The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-10-02
TRICKS OF MACHINERY.
How People Have Been Caught
in Elevators
Their Sudden Refusal to Work Causes
Consideration tn the Passengers-
The Accident to the Great
London Ferris Wheel

London Ferris wheel
Few of the thousands of persons who
each day use elevators ever stop to think
what would result if, for some reason,
the machinery should suddenly cease 10
work and an elevator remain high up IN
the shaft, with its occupants as securely
imprisoned as if locked in the city
prison. Such accidents are, however,
not at all uncommon. The cosmopoli-
tan citizen of New York is, as a rule,
too busy to give such trivial matters
Il second thought, always provided he Is
not among the unfortunate individuals
W no happen to he detained in a car.
Such an accident recently occurred to
Manager Oscar Hammerstein, who was
taking Il party of friends through his
theater, music hall and roof garden. 1t
was late at night, and almost everybody
had left the theater. Mr.. Hammerstein,
after telling his friends of the beauties
of the new roof garden, suggested that
they go up and see it. The party en-
tered the elevator, and Mr. Hammer
stein started to act as elevator man. He
pulled the rope, and the car moved
slowly upward.
When it reached the floor below the
roof, where there happens to- he no
door. il stopped. Mr.. Hammerstein
tugged at the cable. but without result.
He shouted. but no one answered He
and his party were prisoners for near
~ 20 minutes.
Arthur HammcrStein had started for
home when he heard strange noises
from the elevator shaft. Investigation
revealed the difficulty. and, after
long search, one of the engineers con
nected with the building Was found
He explained the trouble 10y saying that
the chief engineer had gone for the
night and the steam had been shut of.
leaving just enough in the chests to
send the elevator up the shaft The
machinist started the elevator again.
and a very disgusted party was brought
down without having had Il glimpse of
the roof garden.
In one of the larger downtown Of
flee buildings recently one of the big
elevators happened to get stuck be
tween the floors, just as business was
closing for the day. More than half the
passengers in the elevator were wom-
en-. and wnen they realized that the
car was held fast between the landings
and there appeared to- be no prospect
of an immediate release some of the
most timid began to grow frightened
They were reaSSured for the time he
ing. but when the janitor appeared
with small ladder and told them that
the car would stay where il was un-
Ill the mechanics could he sent for to
fix IL. and that the only hope of escape
that night would be to climb from the
car over the top of the door opening
into the elevator we'll to the floor above,
some of the pretty damsels vowed that
they would remain in the ear all night
rather than attempt such an acrobatic
feat as was suggested. After one or two
of the most courageous. however, had
made the trip in safety. and without
any more display of hosiery than one
sees on the streets during a rainy day,
they all decided to risk the short climb
rather than pass the night in the car
suspended in mid-air.
An accident which was very funny
To all but the unfortunates most in
terested occurred recently to about
400 pleaSure-seekers in London who
were enjoying the sensation of swing
ing around the circle in the big Ferris
wheel at Earl's court. While the fun
was at it's height the big wheel sudden
" stopped. From $50 O'Clock in the
evening until one o'clock the following
afternoon it remained stationary, and
some of the experiences of its passen-
gers were decidedly uncomfort able.
Every effort was put forth To make
the prisoners as comfortable as pos
siblc. Few of the women in the ears
were provided with wraps suitable to
the exposure at an altitude of 800 feet,
and many suffered accordingly.
Two of the attendants clambered
| around the rim Of the wheel, carryin ~
with them ropes, by means of which
| baskets of provisions We're drawn up
| The occupants of one of the cars, how
| ever. were the first to secure communi-
cation with terra firma, the result of an
| ingenious thought of Miss r. Lansdale,
| of Chester terrace. This young wom-
| an possessed a reel of cotton, and care
| fully lowering it from the window of
J the car in which she was imprisoned.
| stout string was attached. This, upon
/ being drawn up. brought n rope to
| which was attached n basket containing
light refreshments.-N. Y. Journal.