[quote] I feel like the "These ladies thought they had time to get their coats!" is maybe more sexist stereotype than truth.
From John Esposito's' book FIRE IN THE GROVE:
[quote] Joyce (Spector) was worried about her brand-new $800 leopardskin coat, which was in the checkroom on the main floor. She told Justin that she was going to collect her coat and meet him upstairs. "It was just a little fire then, you understand" she would later recall with a trace of guilt.
Joyce's date, Justin Morgan had stayed behind, after the fire had already started, in order to pay the check. He died in the fire.
[quote] Nathan Greer and Kathleen O'Neil had left (the Melody Lounge, where the fire started) just seconds before the danger was generally perceived, and they made it upstairs unscathed. Once upstairs, instead of making for the revolving door, Kathleen ran in the opposite direction toward the back of the foyer. She wanted to get her coat. Kathleen "was taking her time" said Nathan.
[quote] No one ever said "They thought they had time for one more drink!" because that's ludicrous
From Edward Keyes' book COCOANUT GROVE:
[quote] Anne McArdle, am eighteen year-old college sophomore, had excused herself just a minute or two earlier to go upstairs to the powder room, and now, with this little flareup in the tree (referring to the fire) her companions were undecided whether to wait for her or pick her up on the way out. Actually, if they'd been having a better time there might have been no question about staying - after all it was only a flicker of a blaze, not all that serious, and it would be put out soon enough. But the fact was, the evening had been kind of a dud.
Again, from FIRE IN THE GROVE:
[quote] Frederick Harrington was the only member of the party who was standing at the moment the fire crossed the ceiling from the Caricature Bar and that small difference had saved him. "I yelled to my party to follow me", he said. "Did they?" he was asked. "No", he replied softly". He was the sole survivor of the group that included five siblings and their spouses. As far as he knew, all of his companions had died in their seats.
Obviously, once a fire gains momentum nobody thinks it's safe to stay, but as these accounts confirm, waiting even a few seconds to act can be the difference between live and death.
