Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-13
FREAK OF AN ELEVATOR.
How Some Visitors to the Allegheny HOs-
pitaI Moved Up and Down-A Machine
That Couldn't be Stopped for Some

How Some Visitors TO the Allegheny Hos
pitaI Moved Up and Down-A Machine
That COuldn't be Stopped for Some
Time.
What might have resulted iE a fatal aeci-
dent, but developed into ludicrous cir
cumstance happened short time ago in
the Allegheny General Hospital. The
event might be appropriately called ian
escapade in an elevator"
A well-known man in the steel business,
who is popularity called Tom, was attacked
by serious trouble in the head. A SINH
lar disease to that which caused the death of
the celebrated Roscoe Conkling. The dis
ease grew apace, and finally forced him to
obtain medical assistance. The physician
persuaded him to go to the Allegheny Cen
eral Hospital, where he was certain his dis
ease would receive proper care and atten-
tion, and the chances for permanent cure
were much better than remaining at home.
Tom thought wisely of the doctors sugges-
tion, went to the hospital, and secured the
best room vacant
When Tom was fully established in the
hotel for invalids he gave comprehensive
invitation to his friends. One Saturday
four men from the steel works formed a
party and called upon the sick man. His
room was on the second floor, and it was
necessary to take the elevator. The trip to
the room passed off successfully; very
differently, however, on the return. After
remaining with the invalid for some time it
was suggested that it would be advisable
to go.
Coming around to the elevator, the bell
was rung to call it. A pretty blonde nurse,
with laughing eyes, asked if any OF the party
could run an elevator, because she had q
poultice to pat on a patient, and she was
afraid it would cool if she took the elevator
down again. The leader of the party came
to the front and said he would operate the
elevator, having had experience, and was
an adept at the job.
Having gotten in the elevator the leader
pulled the rope the reverse wav to the floor
which was wanted. Like flash the ma
chine struck the roof of the hospital, seri-
ously disconcerting the entire party. A
rumble of discomfort was heard within the
box while the men were straig htening their
battered hats.
Again the elevator rope was pulled, and
quicker than the first ride in the elevator
the party was landed in the cellar. For
fully 20 minutes the elevator was going up
and down in q remarkable manner. Every
man in the uncomfortable box tried his skill
in stopping it. Up and down went the
elevator. The men imprisoned in the AKA
swore enough to fill the City Hall. On
every floor numbers of nurses and patients
had gathered, watching the antics of the
machine.
The elevator was at last stopped at the
same floor which the men got in at. One of
them thought that for security's sake, and
his family's, not having an insurance on his
life, that he had better get out. Just as he
put one loot an the passage, the elevator
made sudden shoot, and he was sent whirl-
ing along the hall. His clothes suffered
considerably.
When the elevator got started again, she
was as unrnanageable as mad bull. The
nurses shrieked, and the whole place was
like a bedlam. After spending half an
hour see-sawing, the mad machine was
finally brought to standstill. Everybody
got out thankful they were alive.