Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-19

ward with their nets. The little doc hactod
stu hsrs1ng T. seemed nss to know
house in his shirt sleeves, apparently ereativ
alarmed, and wildly motioned for the doc 70
Rsep,n1 lust beyond reach, untl f. hm ss with
to the curb. Then 1t dashed quickly int1 fSe
open door of Its owners house. The excited
crowd which had assembled jeered at the pound
men, The nets were replaced under the Tacon
and the expedition moved on.
THE ELEVATOR NAN.
His Experiences in Taking Pee,le 4.
the Top Of the Monument
FOLKS WHOSE NERVES BECOME sHAxY-How
THE CROWDS WERE HANDLED IN MARCH,
ACCIDENTS IN THE SHAFT, ETC.
When q STAR reporter made visit to the
Washington monument the other morning, the
elevator was not running and the engine had
stopped, until the delayed iron for the stairway
of the interior should arrive. Part way up on
the interior the workmen were quietly insert
ing the memorial stones in the walls. A few
stray visitors were wandering about the
grounds picking up imaginary cap-stone chips.
In Q carpenter shop adjoining the monument
the reporter found Edward Wayson, the eleva-
tor man, who conducted the monument eleva-
tor from the first day work was resumed until
the completion Of the monument. He came to
work as a carpenter, but was given charge of
the elevator because OF his carefulness and strict
attention to orders.
He is now at work constructing the platform
which is to surround the base of the monument
roof, from which the lightning rod tips will be
placed in position. With his many loads of
visitors Wayson has had a variety of expert.
ences and had opportunities of seeing different
phases of human nature. In answer to q cues
ton by THE STAR reporter on the subject he
said: The majority Of my passengers have
that they Showed less timidity in making s shs
ascent than men. You wouldn't think that
It's a fact though. OF course as soon as a pas
lowered to the bottom. Those were the orders.
But, as said, we have had to return oftener for
men than for ladies. One day when had Con-
said he thought he would rather go back. He
had seen all of the top of the monument that
he wanted to. The elevator was open you know
and the we'll was very dark, making it rather
uncomfortable for person with unsteady
nerves."
NAN WHO STEPPED OFF.
"No one ever tried to jump off," continued
Mr.. Wayson, although one man did step off at
one of the platforms just for fun. waited for
him at the top, and when be arrived, putting
and blowing, he had to get right aboard and be
taken back: You see, we couldn't allow any
sad abon H. be wou haH h ,od Deen
about his experience and pretty soon every
body would be trying it. The most disagreea-
same questions over and over again. Every
body wants to know how far they have to GO,
and then how much further every little while,
finds fault with the elevator. 1t ought to he
built this way. and that way, and
should hay. have railings around it. They
was built to take up the stones for the mon
ument, and that it was only through courtesy
that they have been allowed to go up at ali.
Col. Casey has always been willing to let visit
ors go up, however, when they would not inter-
fere with the workmen. The elevator is safe
enough. It was built to carry heavier weights
than people. All the passengers have to do is
to stand still. There have been good many
pleasant features to the work, though. My
passengers have been nearly all good-natured;
come out in that trip. l have had many jolly
R Par y. aboard, and many good singers They
echoes ring on all Sides"
THE CROWDS LAST MARCH.
"There were busy times at the monument
about Washington's birthday and Inauguration
times. We couldn't handle the visitors at ALL
They would swarm through the door by hun
dreds and all want to go up at once. One time
other side of the well, and crowded so that
those who were next to the elevator were una
BILE to raise their feet to take the step neces-
moi. possibly start until they cleared the place,
and then was able to take up proper load.
Another time, when they crowded so,
and there sta rns aEss si sRasag
Men and women were crowded ON it like sar-
dimes in box: 1t only assembled q few feet be-
fore those on the outside realized their position
and dropped OF. It was very comical to see
them Jump. or course only raised it a little
way When the crowd had sufficiently thinned
got aboard and took them TO the top all right.
On one Of those busy days Col. Casey came
the e
and go home (speaking from the outside), and
there was no more travel that day. No, we had
think the credit for that is due mainly TO Col.
Casey. He issued very strict orders, and saw
that they were obeyed."
ACCIDENTS IN THE SHAFT
"One day." said Mr.. Wayson. when L was
coming down an empty barrel fell from the top
landing. heard the cry from above and knew
passengers to crowd into the middle where the
elevator was most protected from above, and
when the barrel struck the top nobody said q
word. There were several ladies aboard, but
they didn't seem bit frightened. At another
time, when the elevator was at the top aud the
men. were unloading a slope, a crowbar was
using 1t and dropped down the well. We gave
the signal and when the bar reached bottom
not have swung straighter. It went clear
through the platform ct the base and
asphalt at the foundation. Once an iron sleeve
weighing seventy or eighty pounds fell while
the elevator was at the top The cry of warning
cleared out those at the bottom Of the we'll. and
1t struck on board upon which some passengers
had been standing only few moments before.
Only two men were hurt during the entire time
that the monument was being built. In going
down a step-ladder in the dark at the landing
near the top, one Of the workmen missed his
footing and fell to the landing, only a few feet,
breaking his arm. It was a curious accident,
for the man was perfectly familiar with all the
surroundings. At another time the hand-railine
at one of the landings gave way with q man
who was standing upon it fixing the electric
lights. Fortunately he fell the right way and
landed on the platform; the result being only q
sprain. Had he gone down the well death
would have been certain, for he was at height
Of 200 feet don't believe there was ever q
structure built calling tor such dangerous work
with such an uninteresting chapter Of accidents,
Everybody connected with the work knew Just
how things were being done and what care was
being taken by those In charge, and that II
orders were obeyed everything would
be all right. have run the elevator when
the key stone was suspended directly over me.
Had it fallen it would have been the end of me
and the monument, too. | had no fear, how
ever, for knew it couldn't fall; there were too
many safeguards and the men were too careful -
Tilted Almost 1T the Altar.
A DISAPPOINTED SWAIN TAKES OFF HIS WED.
DING CLOTHES AND GOES TO WORK.
A telegram to the New York Herald from
Lawrenceville, Sept. 10th, says: An interesting
love episode has just transpired here, In which
the usual order Of things was reversed. Instead
of the vascillating and undetermined bride.
groom suddenly disappearing this time Il was