Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-07
IGNORED HIS INSTRUCTIONS
James Ryan Badly Injured at the Cairo
Apartment House.
A Companion Also Hurt-The Accident
Leads to n Fortunate Discovery
Of a Dangerous Cable.

There was another accident this morning
at the Cairo apartment house building. on
Q street between 10th and 18th streets. A
tmall elevator used for hoisting materials
fell with two men from the second floor TO
the basement. and James Ryan, twenty-five
years old. a laborer. was seriously injured.
His left arm was broken at the shoulder
and the muscles of the arm and shoulder
were so badly torn that amputation may be
necessary. Frank Knighton, nineteen. Of
ego I'd street northeast, who went to work
during the week a tile setter. was bruised
and cut about the mouth, but suffered no
other injuries.
The accident was caused by Ryan's put
ting three barrels of sand and stone on the
elevator instead of two. as he had been d.
rected. The lift was at the second floor
where there were four barrels of materials
to be taken to the third floor. Ryan want
ed to take them all up at once. but one of
the workmen IN the basement called up the
shaft 10 him that that would be too much
OF load for the elevator. Ryan called
back; All right" and it was thought that
ne had taken on the extra barrels. and the
engine was started.
How the Accident Happened.
linn ediately IL began to slip downward,
and before it could be checked at all a had
fallen to the basement. where IL stopped
with a severe shock. Ryan and Knighton
were on top Of the barrels. and were knock
ed about by the force of the fall. Ryan's
arms were flung outward and the left one
was caught beneath the floor of the ele-
vator. breaking and bruising IL as described.
The engineer OF the elevator says that the
apparatus has been inspected and passed as
all right 1t is a simple hosting engine,
with a drum for the cable and a strap of
iron around the end to act as a brake This
strap Is controlled merely by the muscle of
the engineer. He says that he had no
warning that the elevator was going 20 fall
and the fall was SO short that ne did not
have time TO get the brake on tight IL is
doubtful IL he could have stopped the car
with warning. as the brake has no mechan-
ton.
The custom is to hoist two barrels of sand
or stone, or two wheelbarrows at one trim
and there is an order that the worknen
sraii not ride On the loaded cars. Ryan IA
SAID 10 be an excitable. nervous workman,
and the accident is attributed 10 his eager
hess to get the materials upstairs in q
hurry.
Timely Discovery Made.
While the reporter for The Star was at
the building the workingmen crowded
around the engine and began 10 talk I'm an
excited manner. They had Just discovered
that the cable. which had been I'm use
about fortnight, had begun TO strand.
The wires had broken and UNFINISHED until
there was about one-third of the original
material left intact. There were murmurs
OF alarm on all sides, and I'm Difference 20
the cgndition of the cable IL was decided
10 pa, but one barrel of material on the
car at one time. There Is but a single
cable on This hoist
After the accident this morning the in
!ured men We're taken to the office of DIR.
weaver. across the street and thence 10
the Emergency Hospital, where Ryan's
fracture was dressed by Dr. Chase Of the
house stan- He said he might be able 10
save the arm II the wound healed properly.
knighton was discharged In a short time
from the hospital