The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-07
TERIsCoPE TREASURER KILLED.
william scribner Falls Down the Elevators
SHAFT ne tho COmpapy's Headauarters.

william scribner Falls Down the Elevator
shaft nj tho Compauy's Headquarters.
William Scribner, Secretary and Treasurer
OF the Veriscope Company, fell down the eleva-
tor shaft last evening from the sixth floor to the
basement Of the factory building at pa West
Twenty-third street. He was almost instantly
killed. The veriscope Company was organized
to take photographs of the Ftzsimmons-Corbett
prize fight, with Dan A. Stewart at It's head.
Mr.. scribner was the Secretary and Treasurer
of tho company from its organization. and 1t
was part of his duties to keep the books. After
the prize fight tho company rented the sixth
floor of the building on Twenty-third street for
a laboratory and offices.
Mr.. Scribner and W. II. Clark, one OF tho
company's clerks, were at tho office yesterday
writing up the books for May. The building
has a hydraulic passenger elevator, the shaft Of
which Is near the centre of the floors. There
are few persons in the various shops and facto-
ries on Sundays, and Adolph Hoffstadt, the
owner Of the building, does not have an elevator
attendant there between Saturday evening and
Monday morning. Those who have business at
the building on Sundays walk upstairs or else
run the elevator themselves. Mr.. Scribner and
tho other men who work in the veriscope
laboratory were in the habit Of using the elevator,
the management Of which had been explained to
them.
Yesterday Scribner and Clark went to tho
building about noon, and rode up to their once.
When they reached the sixth floor they let the
car remain there. in readiness to take them
down when they had finished their work. They
we're busy all the afternoon. Mr.. Clark got
through about 9 o'clock, and went out to din
ner. He rode down In the elevator, and left 1t
at the ground floor. He expected to return In the
evening.
Mr.. Soribner remained until GAS. On reach
ing tho elevator shaft he found the car at the
ground floor. He opened the gate at the elevator
shaft, and, leaning into the shaft, started the
car up by pulling the controlling cable. He In
tended TO let the car run up TO the sixth floor,
roof OF the car to pass, and then stopping 1t. He
had done this successfully many times before.
1t Is supposed that the car got beyond Mr..
Scribner's control yesterday. and that when
the roof had passed him, he was not able to
catch the cable inside. The car ran up TO the
seventh floor. Mr.. Scribner leaned into the
shaft again to get the cable and run the car
back. In doing this he lost his balance. and fell
into the shaft. The distance to the bottom Is
about seventy feet, and Mr.. Scribner, who is q
heavy man. struck on his head and shoulder.
His skull was fractured.
As Mr.. Scribner fell he gave a cry of alarm.
John Wilson, the Veriscope Companyis watch
man, heard him and notified the police OF the
accident. An ambulance was called from the
New York Hospital. The surgeon found Mr..
Scribner dead. Coroner Tuthill issued a permit
for the removal of the body to Mr.. Scribner's
house, SO Morton street. The dead man was 90
years old, and leaves an invalid wife,