The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-20
WHEN The ELEVATOR FELL.
How 1t Feels to Fall Seven Stories and
Not Eet Hurt

How 1t Feels to Fall Seven Stories and
Not Get Hurt.
l have interviewed several elevator con-
ductors, with the intention of finding out if
it was true that eleyator-boys, as a rule.
were nothing but good-for-nothings. as some
papers style them; and also to find out if
they could give any suggestions to the pub
lie that would come handy in case of acct
de nts.
why is It that people are continually
getting hurt and killed ON elevators?" was
asked.
Because the majority of people who ride
on them don't know how to protect them
selves" was the answer. Why, you just
lock at the steaGl-cars. More people get
killed in one year on the railroad than in an
elevator in ten years. II you want to be sure
of your life while riding with us you must
see that the owner of the building or the
man in charge has card placed on or near
the door, letting you know what to do while
on the car"
"What would you have put on the card"
:" would like to have every passenger I'M
derstand that reading while getting on or
off the car was prohibited; have every one
keep away from the door, inside or out, and
not bang the bell for all it's worth; not al
low any body TO stand halfway inside the car
and ask questions; have all the new tenants
give their names to the elevatOr-boy just AS
soon a. they hire their rooms. Then there
would be less growing on both Sides"
Did you ever have the elevator get out
of rtpair?"' was asked of each, land, if SO,
what does it feel like?"
Yes, did," one answered, sit fell from
the top floor TO the bottom, and | wasn't
sorry TO get over it all right. 1t happened
like this One day came to work as usual
The car did't appear TO run right. | told
the engineer about it. He examined the
ropes and 50 forth, but could not see any
thing wrong. He said to put more muscle
into it. Well, had my doubts, but said
nothing. / left him and went to work.
After awhile lady came in who | knew
wanted the fourth floor. When / got to ii |
tried 10 stop, but couldn't stop that car if L
got new life for IL until 1t got to the top
floor. There it stopped. explained to the
lady that the men were working at the ma
chine away down stairs and L wasn't al
lowed to Stop at any floors except the top
and lower ones until / GIT further orders
Size walked down 10 the floor she wanted.
then pulled the rope. up to start the car
down, when man at the floor under the one
/ was at rang the hell.
q / tried to stop the car by pulling the rope
down. The car wouldn't stop. no matter
how hard | pulled. The man on the floor
yelled at me To look out that the car was
geing to drop.
Just as soon as heard the word drop
| thought my days were ended. | jumped
for the rope with both hands as hard as |
could. HE rope slipped through my hands
and kept me about two feet from the floor of
the elevator. You see, the RIPE can't be
pulled only certain length, and by holding
onto ii you can slide down as easily as on
any other rope, but little faster.
Going down the elevator well was some
thing l can't very well describe. Down |
went, not knowing If ever I'd see daylight
again, and if ever you have a chance to go
down as | did you better take it, as it is
something fine, in fact it's lovely.
"On that rope | hung how long do no
know. Ii felt like an hour. My hands were
sore from the rope, but at last | struck the
bottom, or at least the elevator did, and in
doing so the elevator gave a bound that re-
versed the rope and brought me to the floor
with ease. The only effect the fall had on
me was shaking up. The tenants kicked
and said that if they had to ride on an ele-
vator that was likely to fail at any minute
they would not stand it. After little while
they wanted to know if l was hurt. / said
no. They were satisfied and all asked me
not to leave on that account. Boston Globe.