following the tragedy and subsequent acquittal of the company's owners paved the way for a flood of legislation to improve factory safety standards, led to the founding of The American Society of Safety Engineers and hastened the growth and clout of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. A bystander who witnessed the young girls jumping from the windows was inspired to a life of public service fighting for the rights of factory workers; Frances Perkins went on to become the first woman appointed to a Presidential Cabinet position as Franklin Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was the single worst workplace disaster in New York City until the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.
Inscription
Dov Baer son of Avraham
Gravesite Details
3/1/1911
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