Hero of the Week 8

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is....

Joseph Zito

Giuseppe Alessandro "Joseph" Zito was born on September 1, 1883 in Serra Campania, Italy. He immigrated to the United States in the early 20th Century and found work as an elevator operator who worked in the Asch Building (now called the Brown Building) in Manhattan, New York City. The Asch Building was a ten story building that was location of a number of garment making factories. It was constructed in 1901 and was known throughout the state of New York for having "fireproof" rooms. Most of the workers in the building were female immigrants. Zito's job was to operate one of the building's two elevators to transport workers to and from their working floors at the beginning and end of work hours.

The most notable garment making business in the Asch Building was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory (located on the top three floors). Although the factory's business income was great, its safety conditions were deplorable. The doors to the staircases were locked during the day (to prevent theft), the fire escape ladder was old and rusty, the staircase itself was only 13 inches wide, and all doors opened in instead of out. In other words, it was a disaster waiting to happen.

March 25, 1911 was a day that started out like any other. The workers of the Triangle factory (Zito among them) reported to their work stations without any incidents. That is, until 4:30 PM when a fire ignited on the 8th floor. In just a few minutes it had spread to the 9th floor and eventually the 10th floor (most of the workers there would escape to the roof). The workers attempted to escape but found themselves trapped behind the locked doors. Some tried to escape down the fire escape, but it collapsed under their weight. It became clear that the only way to escape would be to use the building's two elevators.

Although elevators were not supposed to be used when there was a fire, the trapped workers had little choice. Joseph Zito heard their cries for help and brought his elevator up to the burning 8th and 9th floors. Along with Gaspar Mortillalo (the second elevator operator), Zito repeatedly risked his life to save as many people as possible. The 6-by-9-foot elevators were only built to carry 10 people at a time, however Zito recalled that on one trip he counted at least 40 people who crammed into the elevator. Unfortunately the workers were so panicked that many jumped into the shaft and land on the elevator as it was descending (Zito would be forever haunted by this). This caused the cables Zito's elevator to snap after his fourth trip down (Gaspar's elevator lost power due to the fire). Once this happened, escape became impossible and more than 100 people were left behind on the burning 8th and 9th floors. With no options left, most of them jumped to their deaths. All in all, the fire claimed the lives of 146 people (23 men and 123 women). The youngest victim was only 14 years old.

During his trips to the lobby, Zito saved 150 people from dying. For a short time he was heralded in press as a hero. Sadly, Joseph Zito died in poverty on October 25, 1932. Like many other heroes, he never sought recognition for what he did. It was not until many years later, that he finally received major recognition for his heroism that day. Joseph Zito was a brave man who did the best he could to save as many people as he could. He is definitely someone who should be held in high regard by people around the world.

https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/triangle-fire-the-building-survives/?mcubz=0

https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/triangle-fire-a-half-hour-of-horror/?mcubz=0

http://www.wnyc.org/story/119910-family-keeps-memory-triangle-fire-elevator-operator-alive/

http://consumergrouch.com/?p=5890