The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-27
AN ELEVATORS LONG DROP.
FIVE NEN WHO WE'RE IN n
BADLY INJURED.

Ons May Dtc-A.other Likei 90 Lose 1,
Lse-The Assias.t uapp.rsa In a Tai
Factory puiiaise .. West Thirty-fours
strees-Dss 60 = Defective Ratchet
Through a defect OF the ratchet controlling
tho freight elevator at the factory Of the In
terror Conduit and Insulation Company. At 81,
West Thirty fourth street, yesterday after
noon. the car was allowed to fall i've stories
and nve men who were on board. including tn,
attendant, were so badly injured that they had
to DO taken 10 a hospital for treatment One oil
the mon may die. while another may lose q leg.
Themsn who were hurt arc:
BouAsAs. WILLIAM. 90 years old. Of $50 West Forty
fourth street. foreman Of tho insulating room; Potti
fracture Of the right leg.
FORSYTH. ALEXANDER, 20 years old. of Now brighton
n lsoorer; scalp wound. Commissions on the body and
iimba
FOX. JANIS, 20 years old. OF 537 West Thirty sew.
enth street. elevator attendant; fracture of the RICH,
lea and contusionL
MARTIN, JAxKs a. years old. OF Sal West Thirty.
right leg.
srKvrss PEfkn. 90 years old, OF tis West Twenty
seventh street, possible fracture OF the skull. contu-
slons on head. body, And limba
The company's factory 10 an eight-story build
ing with about seventy-ivo feet frontage on
Thirty-fourth street. and running through the
block to Thirty-nfth street. The company does
n ihfkc BUSINESS ana employs N krcnt many
hands. but Its factory is not supplied with n
passenger elevator. the employees being cx-
pocted TO walk to the floor on which they are
employed. The elevator which fell was IN
tended solely for freight, and. As near
rs could DO learned. Fog was tho only
man who should have been on tho car.
This car 10 about six feet SQUARE. with q
heavy floor Intended TO support great weights.
IL 10 suppnrted by several cables working over .
wheel at the top OF tho building. and raised and
lowered BY a steam drum In tho easement
The direction OF the car was controlled by tho
operator b. means OF - chain which connected
the cable ran. TIL. chain and ratchet. It was
said last night, had not worked properly for
nearly q week. and to them was laid the blame
II has been tho habit Of the employees Of the
concern 70 ride on the elevator when they
wished. Stevens, Martin, and Forsyth were
employed 10 load and unload the car. and they
rode to ave the trouble OF walking. Bohanan.
the foreman Of tho insulating room, which
is on the. NTH floor. had gone to the
omess o. the company on tho first floor to
stssags TOT vne sn'pn,snt ., some goods from
few. minutes before D o'clock ho was ready 10 10
bnck 70 the NTH nvor: Tho elevator was ready
planks and some pipe, and the laborers and Fox
were on board. Bohonan stepped on the car.
and it was started w by Fox.
The car went well until AN attempt was made
70 stop II at the nfth hoor. Fox pulled the chain
to catch the ratchet. Instead or working prop
-, y D sho cuoic IpOstHtu on inc
wheel to such an extent that tho car started
down with force enough to disable the drum in
the basement. The drum began to turn In the
direction lowering the car. and the car got bo-
yond control aud fell TO the basement.
Two ambulanceS were called. aud the Injured
men were taken to Bellevue Hospital. where.
whom not rroaninR from pain. they abused tho
company and %audihly regretted the day they
had gono to WORK for It. II was thought at the
hospital that Bohonan's leg might have to DO
amputAted. Tho full extent OF stevens's In
turies was not definitely known. Tho injuries
TO the others. while severe. do not cause the
surgeons any uneasincss.
j. II. Lnuritz. who said that lie was the SUPER
intendent OF the company's building, went to
tho hospital last evening TO see the injured men.
He said that he had notified the company i've
days ago Tint the chain and ratchet wero not
working properly. and that he had been told
that they would be repaired ut once. No repairs
had been made. he said.
Roundsman Connors OF tho West Thirty
seventh street station. after Investigating the
accident. decided not to make any arrests.