-
The cutters had finished their work.
-
A cutter had threw a hot ash or tossed a live cigarette butt into the scrap bin. Which started a fire.
-
Someone had pulled the eight floor fire alarm.
-
the fire started to spread and caught the clothes and cut outs on fire.
-
In less than two minutes later the horse-drawn vehicles of engine company 72 had arrived from a fire house six blocks away.
-
Workers on the eight floor rang furiously for the two passengers elevators.
-
Those who could not board elevators rushed the stairway door. They caused a pileup, so that those in front could not open the door. Whenever someone would try an open up the door the crowd would pile up against the door.
-
On the ninth floor, embers landed on piles of finished shirtwaists and cans of oil used to make the sewing machines run smoothly.