The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-02
FELL THREE STORIES.
Sad Death of John Q. Twitchell
Saturday.

BUSINESS Man.
Saturday morning Mr.. John q.
Twitohell, Of the Twitohell- Champlin
Company, went to his office, and after
looking over his letters, started to make
lis daily tour of inspection of the factory.
He had reached the third story from the
basement, when he signaled for the ele-
yator to be sent down, and it was started
from the second story above him. The
elevator was still one story from him
when those in the basement heard a CRY.
and the sound of some body falling
down the elevator well. Howard Cotton.
one of the men in the basement. found
MI. Twltchell on the flour, apparently
dead.
he was taken to his private office, and
his wife was at onoe notified of the acni-
GENT, and was at the store within few
moments after the lem oval of the suffer-
er to the office. MIR. Twitohen was
placed on the floor DR.. Merrill was first
called, and when he reached the office it
did not seem possible that Mr. Twitchell
could live beyond a few minutes. He
however revived to some degree, and
DR.. Gordon, DR.. Waller and De. Twitoh-
ell joined DIR. Merrill. An examination
showed that one
LEG WAS BROKEN,
the other badly injured, and that the
right shoulder was dislooated. 1t was
thought that he had also sustained inter-
nal injuries likely in themselves to prove
fatal. All that medical skill could then
do was to keep the spark of life in the
sufferer.
When Dr.. Gordon arrived, he said EFhe
did not think Mr.. Twichell could live ten
minutes. The sufferer regained con-
seriousness for a moment, and asked what
had happened.
"Well, John, said DR.. Gordon, ''you
have fallen down the elevator -
"oh, yes. I remember" said Mr..
Twitchell. II reached for the rope and
something slipped. -
That was all he could say and speedily
relapsed into Inconsistencies.
While it was at first thought that death
must come within few moments, the
wonderful vitality of the injured man
enabled him to slightly rally, and he was
able to whisper few words to his wife.
1t was pathetic scene The stricken
head of the great house lay on the floor
of his office semi-oonseious, surrounded
by his immediate associates, and atten-
ded by his wife with every movement or
| indication of life anxiously watched by
the physicians in attendance. while
outside in the rain, leading Commercial
street merchants gathered to hear the
LATEST news. "There is no hope, but he
is still living" was sent out from time
to time. Mr.. Champlin gave orders for
the closing of the outer doors, fearing
the effect of the presence of large crowd
on Mr.. Twitohell
OF course it was impossible to at once
suspend all the lines of activities of the
great establishment, and while the head
of the house lay helplessly
FIGHTING AGAINST DEATH,
goods arrived and were sent out, but in
the building where he lay there was ST.
lence, all business having ceased there.
And outside there was hardly a Com
merial street firm without it's represen-
tative. 1.-THE best man on the street is
there" said an old merchant, with evil
dent emotion, and all spoke of the great
loss the city and it's business interests
might sustain, for at that time the ply
sicians did not hold out the least hope OF
recovery. At one time it was thought
that death was at hand. There was but a
very faint action of the heart, but the
prompt administration of stimulants re-
vived the patient, and the immediate
danger was over.
AT II. 80 it was decided to attempt to
remove him to his home, and it was
successfully accomplished at 10 o'clock.
Mr.. THitchell stood the removal and
| subsequent treatment well, and even re-
vived slightly. His general condition
showed a marked degree of improve
mont, and for the first time there was a
faint hope that he might recover
The hope that Mr.. Twitchell might
rally was not to be realized and at about
half past two he peacefully breathed his
last. The news of his death, which of
course was expected, created profound
| regret among the business men of the
town and his many personal friends.