Joseph A. Zito | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1, 1883 Serre, Campania, Italy |
| Died | October 22, 1932 (aged 49) Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Elevator operator |
| Known for | Saving over 100 lives in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire |
Joseph A. Zito (September 1, 1883 – October 22, 1932) was an Italian-American elevator operator who saved over 100 lives during the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire on March 25, 1911.[1][2]
Triangle Fire heroism
[edit]During the fire at the Triangle Waist Company in Manhattan, Zito made between eight and twenty elevator trips through smoke and flames, evacuating workers from the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors.[3][4] He continued operating until fire engulfed the elevator shaft, sustaining severe burns and stab wounds from scissors held by panicked workers trying to board.[5]
District Attorney Charles Whitman, who interviewed Zito at the scene, stated: "He is a hero, every inch of him."[6]
Legacy
[edit]Zito's injuries left him with lifelong health problems. He died penniless at age 49, having refused bribes during the fire investigation.[7] In 2017, his hometown of Serre, Italy, named a street "Vicolo Giuseppe Zito" in his honor.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ von Drehle, p. 157
- ^ at_admin (2017-12-06). "Triangle Fire Hero: Joseph Zito". Accidental Talmudist. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ^ "Died for $6 Per Week Pay Envelopes of Triangle Shirtwaist Girls Found in Their Clothes". Daily People Newspaper. 1911-03-28. p. 3.
- ^ "TimesMachine: Sunday March 26, 1911 - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ^ "Exits Shut Tight At Triangle Fire". New York Times. 1911-12-14. p. 3.
- ^ "Police Numbering the Bodies in the Street". New York Times. 1911-03-26.
- ^ "Saved 100 From Death, Dies Penniless: Hero of Fire Laid to Rest in Jersey City". The Jersey Observer. 1932-08-26.
- ^ "IT and US: Fire!". We the Italians. Retrieved 2025-11-04.