Steuer: Is he a healthy baby?

Witness: He eats good, but colic he got.

Steuer: My condolences to you for the death of your baby’s father. It is fortunate indeed that in your delicate condition you were able to survive this tragic occurrence and have your baby without complications. Now, Mrs. Gottesfeld, will you tell us, in your own words, what happened on March 25 of this year, at the Triangle Waist Company, beginning at approximately 4:45 that afternoon?

Witness: You want I should say my whole story again?

Steuer: Can you remember it? Are you able to tell your whole story with accuracy?

Witness: Of course I can.

Steuer: Please do so.

Witness: All over again?

Steuer: You claim that your memory is accurate.

Witness: If you want. This is what happened. I am working at my machine, with only a few minutes left before the end of the day. I had just two left sleeves to finish in my work. We had just got our pay packets, from Mr. Jacobs, so I am tucking them both in my stocking, and just at that same moment I hear a big noise behind me, like nothing I ever hear before, so I think, an explosion? And what do we see everywhere? Flames! The windows are breaking from the heat of the fire and everyone is screaming, and the flames are coming inside, and everywhere, they come along the wall and they come across the floor. And now it gets hot like a furnace. Everyone screams, but nobody moves, everybody is like a statue. And suddenly after that all the girls are trying to go out, everybody is pushing and the girls are climbing across the tables, and crawling, and their skirts are getting caught in the machines, and people are going on fire.

Steuer: Didn’t you say the flames were like water flowing?

Witness: Yes, it is just like water flowing, the way those flames are creeping along.

Steuer: Did you see Mr. Grannick?

Witness: Mr. Grannick, he gets up on a chair, but nobody can hear what he is telling us, with the noise and confusion. And then I see a girl with her hair on fire, and everyone is choking and coughing, and then another one goes by running with her clothes all burning up. And I see these Italian sisters just screaming and praying, so I push past them, and then I see too many girls at the Washington Place door.

Steuer: Tell us about this door, please. Were you familiar with this door?

Witness: Everyone knew the way this door went, because they inspected us every day as we go out that door. The guard, he looked into our bags to make sure we weren’t stealing any of the goods.

Steuer: So you knew from experience that this door opened in, but in the panic and disorder everyone was pushing the wrong way on this unlocked door?

Bostwick: Objection. Attorney Steuer is testifying, Your Honor.

Steuer: Did you know from experience that this door opened in?