The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-26
The Recent Elevator Accidents.

The MORNING NEWS prints the following
letter from Mr.. James Bates Of the Bates
elevator explanatory Of the recent elevator
accidents In Savannah which, while they
occurred to Bates elevators, he was in no
wise responsible for:
BALTIMORE, ND, March %, 1898.
Mr.. J. Ii. Esttt President the Morning AelGs,
SdUdnndh. Ga:
DEAR SRI have received through several
Of my friends at Savannah copies of your paper
of March II, in reference to the elevator occi-
dent at the Savannah Carriage company g
warehouse, IN which my name is used several
times in reationeto this affair, and also to other
accidents that have occurred at other places,
all OF which have tendency TO do me a great
deal of harm and injury, personally and in my
business, and am satisfied that II you had
known the true facts in relation to this acci-
dent you would not have had my name men
stoned as 1t was.
that had been in use for several years, and was
ordinary warehouse freight ele-
vRtor. The owner of the building
several weeks ago wrote me for an
estimate to erect complete in the building a car
rfage or wagon elevator, as the old one was
too small for the purpose, and desired me to
take the old elevator in exchange or part pay
lnent for the larger elevator. Since CORE
spending with the party did not hear anything
further about the elevator until Iheard through
John Bates, who had Just returned from the
hOutu, buhb Tue OWu6E udt4 AllllScil dIlhLlRoA "
alter the old elevator into a carriage or wagon
elevator, and IL was done by some local con-
tractor in Savannah for him.
If the accident was caused as stated in your
paper, it was no doubt caused In making the
alterations and no responsibility Is attached to
me, as had nothing whatever to do with it,
and my name should not have been mentioned
in connection with il.
The other accident mentioned as having oc.
Cured at A. B. Hulls establishment about
eighteen months ago, was thoroughly investi'
gated at the time and it was proven that it was
caused by the negligence Of one Of the en-
ployes in allowing a truck to be improperly
placed on the platform and extend out beyond
the edge of the platform, and 10 the ascent the
truck came in contact with the floor jOist and
badly strained the cable, and a few weeks after
ward the elevator was overloaded and broke the
cable at the connection, from being strained the
first time, and twisted the platform out of level
so that the safety appliances could not act.
The accident also mentioned as having oc-
CURED at ]. NJ. Dixon & Co.'S did not know
anything about. and it is the first time that [
have heard of It.. It was not erected by me
but by some one in savannah AS the personal
mention of my name in connection with these
accidents will injure ne in SavaH nah and else
where and my business is quite large in the
state Of Georgia and other southern states
where your paper may be read, and knowing
that you will correct any errors that have Q
tendency to infer that / was connected with
same, l will ask that you please insert an item
In your paper that will dispel or remove my
name in connection with this accident. All |
desire is a short item to this effect. and if there
is any charge for the same will remit you or
receipt of the bill and also copy of the paper
Yours respectfully, JAMES BATES.