The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-17
WITH A TERRIBLE CRASH
AN ELEVATOR FALLS LOADED WITH
HUMAN FREIGHT.
Fearful Accident In the Retail Estab-
iishment OF B. Lowenstein g. Bros
Mrs. J. A. Jennings Sustains Proba-
bly, Fatal Injuries. tb

There was an exciting and very nearly
fatal accident in the large retail establish
ment OF ID. Lowenstein 4 Bros just before
noon yesterday. AS usual, there was an
immense throng OF customers in the build.
ing, and scattered on tho different floors,
and for the while they were almost panic
stricken by the sudden terrific crash which
startled them. The spacious and costly
elevator which carries the customers up
and down to the different departments
had been doing its full duty all the morn
ing, carrying up precious loads Of human
freight, and bringing them down with
their purchases. No doubt the arms of
little Mike Sullivan, who manipulated the
pulley-rope, were getting tired, and he was
growing impatient for the dinner hour to
arrive, when he would be relieve. A
hosting carriage never ran easier or with
more regularity, and thoughts of any hitch
or trouble being in the machinery were
out OF the question.
a few minutes before the elevator had
Just discharged a load OF ladies on tho
ground floor and the bell tapped, and the
indicator showed that others were waiting
to descend from the fourth and topmost
floor, on which the dress fitting depart
mcnts are situated. The elevator assembled
with Its regular ease and rapidity. The
ladies-therc were only two Mrs. X. j.
| Wood and her mother, Mrs. j. A. Jcn-
ningss-took passage. The vehicle de-
scended without stops until when within
about two feet OF theground floor, and Just
as the boy was in the act Of sliding the
door back for the passengers TO alight il
| suddenly began TO rapidly ascend, not
withstanding the boys best efforts TO
| check it, The resistance OF the boy WINS
futile, and the powerful force which turns
tho pulley ropes made them rcvolve all the
faster. AS itswiltly passed the third floor,
the boy, seeing that his efforts were i'm
vain, had the presence OF mind the noxt
| instant as il reached the fourth floor TO
| spring back the entrance door, and half
falling threw himself out prone upon the
fioor. The powerful force which had run
the elevator up with such lightning.like
rapldiiy sent il against the roof with
such power rs TO jerk the
great iron bar at the top in
twain; then there was crash aud, like a
powerful ball in space, the elevator
dropped, and in an instant fell crushing TO
the cellar floor, distance OF siXiy-iivc
feet. The helpless mother and daughter
were in il. What thoughts must have
passed through their minds rs they looked
into each others faces in that awful mo-
ment OF descent
The employees rushed TO the cellar, flung
open the door, fullycxpecting to find them
both liieless mass, but their horror was
half dispclled when Mrs. Woods stepped
apparently unhurt out OF the door, and
Mn. Jennings, though unable to move,
was still alive and fully conscious II was
quite evident that the terrible fall had
seriously MANNED the aged lady, and sho
roically cndeayorcd, could not re-
strain giving vent 10 the intense
suffering 80 suddenly inflicted. Drs. lie
Der Jones and 4. J. CroHord wcnc hurried
ly sent for, and responded ut once. An
examination showed that Mrs Jennings
had sustained the misfortune Of having
both her lower limbs broken between her
ankle and the knee; her spinal column
was severely spraincd, and the shock 10
her nervous system was severe. Mrs.
Woods left ankle was sprained, and her
entire frame severely shocked, but ia her
anxiety for the stricken mother, she
seemed 10 ignore her own injuries. Mrs.
Jennings lived nj the residence Of her
daughter, which is on Ial,ose street, near
Broadway, and both were carried there MS |
soon M possible.
At u o'clock last night Mrs. Jennings |
was resting quietly, but her condition, 10y |
reason of her extreme age, Is decidedly
critical, and her recovery doubtful. II IL
also feared that the effect Of the fall 10 |
Mr Woods II more serious than IL has |
yet been able % ascertain, on account Of |
her active solicitude for her devoted |
mother.
An ArPRAL reporter visited the great |
store a short while after the accident, and |
had a talk with Mr.. VIM. w. Shousc,
manager Of the establishment, In regard |
10 H. Said Mr.. Shouse:
1--WE deeply deploro the accident, as n
matter OF course. The only thing that
can imagine that could have caused Il
wis that some substance worked ita way
into the water valve, causing Il 20 choke |
up, or, reversing its force, drove the cle-
vaior upward. This Is the only solution
am able 10 make Of the terrible accident. |
This elevator was regarded "a one Of the
most complete In the city, having all Of
the latest and most substantial appliances
Of any in the city. II has not been year
since We expended 5000 10 make Il per.
fecily secure in every particular. About
ten days ago there was little trouble In
is working order, and hal the maker Of
Il 10 send a man here from Chicago b see
what the matter was. lie rcmedied Il In |
little while, and when hc left yesterday
lac told me that he thought Il was one Of
the best elevators In the city and WA la
splendid running condition. You can see
along the sides Of the uprights where
the brakes caught and were torn
away; they were not able 10 check
Il, ihougl. they would have boon had
one Of the cables broken, butsthe main
croes-bar OF iron broke, 10 great wis the
force, and no power on earth could have
stopped the fall. While Il Il 10 be greatly
regretted by ~, II was wholly unforeseen,
and No far ~ ! can see vas wholly unavoid.
able. An elevator IL like all other ma.
chincry- accidents happen 10 Che best Of
them, Tor that was what We regarded this
one. Anything In the world that the
house could do 10 alleviate the suffering Of
the eslimable ladies who weo the suiicr-
en- by the accident they would ehecrfully
do.