New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-14
PASSENGERS WE'RE SHAKEN CF.
AN ELEVATOR IN THE AMERICAN SURETY
BUILDING COMES TO a SUDDEN STOP.

BUILDING COMES To y 81 DDf'.N SAO''
One Of the elevators in the American Surety COM
pany's build ne. No. 100 Broadway became unrnah-
ageabie shortly before yesterday, and whi.e
none Of the dozen more passengers VINO were III
the car at the time injured all of them re-
ceived shaking up and number OF them were
so frightened that they decided to walk the rest OF
the way down stairs rather than trust themselves
10 the other cars.
The elevators in the building are OF the latest
improved type and they move up and down at
speed of about 400 feet minute. The car In ques-
ton started on rs downward trip with a full com
plement of pa ssengers. and all went well until 1t
reached the fourth floor. when suddenly 1t came to
4 dead stop and every one Of the passengers was
thrown about For a moment most Of them thought
there was going TO be a smash-up. The conductor,
who had retained his grasp Of the lever, quickly
reversed the machinery, 80 as to prevent the car
from falling any further, and opened the door. al
lowing the frightened people leave the car. De-
spite the fact that al were more or less scared
there no confusion. and the incident passed
off If 1t an ordinary occurrence As usual,
there few people who heard Of the accident.
and rumor started that score or more per
sons had had a narrow escape from horrible death.
This OF itself caused crowd to assemble In the
corridors of the building and in the street, and no
little inconvenience was caused to the employees,
who were beseged with all kinds Of inquiries as to
tho reason for the sudden stoppage Of the car.
As soon the excitement had subsidized Theodore
II. Roberts. the Waterman Of the building. sent for
omploye pf the firm which installed the elevators,
and began Investigation Of the causes OF the ac-
ciient. u was found that the safety clutches on
the had. from some unknown cause gone into
action. thus stopping the with a Jerk. No part
OF the mechanism of the elevator was broken and
the machinst who examined II declared that the car
could be released IN two hours and would be in
operation on Monday usual
III the car had dropped At first reported
said Mr. Roberts, THE ropes would have snapped
and the would have been wrecked. The car,
however. Is intact and the elevator IS apparently In
service. There excitement at al. and there
cries for the police The elevators are reg
ula-ly tested for safety the usual weight employed
being about three tons. and this morning the test
satisfactory. The probable cause Of the acci-
dent disarrangement Of one OF the valves
in hydraulic cylinders which move the elevators
but Of this not sure We made 10 attempt
10 tho disabled car. as nothing could be done
10 remedy tho trouble until the other cars have
stopped for the day.
No report Of the occurrence made to the pO-
lice OF the Oh slip station. and the patrolman on
post I'm the ncighbOrhod said that he had not been
summoned TO the building until crowd had coli
lected. When he reached the building, he said
there WAS no syn Of an accident except the stalled
car. and he Judged that the matter was OF so little
importance that report 10 his precinct commander
was unnecessary.