Pauline Pepe was a machine operator who did tucking at the Triangle Company and worked on the eighth floor at the time of the fire. She was interviewed by unidentified people orally on March 19, 1986. Below is a excerpt from that interview.
David: Why was the door locked? Did - who kept that locked. Pepe: Well, you know, they were afraid that the women would take blouses and run in. Now, how could they take any blouses? Q: Did anyone ever do that? Did - did you ever hear about anyone being caught doing that? 00:02:44 Pepe: No. No. They wouldn't. No. Everybody was doing individual things. One was tucking, one was making sleeves, one was making this. They weren't making the whole waist. They weren't sewing that whole waist. No, they didn't bother. The young girls wouldn't bother. I don't think so; I don't know. But, you know, the bosses thought that they would get away with it. Daughter: They were afraid that they would steal. Pepe: They were very strict. But the superintendent was very nice. I think he passed away in the fire. He was a lovely man. He used to come around and . . . Daughter: Do you remember any of the names of the people, Mom, the men? Pepe: Huh? Daughter: Do you remember any of the names of the men? Pepe: No, I don't know the men. They never came down. Just the superintendent came down. Daughter: Who was he? Do you remember him? 00:03:24 Pepe: I don't know the name. I forget. I don't know that. He used to look around to see how we were doing, you know. We were enjoying this and that. And he was very nice. I think he passed - I think he got caught in the fire, I don't know. Because he was trying to see everybody to go out there. Q: He was trying to make sure that everyone [inaudible]. Pepe: Yes. David: I think his name was Bernstein. Pepe: I think so. David: Bernstein. Pepe: I think so; Bernstein. Yeah. He was a lovely short - lovely man. Very nice. Used to . . .
