Joseph Zito: Hero Of The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Joseph A. Zito was a hero of the "Triangle shirtwaist fire" NYC, of 1911. He stayed at his post in the elevator from the moment he heard "Fire" bringing it upward -through flames- several times until the weight of fallen bodies on the top of the elevator forced it down to the bottom of the elevator shaft. Between him and the other elevator operator, Gaspare Mortillalo-they saved 150+ lives- more than half of all who survived the fire. His story, and the story of the fire can be found in many sources including the following: Triangle: The Fire that Changed America by David Von Drehle , as well as The Triangle Fire by Leon Stein Joseph is also mentioned on Cornell's excellent site on the fire