The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1899-01-21
TRICKS OF MACHINERY.
How People Have Been Caught
in Elevators
Their Sudden Refusal to Work Causes
CONSERVATION to tho Passengers-
The Accident to tho Great
London Ferris Wheel

The Accident to the Great
London Ferris Wheel
Few of the thousands of persons who
each day use elevators ever stop to think
what would result if, for some reason,
the machinery should suddenly cease to
work and an elevator remain high up in
the shaft, with it's occupants as securely
imprisoned as if locked in the city
prison. Such accidents are, however,
not at all uncommon. The cosmopoli-
tan citizen of New York is, as rule,
too busy to give such trivial matters
second thought, always provided he Is
not among the unfortunate individuals
who happen to be detained in car.
Such an accident recently occurred to
Manager Oscar Hammerstein, who was
taking a party of friends through his
theater, music hall and roof garden. 1t
was late at night, and almost every body
had left the theater. Mr.. Hammerstein,
after telling his friends of the beauties
of the new roof garden, suggested that
they go up and see it. The party en-
tered the elevator, and Mr.. Hammer
stein started to act as elevator man. He
pulled the rope, and the car moved
slowly upward.
When it reached the floor below the
roof, where there happens to be no
door, it stopped. Mr.. Hammerstein
tugged at the cable, but without result.
lie shouted, but no one answered. He
and his party were prisoners for near
ly so minutes.
Arthur Hammerstein had started for
home when he heard strange noises
from the elevator shaft. Investigation
revealed the difficulty, and, after
long search, one of the engineers con-
nected with the building was found.
He explained the trouble by saying that
the chief engineer had gone for the
night and the steam had been shut on,
leaving just. enough in the chests to
send the elevator up the shaft. The
machinist started the elevator again,
and very disgusted party was brought
down without having had glimpse OF
the roof garden.
In one of the larger downtown Of
| flee buildings recently one OF the big
elevators happened to get stuck be-
tween the floors, just as business was
closing for the day. More than half the
passengers in the elevator were wom-
en-, and when they realized that the
car was held fast between the landings
and there appeared to be no prospect
| of an immediate release some OF the
most timid began to grow frightened.
| They were rcassured for the time be-
ing, but when the janitor appeared
| with a small ladder and told them that
the car would stay where it was un-
/ til the mechanics could be sent for to
/ fix it, and that the only hope of escape
| that night would be to climb from the
car over the top of the door opening
into the elevator we'll to the floor above,
some of the pretty damsels vowed that
| they would remain in the car all night
| rather than attempt such an acrobatic
feat as was suggested. After one or two
of the most courageous, however, had
made the trip in safety, and without
any more display of hosiery than one
sees on the streets during rainy day,
they all decided to risk the short climb
rather than pass the night IN the car
suspended in mid-air.
An accident which was very funny
to all but the unfortunates most IN
terested occurred recently to about
400 pleasure-seekers in London who
we're enjoying the sensation OF swing
ing around the circle in the big Ferris
wheel at Earl's court. While the fun
| was at it's height the big wheel sudden
lv stoned. From $3.50 o'clock in the
evening until one o'clock the following
afternoon it remained stationary, and
some of the experiences OF it's passen'
gers were decidedly uncomfortable.
Every effort was put forth to make
the prisoners as comfortable as pos
sible. Few of the women in the cars
| were provided with wraps suitable tc
the exposure at an altitude of 300 feet
| and many suffered accordingly.
Two of the attendants clamberec
around the rim Of the wheel, carrying
with them ropes, by means OF which
baskets of provisions were drawn up
The occupants of one OF the cars, how
ever. were the first to secure commune
cation with terra frma, the result OF an
ingenious thought of Miss F. Lansdaie
of Chester terrace. This young WON
an possessed reel of cotton, and care
| fully. lowering it from the window o.
| the car in which she was imprisoned
a stout string was attached. This, upor
being drawn up, brought a rope t<
which was attached a basket containing
light refreshments.-N.Y Y. Journal.