The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-17
l. stN more remarkable. she made the

|
derived little or no profit.
Sitting ut that same sewing machin
one day the thought occurred TO her tina
instead 81 Withdrawing the thread iron
the needle with pair Of scissors. as wa
usually done, il would be easier To EN-
ploy a'cuTvcd surface for the purpose
She accordingly took her button hook
sharpcned It's concaveg edge. and. presto
her object was accomplished. This U.s.
suggesting another she applied th'
outer or convex side Of the hook to
| crindstone. and in few moments has
converted it into a tool that nj once be
came n picker and ripper Of stitches, az
ink eraser ami envelope opener The
wire handle was then adroitly twisted
into a shape that served 10 make il use
ful for fastening gloves and, for aughi
the writer knows. pulling tacks or teeth
The little trick served It's purpose admir-
ably. and many thousands were sold
but not for the benefit Of the ingenious
woman. for she did not see tse color OF
fifty dollar bill to compensate her for
/ the idea.
Soon after her arrival in New York, a
large fire occurred in factory. from the
upper stories OF which il was Impossi.
Die for a number of the inmates 10 cs-
cape. This incident directed Mrs.
Tracy's attention 10 the desirability Of
a continuance that. being attached TO the
wall inside Of a window on the different
stories # house. could be easily swung
into the window opening. and then. be
ing l00sened. fdll to the ground IN the
shape of flexible cylinder with wire
ladder attachment down which the inn
prisoned people might easily slide as
through a shute without danger Of bod
Is harm from either fire or bruises.
Meanwhile. fhe firomen might be using
the fire ladder for carrying up and sup
porting their hose. This machine az the
time attracted great deal Of attention
from some Of the authorities and num-
Der of successful experiments were made
from the roofs Of tall buildings. but as
I'm the other cases mentioned. the idea
fell short ~ perfect contamination Ow-
ing TO the indisposition Of those who
proposed to supply the working capital
10 do more than pay the inventor small
royalty. Unfortunately. she was wo-
man.
Mrs Tracys ingenuity also found en-
ployment about this time in the con
struction Of an elevator for hotels and
other public buildings. the salient feat.
urcs Of which were, first. the impossi
biltv OF It's dropping more than two or
three inches in the event Of the breaking
Of cables or the displacement Of the
usual safety cO-s. and. secondly. it, au |
tomato WORK. in dropping or taking up |
section Of the floor as il moved from
story 20 story in It's ascent and descent
The object was twofold. namely. 10 pre-.
vent careless people from falling when
the elevator doors were left unlocked
and to shut OF the Inevitable draft that
OF itself carries fire from basement 10
roof through tho big opca liue
The arrangement was SD simple that il
seemed . wonder manufacturers had not
adopted 10 IN the beginning. The stop
page Of motion Was caused by that de
vice familiar o. the simplest mechanics
known az 'the devil grip" and in it,
simplest form is every day illustrated To-
the tongs of the icemcn. In other words
the greater weight u held the tighter d
yripDod One Of these was placed M
q
connected with q wire cable that no
matter where a break occurred. il wa.
pound 10 assert its force and hold the
huge object ln place The portable floor
-e.erred tO were OF light but strong steel
hat dropped INTO place on going up or
.ommg down and IN their substantial
Use practically made the door Of an elc
ator unnecessary Ny impression /,
bat the invention was successfully a.
,licl in a big soap factory and was r. !
,arlei as mmyei1lsly clever thing
specially as 10 came from only O.
Woman.
Riding on the elevated cars on one &C
asl on. she witnessed tie skurry an,
usl AZ Inc crowd getting in and oui
,eiore reaching home ,he had made
ration tho bundle that had been tied M u
w. her il % dry goods store ~ set o.
80 Fly movable gates taa, hcins Gushe'
b lhe space a..uo-a tlc ears. ciectual
. barred i.e ns, gttil ,hc ears Wcr
mp,el nl,. ta- direction II the cor
gc.or o. Lr-acsnea With few sin