The morning call., 1891-11-15

tori Don't Open! when Weise suddenly
threw open he door and disappeared down
the elevator shaft. The men at the sink
claim TO have shouted, LOOK out there !;
don't open that door," but the warning must
have been given too late to save Weise.
BE had evidently opened the door, think
ing it led to the stairs or passenger elevator,
aud little suspecting his dreadful fate. He
had no sooner started down that black we'll
in his headlong flight than an alarm was
raised, and in a minute there was great eX-
ctement.
HORRIBLE SIGHT To BEHOLD.
Two policemen entered and descended by
the stairway to the basement. Upon going
to the bottom of the pit the sight that met
their eyes caused them to utter cry Of
horror. Lying upon his face, confused
mass OF torn flesh and crushed bones, was
the form of poor Herman Weise.
During his frightful fall the unfortunate
porter had evidently struck the sides Of the
shaft or the edge of the landings, and he
must have become unconscious before half
the descent was over During The fall his
clothing was torn into shreds. and his right
arm pulled from tie socket.
10 complete the horror his body struck an
iron that pierced the lower part of the abdo-
men. His neck was broken, the skull frac-
tured and the face shockingly mutllated As
the manged body was still warm and there
were still signs Of life when carried up to the
ground floor, 1t was placed on the stretcher
alongside the dsmembered arm and convey
ediln the patrol wagon TO the hospital.
THE SPIRIT HAD FLOWN.
Long before the body reached the operat-
ing cot Weise's spirit had left the torn,
bleeding body. So. when Police Surgeon
Williams arrived he at once said: Moth
ing can be done for the poor fellow; he is
dead" Then the body and the severed arm
were turned over TO the Coroner.
When the Chronicle Building was visited
by a representative of THE CALL very little
information could be obtained beyond the
simple announcement that man had fallen
down the freight elevator shaft.
STATEMENT.
Subsequently the following statement was
furnished by the Chronicle:
The unfortunate man had delivered some acid
TO the art department Of the Chronicle, and was
returning to descend by the passenger elevators
On his way 10 the door leading TO the elevator
landing he stopped al the closed door OF the
freight elevator shaft, which is always kept
boiled during the day and In addition secured by
a chain bolt. which drops into slot. he door
has glass panel, on which Is painted In yellow
letters SIX Inches long The warning: Danger
Freight Elevator. Don't Open" With fatal
disregard OF this warning Weise pulled open the
door. lie must have given II a strong wrench,
as The chain-bolt was pulled out OF he slot with
such force that the noise was heard by a com.
postor working In a remote corner OF the long
room and by several other persons who were
working nearer 10 the door. The presumption
Is that the iron bolt which served as an extra
pfecaution was shot open by him Also as 1t Is al
ways closed except for few moments at night
when the elevator Is In USE
THE DECEASED.
Weise was native of Elmhorn, Holstein.
Germany, SO years OF age. He resided at 1870
Douglass street with his family consisrino
of wife and two daughters. He was a mem
Der of the Veren Eintracht and Of Morse
Lodge l. o. o. F.
The distance Weise tell was somethInp
over 100 feet