The sun., 1896-06-09
WIEN THE Bra WHEB1 BROKE.
Sorrows aud Humors OF tho Inst Accident
to II in Earle Court, London.

to 1t In Ehrps Court, London.
Visitors to London during the last two years
have found that the great wheel at Earl's Court
was one Of the things that must be seen and
tried II one wanted to do London thoroughly,
and those who did try II may congratulate
themselves that they didn't have the experience
thnt befcll some 400 merrymakers there about
ten days ngo. With It's forty cars, each carry
Ing its full complement OF passengers, the big
wheel stopped suddenly. From s:30 In the
evening until O'Clock the next afternoon most
of the passengers wero kept high up In the air.
while their friends the ground shouted one
courngcmcnt and sent up food by means OF .
rope. A similar accident occurred to this wheel
year ago, and tho English newspapers dis
missed 1t with brief mention. Thcre was more
humor than danger in the situation and the Lon
don newspapers missed both. The experiences Of
tho passengers who were In tho big wheel =
week ago when II stopped were decidedly un-
comfortable; When the cry went up Tho wheel
has stopped " there were Thousands OF people
enlopinE the attractions Of the Empire Of India
eeXihinlti3n ana listening to the bands In the
primarily lighted gardens; rush was made
people found the electrc.ishtedc with their
occupants halted high in the air. Tho women
n n them raised an ,outory and their friends on
the ground yelled back encouragement IL was
impossible to repair the damage TO the wheel 90
that the cars could be lowered before daybreak,
and every effort was put forth TO make the priss
oners In them as omfortabo as they could be
under the circumstances. The night was cool
and few OF the women in the cars were provided
with wraps suitable to such ex posure at altt.
tude OF 800 feet. The restaurant attached TO
the exhibition was kept open all night and to
the cars to which ropo could be thrown food
was sent.
The staff Of attendants upon tho wheel 10 COM
posed in the majority OF instances OF old Sos
men Two OF these clambered rN | the rim OF
the wheel, carrying with them IT. s. by means
OF which baskets OF provisions were drawn up.
The occupants of one OF tho cars. however, wero
the hrst TO secure communication with terra
trma. the result OF an in genious thought Of Miss
+. Landslide OF Chester terrace. This young
woman possessed a reel of cotton, and carefully
lowering 1t from the window OF the car in which
she vas imprisoned n stout string was attached.
This upon being drawn up, brought rope, to
refreshments. The sailors already referred TO
afterward reached other occupants, although
some of the cars wero out OF their reach, in con-
sequence OF their swinging outward.
There were women in the cars who called
down frantically that the wheel must be moved
because It was necessary for them to got homo
that night.
some of those who were imprisoned threw
down messages on slips OF paper TO be sent 70
their friends who might be waiting for thom.
Several OF the enforced imprisonments might
have had awkward seguels had not the mana
gers of the wheel gladly given certificates 70 the
effect that the bearers had passed the night in
the air because OF an accident.
The break was repaired at in tho Afternoon.
Before that time many of tho passengers had
been brought down by means of chairs attached
to ropes When the wheel was in working order
again the remainder OF the passengers were lib
Grated. The London newspapers refer to the
generosity " OF the management in providing
a break fast for these passengers after they Eos
IN