The Mercer Street Police Station, only two blocks from the scene of the fire, was the centre of a great deal of the police activity in the early part of the disaster. As soon as its serious nature was known the reserves, under Capt. Henry, left for the doomed factory. The first few of the injured were taken to the station, and it was the headquarters until it became evident that this was far too large a matter for any one precinct to manage.

The first person brought there was Kate Uzo, a 25-year-old Russian girl who had jumped from one of the windows. She was found to have serious internal injuries and was removed in a Bellevue Hospital ambulance. Then an unidentified man about 25 years old was brought in. The policemen than brought in Anna Weitre and Anna Niesoles. They were later treated in the police station and removed to St. Vincent's Hospital.

Then the orders came that a field hospital was to be established and no more injured brought there. The staff from the Cororners office also made the arrangements here for the disposal of the bodies.

As soon as the news of the disaster had circulated on the east side, relatives and friends thronged to the station, anxious to learn the fate of workers in the building. There was a crowd in front of the station for several hours. A file of policemen was stretched across the steps to tell all inquirers that no bodies had been taken there and that identifications could be made at the Morgue only.