The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-10-06
A "Reminiscences.

Hotel has been associated with the
progressive history of this city. In the
first place it was among the leading
enterprises to go up town, and with
the Astor House divides the honor
of having entertained most of the men
who have been leaders in our politics
professions and trades in the years
since it has been established. With
it are associated many events memo
morable in the lives of many men, in
the history of the drama in this city,
of music, and of many events which
have marked an epoch, or increased
the number of red-letter days in the
records of our pros bress. ,a
Many stories might be told of the
inside history of political and social
movements which have originated
and transpired here, and, if the little
stories about the doings and sayings
of eminent mon who have, from time
to time, been guests at this hotel,
could be collected, they would doubt
less make very interesting reading.
Being SO identified with the march of
progress, and being, withal, q place
which seems to be n part of our in
stitutions, and not a private enter
prise, in which every citizen takes a
kind of pride, and points out to
visiting friends as one of tho places
which deserves attention, it is bnt
natural to suppose that anything
which can be said about any new
feature in the place would be read
with interest by the general public.
1t probably is not extensively
known that the first passenger eleva-
tor ever put into practical operation
was constructed in the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, under the direct supervision
of the inventor, the late Otis Tufts,
in 1859. During the summer
months this elevator, after so many
years of service, was taken out and q
new and improved machine institu-
ted. TO expond words of praise in
describing the elegance of this eleva-
tor will be superfluous when it is
stated that it cost within q fraction
Of twenty thousand dollars.
But a little description of safety
apparatus which has been intro
duced to act III CONJUNCTION with the
elevator will no doubt be pardonod.
This machine is known as the
Massey retarder, and it regulates the
ratc of speed which the elevator shall
attain in descending, having no
control over it's movements while
going up. The retarder is on the
top Of the building, looks like the
steam chest Of q locomotive, and is
attached to tho elevator by two
stout chains The chain passes over
q wheel, out of a window to this
end there are weights attached
which counterbalance the heft of the
car. The wheel over which the chain
passes, without any chance of it's
slipping, is controlled by body of
oil which is confined in this iron
chest, and acts upon a fy-whcel, only
allowing the wheel to move rs fast
as the oil will flow through crevice;
being forced by the hy-whcel the oil
holds back, and only allows it to
progress as fast as it is desired to
have the car 60 down. Thus, it will
be seen, the chains can not 90 any
quicker than the wheel will permit,
and the wheel can not go at any
higher rate ofspeed than it can force
that body of oil through q crevice
much smaller than it's own volume,
thus making it almost impossible for
the car to meet with any serious ac-
cident, should the wire ropes which
control it's motion part or become in
any way injured.
A now staam engine is now being
perfected and will be used to run the
elevator. Tho constant traffic up
and down the marble stairways wore
away the stops so that it vas no
longer safe to walk upon them, con-
sequently they have been replaced
by new ones. These, with some
new furniture and carpets for the
suites of rooms reserved for families
have cost in the neighborhood of
100000. -
The grand staircase will soon be O
sight well worth beholding on
every floor is to be balcony, over
looking the staircase, and forming q
recess from the elevator lobby,
where n person may enjoy the busy
sceno below while waiting for the
car. These balconies ore to be l,,xr,-
riantly upholstered, and will remind
one of the picturesque Venitian
veranda whore the dusky beauties OF
this Italian city are wont to sit in a
solitary roverie, or in silent contom
plation of one Of those most lovely
Southern sunset which tho eyes
never seem to weary of,
Tho Rev. s. II. Platt, of Brook.
lyn, has recently published a book
telling how he was cured of lame,
ness in his leg by the power Of
prayer and the laying on of hands
by devout maiden lady. The
Methodists of Brooklyn do not seem
to believe tho story, as tho Rev. Jas
M. Buckley stated at q meeting o.
ministers in Brooklyn, on Monday
thatsto his certain knowledge Mr.
Platt had never been lame in his life