Blanc immigrated to the U.S. in 1890 and in 1911 Blanc and Isaac Harris were owners of the Triangle Waist Company in Greenwich Village, New York. The company produced women’s blouses which were called ‘shirtwaists.’ The factory employed around 500 workers, most of them were younger immigrant women who worked long days and weekends for $7-$12 dollars per week. In the late afternoon of March 25, 1911, a small fire started in a scrap bin on the 8th floor of the building. Due to all the garments of clothing and fabric on the 8th floor, the fire spread quickly and those on the 10th floor were warned but those on the 9th floor had no warning until the fire was at their doors. Several people crowded onto the rickety fire escape which collapsed under the weight send about 20 people falling 100 feet to their deaths. When all was done, 146 people had died in the fire, 123 women and 23 men. Blanc and Harris escaped the burning building and survived but were both indicted on first and second degree manslaughter charges. The men were eventually acquitted however, Blanc was arrested in 1913 for locking the door to the business during working hours. The doors had also been locked on the day of the fire. As a result of this fire, the American Society of Safety Engineers was founded in New York City on October 14, 1911.
Courtesy of Rebecca Moss
Courtesy of Rebecca Moss
Blanc immigrated to the U.S. in 1890 and in 1911 Blanc and Isaac Harris were owners of the Triangle Waist Company in Greenwich Village, New York. The company produced women’s blouses which were called ‘shirtwaists.’ The factory employed around 500 workers, most of them were younger immigrant women who worked long days and weekends for $7-$12 dollars per week. In the late afternoon of March 25, 1911, a small fire started in a scrap bin on the 8th floor of the building. Due to all the garments of clothing and fabric on the 8th floor, the fire spread quickly and those on the 10th floor were warned but those on the 9th floor had no warning until the fire was at their doors. Several people crowded onto the rickety fire escape which collapsed under the weight send about 20 people falling 100 feet to their deaths. When all was done, 146 people had died in the fire, 123 women and 23 men. Blanc and Harris escaped the burning building and survived but were both indicted on first and second degree manslaughter charges. The men were eventually acquitted however, Blanc was arrested in 1913 for locking the door to the business during working hours. The doors had also been locked on the day of the fire. As a result of this fire, the American Society of Safety Engineers was founded in New York City on October 14, 1911.
Courtesy of Rebecca Moss
Courtesy of Rebecca Moss
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