The Express.
London, England, 1865-06-14 00:00:00

THE FATAL ACCIDENT' AT THE GROSVENOR

HOTEL.

INQUEST.—(THIS DAY.) a.
This morning at noon Mr. O. St. Clair Bedford N.
opened an inquiry at the Grosvenor Hotel, relative to the is
death of Ambrose Rosebrook, aged 32, who was killed by the N
96
falling of • lift in the above hotel
Mr. Campbell (Davies, Soo, Campbell, and Reeves), at- iv
tended for the Hotel Company ; and Mr. Easton (Easton 10
and Ames) was present en behalf of the engineers. Several el
noblemen and gentlemen attooded. 10
Mr. Michael John Strewn, of 26, Gllliegbam-street,
detective of of the Leedom, Chatham, and Dover Rail- rv.
way, identified the body. He had known the amassed about at.
three parses Wog a porter at the Grosvenor Hotel. OL
George Stevens, lift man at the Grosvenor Hotel, said La el
bad been in that capacity about 12 months. His duty was to W
go in the lift to work It and stop it. He started the lift by fit
purling • rope inside, which opened • valve. It is an a
hydraulic lift. By ptalieg the rope it &optima the fora of v•
water to the lift from two large cisterns at the top of the at
boom Os Mondry night lest, at • quarter to 10, witness at
entered the lift on the ground floor. There were then in
the lift himself, three ladies, • valel and the dumbed.
They were going up as usual to the fourth floor, the top of giv:
the lift having reached them, when •all at once is gave a IM
very heavy shook and down it cause. Wilmot fell out N.
et the bottom. He heard no cracking noise till it got to the IN
bottom. Witness wag slightly injured, bat was able to assist N
is removing some of the things. The lift would take up IA
seven pusengers beside himself. He did not see the de. 1.1
ceased taken eat.
By the Coroner —One peassuger of tater went optima seven. in
An engineer regularly inspects the lift, and oils it nearly gs,
every night. He looks at the wheels, and Muftis it es.
generally. On that day be had been up several times with 101
the ordinary number of passengers. His duty was to send el
the lift up, check and stop it, and bring it down. He
regulated it by pulling • rope. He had never known it 8,
to drop soddenly before, 10
By • Juror—The pamengen, when few, take up their le
own luggage. Oo this °maim there wee only one port- 99,
manteau taken up.
By Mr. Easton—There was no indication of a shock until 12
it suddenly came. He shut the valve by oatchlog hold of ri
the rope immediately he felt the shock. 10
George Parsons, ball porter at the hotel—On Monday w
evening last be went off duty at half-put 9, but bearing of C
the accident, he returned at a quarter past 10 to the hotel. I
He found the lift at the bottom, and men working to en. j
tricot* the doomed, whom he could see with weights upon vi
him. Witness assisted in taking him out between • w
quarter and half-peat one. He was quite deed.
By the Coroner—He was In the left hand corner of the I
.lift. A medical gentleman was present.
Dr. Johnson, of Etton•quare Booth, said he was at the
. .

hotel at a Teri early per Cod of the imddent, and saw
the poor fellow in the position described. For three hours
everything wee done to release him. The heavy counter.
weights were upon him. He was quite dead when got out.
Be belived death was iostantaDeous, for he had a severe
fracture of the skull, a double fracture of the jaw, a corn.
ponied fracture of the left log, and other injuries.
George Thorpe, the engineer employed at the hotel in that
capacity for upwards of three years, said it was his duty to
look after the machinery. On Monday last before he left, at
hell-past 6, he Inspected the lift all through, aid, aa far as
he ooald see, it wee quite safe, and in goad working order.
By the Coroner—Witness had nothieg to do with the
ropes at the top. On Moodily he removed the boss of the
angle wheel, took the pin out, and cleaned it, owing to
there having been some corroded oil round the wheel. This
wheel was situate at the top of the small girders. The
coaster-weight was necessary to sestet in lifting and lower-
lug the mtge. Two hundred weight was required in the
car to carry it down. Half • ton would send it down
quickly. Witness could not tell the cause of the accident.
By Mr. Campbell—Witness examined the machinery of
the lift every Monday. If anything was wrong be would
report it to the manager. Oa this cosmies be did not re-
port as there was no need for it. He had reported occur-
rearms when he considered danger was to be apprehended,
and the repairs were immediately effected. The alterations
were effected by Messrs. Easton and Amos, the engineers.
At this part of the inquiry the Coroaer suggested an ad.
joarnment, in order that the engineers might make an
exruninatioe of the machinery.
The - agreed with the Coroner, and adjourned ac-