From The Victim

Dear Editor,

 Hi my name is Megan Espinosa and I am a survivor from the fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.  I will never forget what happened that afternoon, I remember it like it was just yesterday. We were working and my friend Lucy smelled smoke she told our manager and he couldn’t put it out. Every one started to panic and ran for the door. The door only fit one person at a time so they began to panic even more.  The fire was spreading like the quickness and the fire hose wasn’t working. 

We then called the people on the 10^th. So they could warn the people on the 9^th floor about the fire before it got them by surprise. By the time the 10^th floor got the news to the 9^th floor it was to late. Workers tried climbing down the fire escape but the stairs broke. We tried to get out through the exit door but it was locked shut. The workers were so eager of a way out, some of them jumped. That memory will forever be in my head. Watching my friend’s jump out the window because they didn’t wanted to die in pain by the flames burning their skin.

 I was still trying to find a way out, that’s when I heard Lucy calling my name. I ran towards her voice, I couldn’t see because of all the smoke. I couldn’t breathe, even if I covered my mouth with a cloth.  When I finally found her she led me to the elevator with a group of other workers. When we finally got off the elevator, out the building and onto the sidewalk I could finally breathe. We were safe, she saved my life and I will never forget what happened that afternoon at the factory.

It brings back many painful memories and tears to my eyes as I tell you my story, but I feel like as if it should be shared so things like this will be prevented in the future. I couldn’t wait to get home to my family and just hug them all.  No one and I mean no one should have to go through what I went through that day, it was a living nightmare.