The
Tragedy of The Hotel's Design
One
of the most critical factors contributing to this staggering
loss of life was the design of the building itself. Based
on "European" design, the hotel was a perfect
square with the stairwell and elevator shafts running straight
through the middle. Thin wooden doors leading to the stairwells
had been left open on several floors as well as many transoms
above guest rooms allowing smoke and flames to be pulled
upward like a giant chimney.
When
the only means of egress became impassable, guests were
forced to the windows of their rooms, where they were met
with precious few choices. Many fashioned sheet ropes, while
others doused their rooms and themselves with toilet and
bath water. Others simply awaited their fates in hopeless
silence.
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